IFV stands for ‘Infantry Fighting Vehicle’. An IFV is often a light tank or APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) that is specialised to fight infantry. IFVs often utilise rockets or auto cannons as main and secondary weapons.

APCs are not to be confused with light tanks. Light tanks is a classification of armoured vehicle. For more information, search up ‘Light tank’, ‘APC’ or ‘IFV Military’.

Other classifications of tanks include Medium and Heavy. MBTs or ‘Main Battle Tanks’ usually fall into the Medium category. Heavy tanks are not used very much anymore, in favour of more maneuverable MBTs. Famous Heavy tanks include the Russian KV-1 and KV-2.

Other tank classifications include SPGs and SPAA. SPGs, or ‘Self Propelled Gun’ are high-calibre weapon carrying vehicles that often do not have secondary armament. A famous example is a Stug III. Some SPGs are also classified as Tank Destroyers. SPAA Vehicles or ‘Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft’ are designed to combat aircraft, utilising missiles, auto cannons or machine guns.

The final tank classification is an AAV, or ‘Amphibious Assault Vehicle’. An AAV, such as a LVT (A) (1), for example, is designed to handle well in water and land. AAVs, not to be confused with Amphibious Assault Ships, were used in attacks from the sea, that carried over into land. They were often used during ‘beach landings’, military operations in which vehicles and troops were deployed on a beach to attack a point or area.