Armored vehicles are primarily used as weapons of and for war. However, when a major conflict is over or the materiel becomes obsolete, the question of what to do with surplus equipment emerges. Over the last century, solutions have included scrapping, converting, preserving, or selling. In some cases, they have even been used as artificial coral reefs. Welsh band Super Furry Animals came up with a pretty unique alternative – they bought an Abbot self-propelled gun to use as in their publicity stunts. Bearing their name and the title of their “If You Don’t Want Me to Destroy You” 1996 single, this Abbot was certainly one of a kind. [caption…
Guest Writer | Published 2026-10-25 08:38 | 3 Comments
A custom military patch is an embroidered, woven, PVC rubber patch, or printed emblem made to a unit’s own design and worn on uniforms and gear to identify a squadron, battalion, or company. In 2026, six manufacturers cover most of what military units and veterans groups order. The tradition behind it is more than 100 years old: the U.S. Army approved its first shoulder sleeve insignia in 1918, the same year the Tank Corps adopted the three-colored triangle that armored units still wear. The quick answer comes first. After it: a short history of how U.S. Army armor insignia took shape, the four decisions every…
MarkoPantelic | Published 2026-10-21 08:25 | 3 Comments
The Sturmpanzer auf Panzer IV was the German answer to the problem of dealing with well-entrenched enemies in urban areas or along the front lines. During the fighting at the Battle of Stalingrad at the end of 1942, it became clear that such a vehicle was urgently needed. It had to be well protected in order to withstand enemy return fire, while also carrying sufficient heavy armament to destroy most targets with a single shot. As there was neither the time nor the industrial capacity to develop a completely new vehicle, the Germans instead chose to reuse what was already available. Based on the Panzer IV chassis, the Sturmpanzer auf…
Darren Hazes | Published 2026-10-19 07:59 | 2 Comments
With the collapse of Engesa in 1993, the Brazilian Army started worrying about the spare part situation for its roughly 640 EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu vehicle fleet. To counter this and to better standardize and modernize its vehicles back to relevancy, the Army started a working group. With the goal of increasing the lifespan by another 15 years, two prototypes were made, one of each vehicle. The very first modernization attempt of the Brazilian EE-9s and EE-11s brought them up to spec with the most modern offered EE-9 by Engesa when it was still in business, including a number of upgrades to the fire-control system. However, some issues during…
Joshua Allen | Published 2026-10-14 11:21 | 5 Comments
Armored warfare has never depended solely on the tanks that fire the guns, but also on vehicles that keep them moving. World War II revealed that armored formations needed dedicated recovery and engineering vehicles to survive on the battlefield. After the war, tank weights increased, revealing the shortcomings of existing recovery vehicles. Many British Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) units relied on ageing Churchill Armoured Recovery Vehicles and wheeled vehicles. The Centurion’s increased weight endangered new technology because existing recovery vehicles could not recover them easily. This led to the Centurion ARV Mk.1, which was built on proven concepts and introduced a new recovery vehicle quickly. It would prove…
Joshua Allen | Published 2026-11-04 09:27 | 2 Comments
Conceived as an effort to enhance anti-aircraft capabilities, the Twin 40 mm Gun Motor Carriage T68 (T68 GMC) project reflects both the ingenuity and the limitations of mid-20th century military engineering. Initiated by the American Ordnance Corporation (ACO) in early 1942, the project was marked by incomplete designs, logistical hurdles, and persistent mechanical flaws. Despite initial skepticism from the Ordnance Department, development proceeded under the War Department’s policy of encouraging potentially promising innovations. Ultimately, the T68 GMC faced insurmountable obstacles, including significant mounting, stability, and integration issues on the M3 Half-Track chassis. A side view of the T68 GMC prototype. Notice the stiffeners on the suspension.…
Leander Jobse | Published 2026-11-02 09:11 | 2 Comments
In 2017, the small Italian startup Italian Armoring Solutions (IAS) launched the Testudo, a tactical armored vehicle design based on a US-made Ford F-550 chassis. Despite international marketing, only two vehicles were ever sold to police forces in Chile. Interestingly, these vehicles were manufactured by a subcontractor in Canada. The lack of sales of the Testudo must have been one of the contributing factors why the IAS company deadpooled in the early 2020s. The IAS Testudo, seen in front of the Stark Group Inc. facility in Barrie, Canada, where it was produced – source: IAS / WLP The summer may be over,…
Nowadays, Wargaming’s mobile version of its flagship title, World of Tanks Blitz, is no stranger to presenting less authentic or fictional vehicles. The first of these, however, was something rather unusual and original. During the 2015 Halloween event, players who completed a series of special in‑game missions could unlock the Tankenstein, a Tier VII heavy tank with premium benefits. This vehicle was assembled from components of real tanks from several nations, echoing the fictional creature of Dr Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. The summer may be over, but there’s still plenty to discover in the Tank Encyclopedia Magazine!🔥What’s inside?âś” All 12 issues in one bundleâś”…
Leander Jobse | Published 2026-10-28 09:25 | 4 Comments
Each war creates an environment that enhances the drive to create new ways not only to kill, but also to protect. A prime example is the development of the armored fighting vehicle during the First World War. The concept was already conceived well before the war, but there was no stimulus to actually adopt any in considerable numbers until the tremulous balance of power catastrophically collapsed in Europe. As part of the British Empire, Canada was immediately thrown into the new war. By the initiative of Canadian Frenchman R.M.P. Brutinel, the Canadian Army would soon ship eight new US-built armored cars to Europe. The design of…
Alex Tarasov | Published 2026-10-27 08:53 | 0 Comments
Attention tankers! The festive season is here, and we’re back with some great offers! From 26 October to 30 November, we’re offering you a great chance to buy the Tank Encyclopedia Magazine All-Pack 12 Bundle at an incredible 25% discount! 🔥 What’s inside? âś” All 12 issues in one bundle âś” Available in PDF and EPUB formats âś” Enjoy instant access to articles prepared by our team of dedicated writers and illustrators, covering the history of armoured vehicles from the 19th century to the present day, in-depth armored warfare analysis, rare vehicles, prototypes, and much more. Don’t miss your chance to upgrade your library — 25%…
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Tank Encyclopedia is the best place to learn about the history of armored vehicles, from their early inspirations and pioneers to the latest main battle tanks. Our painstakingly researched articles cover many nations and all eras of armor development, accompanied by our beautiful and iconic illustrations. We cover a wide swathe of armored vehicle designs ranging from bridge-layers and engineering vehicles, to tank destroyers and armored personnel carriers. You can also find articles on soft-skinned vehicles, anti-tank weaponry, tactics, battles, and technology.
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The United Kingdom and France started development of tanks in order to break through enemy lines. However, many pioneers had envisioned the use of armored vehicles in the decades prior to the Great War. Soon after its introduction, the tank quickly became a killing machine integrated into combined arms operations.
The Interwar period saw the tank go on a worldwide tour, from Bolivia to China, every corner of the globe and all seven continents felt the tread of heavy armor. Even so, many were unconvinced by this new weapon of war. World War Two would change these perceptions, and see tanks used in unprecedented numbers across all theaters of war.
In a period dominated by nuclear weapons, two opposing superpowers led to the splitting of the world into East and West. Although the USA and USSR never fought each other directly, almost all proxy wars of the period saw extensive usage of their tanks.
Despite numerous prophets heralding the demise of the tank, armor is still an important part of all the world’s militaries. The modern battlefield shows no signs of this changing soon, with the development of tanks continuing to adapt to it.
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