Armored Fighting Vehicle Identification - (AFVID)

1. Armored Fighting Vehicle Identification - (AFVID) SFC JAMES P. CARAS, Battalion Master Gunner HQ 1st Battalion 252d Armor

2. Introduction • During the Second World War it was estimated that approximately 58% of all allied armor casualties were caused by the allies themselves. On today’s battlefield the ability to identify allied equipment is as important as identifying threat targets.

3. AFVID FEATURES • Before discussing specific vehicles we need to have an understanding of the identification features to look for when determining the identification of an armored fighting vehicle.

4. AFVID FEATURES (cont.) • Hull • Armament • Turret • Suspension

5. HULL • Shape of hull/hull construction • Location and construction of hatches • Design of side skirts • Stowage boxes • Exhaust ports and mufflers

6. Shape and Construction Sponson Box

7. Hatches

8. Side skirts (or lack of)

9. Stowage boxes

10. Exhaust ports

11. Mufflers

12. ARMAMENT • Length, size and number of guns or weapons • Bore evacuators • Muzzle brakes • Thermal jackets • Muzzle reference collimators • Machine guns

13. Guns or weapons

14. Bore evacuators(or lack of)

17. TURRET • Shape and construction of turret • Turret overhang • Infantry rails • Stowage boxes and racks • Spent case ejection ports • Markings • Size and shape of gun mantlet • Location and design of hatches, cupolas and sighting equipment • Lack of turret

18. SUSPENSION • Supported Track • Non-Supported Track • Number of Road Wheels and/or Support Rollers • Spacing of Road Wheels • Design or construction of Road Wheels • Track or wheeled

19. Non-Supported (Christie)

20. Supported

21. # of Road Wheels and/or Support Rollers 5 3 4 1 2 1 2 5 6 3 4

22. Spacing of Road Wheels

23. Cast Road Wheels

24. Stamped Road Wheels

25. Tracks or Wheels