wheeled armored personnel carrier

Definition/Scope: An wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) is an armored fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield. APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), or mortars. They are not really designed to take part in a direct-fire battle, but to carry troops to the battlefield safe from shrapnel and ambush. It will not cover the same types of ground as a tracked APC but it will be able to continue to move if tires are shot out. Armored cars are typically less expensive and have superior speed and range compared to tracked military vehicles. Most are not intended for heavy fighting; their normal use is for reconnaissance, command, control, and communications, or for use against lightly armed insurgents or rioters. Only some are intended to enter close combat, often accompanying convoys to protect soft-skinned vehicles.

Broader Terms:

Armored Personnel Carrier
wheeled personnel carrier

Narrower Terms:

Armored Security Vehicle
BRDM-2 armored scout car
BTR-60 armored personnel carrier
BTR-80 armored personnel carrier
infantry carrier vehicle
LAV-25
V-150 armored personnel carriers

Related Terms:

Armored Personnel Carrier
Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Infantry mobility vehicle
Marine Personnel Carrier