Armoured personnel carrier
In the later stage of the war, Allied tanks could break through enemy trenches, but the infantry following—who were needed to consolidate the territory acquired—still faced small arms and artillery fire.
Obsolete armoured vehicles were also repurposed as APCs, such as the various "Kangaroos" converted from M7 Priest self-propelled guns and from Churchill, M3 Stuart and Ram tanks.
The United States introduced a series of them, including successors to the wartime Landing Vehicle Tracked.
A cold war example of a "Kangaroo" is the heavily armoured Israeli Achzarit, converted from captured T-55s tanks, the concept culminating in the Namer.
The BMP series is termed as infantry fighting vehicles, but it has a designed role of carrying troops to the battlefield.
Wheeled vehicles are typically faster on road and less expensive, however have higher ground pressure which decreases mobility offroad and makes them more likely to become stuck in soft terrains such as mud, snow or sand.
Due to the limited service life of their treads, and the wear they cause on roads, tracked vehicles are typically transported over long distances by rail or trucks.
Preparing the APC to operate amphibiously usually comprises checking the integrity of the hull and folding down a trim vane in front.
Armoured personnel carriers are typically designed to protect against small arms and artillery fire.
Generally APCs will be lighter and less armoured than tanks or IFVs, often being open topped and featuring doors and windows, as seen in the French VAB.
They may be unarmed, or armed with some combination of light, general-purpose, heavy machine guns, or automatic grenade launchers.
In Western nations, APCs are frequently armed with the .50 calibre M2 Browning machine gun, 7.62mm FN MAG, or 40mm Mk 19 grenade launcher.
Various classes of infantry fighting vehicles may be deployed alongside tanks and APCs, in armoured and mechanized forces.
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAPV), also known as MRAP Vehicle, is a type of armoured personnel carrier that are designed specifically to withstand land mines, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes to save troops' lives.
[7][8][9][10] "Infantry mobility vehicle" (IMV) is a new name[vague] for the old concept of an armoured car, with an emphasis on mine resistance.
Usually four-wheel drive, these IMVs are distinct from 8-, 6-, and 4-wheeled APCs (such as the VAB), being closer in appearance to civilian armoured money and gold transporters.
