5 Insane Armored Vehicles Of The US Military

The American military possesses many different types of armored personnel carriers or APCs. Some are tracked, while others are wheeled, some can swim, and others can handle any type of landmine. Thus, figuring out the best top 5 isn't exactly a walk in the park. However, some APCs stand out due to various high scores in factors such as protection, firepower, and mobility. So, without further ado, here are America's Top 5 and Most Insane APCs. Let's start with the Cougar 6x6. This beast looks like a heavily armored and modified Mack truck, but in reality, it is a superior APC with some impressive capabilities and features. Right off the top, this chunky-looking APC can handle landmines better than most tanks, has a long record of proven combat survivability, and is air-conditioned, so heavily dressed soldiers can sit in this deadly beauty in the middle of the hottest desert all day without dropping a sweat or in extreme cold conditions without getting the chills. It is powered by a Caterpillar C7 diesel engine, operated by a crew of two, and can carry another eight soldiers in very comfortable settings. It is also fast with a top speed of 105 km per hour and has an operational range of nearly 1,000 km without refueling, and costs only about $700,000 each. It is simply an advanced ballistic and blast-protected APC with an ultra-thick V-shaped underbody to disperse explosives underneath. It has tank-like plating to withstand grenade attacks from the side and can return the favor via its two grenade launchers and two machine guns. When it comes to reliability, the Cougar is simply undisputed because even if it got hit, it can be quickly repaired and returned to the field in a matter of hours. It is used to perform a number of tasks such as Command and Control, EOD, Patrol, Convoy Support, Forward Observation, Reconnaissance, Medivac, and even Assault Missions. In a nutshell, the Cougar 6x6 is literally designed to be driven into danger. Our next APC on the list is the M1296 Dragoon which is an upgraded version of the M1126 Striker with significantly increased lethality. It is a heavily armored 8x8 APC and can easily put other APCs out of commission. It is a well-protected and well-armed APC and can survive landmines. It features a maximum level of all-around protection with add-on ceramic armor against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds. It is well-regarded and considered by many experts as superior to other armored personnel carriers, especially in terms of survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices. The Dragoon is also a fighting vehicle and can be deployed in combat zones since it can be fitted with steel cages called Slat Armor which provide protection against anti-tank rockets and missiles. As of recently, it can also be fitted with an Explosive Reactive Armor Kit. Its unmanned turret is armed with a mighty 30mm cannon enabling it to engage other armored vehicles from up to 3km away. This cannon also fires airburst rounds that explode above the target such as trenches. And that's not all, these rounds are also effective against unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, it features a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun for light combat. The Dragoon is also fitted with a Battlefield Information Management System. It links up with other similarly equipped vehicles and command posts and displays position information of friendly vehicles. It's also fast with a top speed of 100kmph all thanks to its powerful Caterpillar 3126 diesel engine and has a range of more than 500km. Believe it or not, its engine and transmission can be removed and reinstalled in less than an hour. Okay, so far we covered wheeled APCs, so it's time that we give tracked ones a chance. The M1283 Tracked APC is the latest US Army's armored personnel carrier. It's based on the turretless M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle and has been around only since mid-2020. So, it's brand spanking new and hasn't seen any battles yet. However, the fact remains that the protection of the M1283 is similar to that of the Bradley M2A3 IFV. The vehicle has a welded aluminum armor hull. The front arc has spaced laminated aluminum and steel armor that can withstand 30mm armor-piercing rounds while the all-around protection is against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds. The interior is lined with Kevlar anti-spall liner. Explosive reactive armor, blocks, and cage armor are fitted for increased protection against anti-tank rockets and missiles. It also features a super-enforced V-shaped hull floor for a higher level of protection against landmines. It comes equipped with a jamming system which prevents the detonation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices. It's operated by a crew of two and accommodates another six dismounts, and is armed with a shielded and manually operated 12.7mm heavy machine gun. It's considered to be superior to wheeled vehicles in terms of off-road mobility. However, it loses in terms of strategic mobility. Interestingly, this 39-ton heavy vehicle can be fitted with a kit that turns it into an amphibious APC. It's powered by a that generates 600 horsepower. It has a range of more than 520 kilometers, a maximum speed of 64 kilometers per hour on land, and an amphibious speed on water of 8 kilometers per hour. The U.S. military seems to really like the M1283, which comes in five different variants that serve different purposes, and will receive around 2,900 units by 2025 and more in the following years. When it comes to APCs both tracked and wheeled, nothing beats the well-armored, fast, technologically advanced, and armed amphibious ones. The AAV-7 is both an amphibious armored personnel carrier and an assault vehicle. And even though it's been around since 1971 and production stopped, more than 1,000 AAV-7s have been refurbished and upgraded and will continue to serve the U.S. military until 2035. So this tracked dinosaur is worth respect because it's quite good, and even though its main purpose is to land troops on beaches, it does a lot more than that. It can be operated by a crew of two or three, hold another 24 soldiers, storm beaches, safely land the soldiers, and engage a variety of targets at the same time. It weighs around 25 tons and can go as fast as 72 kilometers per hour on roads and up to 14 kilometers per hour in water. It can also put up a good fight with its 12.7mm machine gun and 40mm grenade launcher. The AAV-7 is launched at sea from amphibious assault ships. This armored vehicle is self-deploying. It's intended for a forced entry into the semi-aquatic areas. The main mission of the vehicles during an amphibious assault is to spearhead a beach and go to secure the coastline for ongoing troops. Once ashore, the AAV-7 can operate alongside other armored vehicles. Its functions include guarding checkpoints, patrolling, and carrying troops and supplies further inland. Moving forward, we'll seal our case today with none other than the notorious M2 Bradley. Even though the M2 Bradley is called a fighting vehicle, it's also an APC. This APC is so unique and tough, it survived not one project meant to replace it, but two, and it's still waiting on the fate of yet a third attempt to take over its role. Even its components can be used on other vehicles to help extend their life. The Bradley is not another tool to carry, protect, and cover soldiers to the front line with the same speed and armored stance as the M1 tanks that it supports. The soldiers inside don't even have to exit the vehicle to start fighting. The tracked monster has mounted slots for M16s all along the side for them to fight behind the Bradley's considerable armor that's been upgraded in recent years. In terms of armament, it's simply a tank in disguise. It features a 25mm chain gun using 100 or 300 rounds per minute, accurate to 3km. It's also armed with a TOW missile launcher, capable of destroying most tanks to a maximum range of 4km. And it also carries a coaxial 7.62mm medium machine gun to the right of the main chain gun. So, no wonder this beast is so hard to replace. Might as well give it a facelift and keep it going for another 30 years. So, which APC is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section. Thank you for watching and please like, share, subscribe, and hit the bell icon.