Churchill tanks during the 2nd Battle of El Alamein
Type
Tank
Place of origin
France and the United Kingdom
Service history
In service
1938–1945
Used by
French and British armies
Wars
Second World War
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History of the tank
Era
World War I
Interwar
World War II
Cold War
Post–Cold War
Country
Australia
United Kingdom
Cuba
China
Canada
New Zealand
Czechoslovakia
France
Germany
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Israel
Japan
Poland
North Korea
South Korea
Soviet Union
Spain
Sweden
United States
Ukraine
Type
Light tank
Medium tank
Heavy tank
Super-heavy tank
Cruiser tank
Flame tank
Infantry tank
Main battle tank
Tank destroyer
Tankette
Assault gun
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled mortar
Multiple rocket launcher
The infantry tank was a tank concept developed by the United Kingdom and France in the years leading up to World War II. Infantry tanks were designed to support infantrymen in an attack. To achieve this, the vehicles were generally heavily armoured to allow them to operate in close concert with infantry even under heavy fire. The extra armour came at the expense of speed, which was not an issue when supporting relatively slow-moving foot soldiers.
Once an attack supported by infantry tanks had broken through heavily defended areas in the enemy lines, faster tanks such as cruiser or light tanks were expected to use their higher speed and longer range to operate far behind the front and cut lines of supply and communications.
The infantry tank was superseded by the "Universal Tank" concept which could adequately perform the roles of both infantry and cruiser tank, as represented by the Centurion which replaced both the Churchill and any medium or cruiser tanks then in service. This led to the main battle tank.
medium, heavy or superheavy tanks) or doctrinal purpose (breakthrough-, cavalry-, infantry-, cruiser-, or reconnaissance tanks). Some are larger and more...
The InfantryTank Mark II, better known as the Matilda, is a British infantrytank of the Second World War. The design began as the A12 specification in...
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) Churchill was a British infantrytank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal...
The Tank, Infantry, Mk III, Valentine was an infantrytank produced in the United Kingdom during World War II. More than 8,000 of the type were produced...
definition of roles was between infantrytanks intended to focus on supporting infantry in the assault, and cruiser tanks intended for classic cavalry missions...
purpose-built IFV. The Bundeswehr's doctrine called for mounted infantry to fight and maneuver alongside tank formations rather than simply being ferried to the edge...
organized into armoured units that include the support of infantry, who may accompany the tanks in infantry fighting vehicles. They are also often supported by...
The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank (PIAT) Mk I was a British man-portable anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed...
T-60 scout tank for reconnaissance and the T-50 light infantrytank for infantry support. The T-70 was then replaced with the T-80 light tank, a more robust...
had different approaches to tanks and tank warfare, each with their fair share of successes and failures. The infantrytank was a concept developed by...
that the tank be subordinated to the infantry. As a result, the 1920 National Defense Act disbanded the U.S. Tank Corps, and reassigned its tanks to the...
primary mission companies, which are often of a common type (e.g., infantry, tank, or maintenance), although there are exceptions, such as combined arms...
from infantrytanks. Cruiser tanks were developed after medium tank designs of the 1930s failed to satisfy the Royal Armoured Corps. The cruiser tank concept...
The armoured tank was intended to be able to protect against bullets and shell splinters, and pass through barbed wire in a way infantry units could not...
light Infantrytank (Poland used 50 of those tanks) and also the Hotchkiss Char léger modèle 1935 H (Three Hotchkiss Char léger modèle 1935 H tanks had...
to infantry support, tanks fulfilled traditional cavalry roles, provided mobile artillery support, and were adapted to combat engineering roles. Tank design...
armoured warfare depends on the use of tanks and related vehicles used by other supporting arms such as infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery...
1935 R light Infantrytank (Poland used 50 of those tanks) Hotchkiss Char léger modèle 1935 H (Three Hotchkiss Char léger modèle 1935 H tanks had been exported...
A tank destroyer, tank hunter or tank killer is a type of armoured fighting vehicle, predominantly intended for anti-tank duties. They are typically armed...
Assault Tank T14 was a joint project between the United States and the United Kingdom with the goal being to produce a universal infantrytank. The T14...
flamethrower-equipped tanks. A number of production methods were used. The flamethrowers used were either modified versions of existing infantry flame weapons...
tank: the 'Infantrytank', for supporting the infantry; the 'Cruiser tank', for fast moving encounter battles and reconnaissance; and the 'light tank'...
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