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 Rollers5 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