
Leonardo claimed: "I will build armoured wagons which will be safe and invulnerable to enemy attacks.

The machine was to be mounted on four wheels which would be turned by the crew through a system of hand cranks and cage (or "lantern") gears. Frequently cited is Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century sketch of a mobile, protected gun-platform the drawings show a conical, wooden shelter with apertures for cannons around the circumference. The idea of a protected fighting vehicle has been known since antiquity.

Polyidus of Thessaly developed a very large movable siege tower, the helepolis, as early as 340 BC, and Greek forces used such structures in the Siege of Rhodes (305 BC). Siege engines, such as battering rams and siege towers, would often be armoured in order to protect their crews from enemy action. Model of a vehicle sketched by Leonardo da Vinci 2 Modern classification by type and role.1.1.9 Self-propelled multiple rocket-launcher.By World War II, armies had large numbers of AFVs, together with other vehicles to carry troops this permitted highly mobile manoeuvre warfare. For example, the MOWAG Piranha, originally designed as an APC, has been adapted to fill numerous roles such as a mortar carrier, infantry fighting vehicle, and assault gun.Īrmoured fighting vehicles began to appear in use in World War I with the armoured car, the tank, the self-propelled gun, and the personnel carrier seeing use. Successful designs are often adapted to a wide variety of applications. For example, relatively lightly armed armoured personnel carriers were largely superseded by infantry fighting vehicles with much heavier armament in a similar role. The classifications are not absolute two countries may classify the same vehicle differently, and the criteria change over time. Tanks, armoured cars, assault guns/armoured self-propelled guns, infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers (APC) are all examples of AFVs.Īrmoured fighting vehicles are classified according to their characteristics and intended role on the battlefield.

An armoured fighting vehicle ( AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities.
