tank destroyers
Anti-armor combat vehicles
Tank destroyers are armored military vehicles designed specifically to engage and destroy enemy tanks.
Unlike tanks, which serve multiple battlefield roles, tank destroyers typically sacrifice turret mobility or heavy armor for greater firepower or speed.
The term applies to both World War II–era vehicles and modern anti-tank platforms: The battalion's tank destroyers ambushed the advancing armor column.
Greek hero, mortal heel
- FerdinandTraditional male given name
- casemateFortified gun enclosure
- superstructureConstruction above the base
- low profileInconspicuous public presence
Branded anti-tank missile platform
- RPGExplosive launcher or fantasy genre
- bazookaShoulder-mounted rocket launcher
- recoilless rifleGun venting propellant rearward
- missile launcherProjectile-firing weapon system
wire-guided · shaped charge · ambush · side armor · weak points
Surprise strike from concealment
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- hull-downUpper portion only visible
- flankingAt the sides of
- overwatchProtective surveillance position
camouflage · defensive positions · kill zone · enfilade · screening · shoot-and-scoot · reconnaissance
Large mounted gun
- HEATAnti-armor explosive ammunition
- armor-piercingDefeats protective plating
- breechRear of barrel
- muzzleAnimal's nose area
caliber · ammunition · shells · penetration · ballistics · firepower · range · recoil
Achilles
Greek hero, mortal heel
- FerdinandTraditional male given name
- casemateFortified gun enclosure
- superstructureConstruction above the base
Javelin
Branded anti-tank missile platform
- RPGExplosive launcher or fantasy genre
- bazookaShoulder-mounted rocket launcher
- recoilless rifleGun venting propellant rearward
missile launcher · wire-guided · shaped charge · ambush · side armor · weak points
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- hull-downUpper portion only visible
- flankingAt the sides of
overwatch · camouflage · defensive positions · kill zone · enfilade · screening · shoot-and-scoot · reconnaissance
cannon
Large mounted gun
- HEATAnti-armor explosive ammunition
- armor-piercingDefeats protective plating
- breechRear of barrel
muzzle · caliber · ammunition · shells · penetration · ballistics · firepower · range · recoil · sighting
- armor warfarearmored vehicles, armored divisions, armored units, armored combat, armored warfare
- Armored Forcesarmored vehicles, APCs, armored personnel carriers, Bradley, Abrams
- WWII Army101st Airborne, 82nd Airborne, armored divisions, airborne divisions, All Americans
- tankspressure vessel, APCs, Bradley, Abrams, Leopard
- military unitsarmy, battalion, squad, brigade, company