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3%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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7[[quoteright:329:[[Film/{{Aliens}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AliensAPC.jpg]]]]
8[[caption-width-right:329:Lovely wheels, [[AwesomeButImpractical shame about the ground clearance!]] ]]
9
10->"''One APC... alone... betrayed by the LetsPlay series it loves, now its only hope in its final hour of need.''"
11-->-- '''Battlefield 315''', LetsPlay VideoGame/Battlefield1942, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiNDK1USIZM Episode 57]]
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13Sometimes in war, neither the CoolCar nor the [[TankGoodness Cool Tank]] is enough. You need something that can carry TheSquad into and out of battle and even fight alongside it if need be. How do you do this with a simple Armored Personnel Carrier? Easy, slap some more armor on it. Give it a {{BFG}} or three and maybe even the ability to crush other things like a tank!
14
15Enter the Awesome Personnel Carrier, the all-around badass vehicle not just meant to be an overpriced and underarmored taxi. In modern warfare settings, expect these to be ripped off from the BMP and M2 Bradley series of vehicles or some of their relations. In sci-fi settings, this might incorporate more elements of the Cool Tank or have an exotic unloading method, or even {{exaggerate|dTrope}} it by being a DropShip.
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17Special mention should be given here as to terminology. The term IFV denotes Infantry Fighting Vehicle, as in a vehicle that directly engages and suppresses the enemy while the squad does its thing after exiting the vehicle. An APC, or Armored Personnel Carrier, simply shuttles the squad to and from battle. It might not actually do any fighting whatsoever. But that doesn't mean it can't be [[RuleOfCool cool]] on its own. APC is commonly used to cover both types of vehicles despite this being incorrect, although the line between armed battle-taxi and light IFV can be quite blurred.
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19Naturally, compare TankGoodness. [[UsefulNotes/IsraelisWithInfraredMissiles Merkavas]] cheat by being both, and the Russian Mi-24 Hind ups the stakes ''again'' by flying. If the [=APC=] often gets confused with an actual tank you've got TanksButNoTanks. For more information on [=APC=]s and [=IFV=]s, see UsefulNotes/ArmoredFightingVehicles.
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21----
22!! Examples:
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24[[foldercontrol]]
25
26[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
27* The opening scene in one of the ''Manga/{{Appleseed}}'' movies has Deunan and her squad being attacked by two [=APCs=] armed with [[GatlingGood gatling guns]] that effortlessly jump through walls and reduce the battlefield to even finer rubble.
28* In ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'', Section 9 relies on a disguised delivery van (complete with harmless-looking corporate logo) that actually doubles as both a personnel carrier and a communications hub.
29* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'':
30** ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamTheOrigin'' {{retcon}}s the amphibious mobile suit Acguy into one, able to fit an entire frogman squad into its comparatively wide torso.
31** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' gives us the [=D50C=] Loto, a 12-meter-high mobile suit that can transform into a tank-like vehicle ''and'' carry a squad of special forces troops inside it, doesn't get more awesome than that. Note the height, however -- the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam from the same series is nearly twenty meters tall plus an extra meter or two in [[SuperMode Destroy Mode]]. The Loto is so small that the 1/144-scale model kit had to be doubled up (two in a single package) in order to match up with the content and price point of a regular Gundam model.
32** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' mostly rejects space warships, unlike other Gundam series, because most of the combat in the setting is counter-insurgency rather than large-scale. Space deployment thus embraces this trope on a [[HumongousMecha Mobile Suit]] scale.
33* ''Literature/RebuildWorld:'' Considering most of the cast are PrivateMilitaryContractors in an AfterTheEnd wasteland, these show up from time to time, usually with built in weapons, also being used for CarFu:
34** During a {{Kaiju}} bounty hunt the Drankam PMC takes on, and Akira gets hired into under Shirakabe, both Shirakabe and Katsuya's forces use them. Shirakabe’s deploys armed motorbikes out the back.
35** MadScientist Yatsubiyashi gets one to serve as a field hospital where he takes advantage of wounded hunters via LeonineContract offers, while investigating a loose experiment.
36** Due to the excessive amounts of ammo Akira expends, he eventually buys one for himself to hold spares (and his CoolBike). He uses it's AutomatedAutomobiles functions to take naps mid-battle, which is important due to his HeroicRROD tendencies.
37** Carol, being relatively wealthy, has a hybrid camper/apc that acts as a full BaseOnWheels.
38* ''Literature/YakitoriSoldiersOfMisfortune''. Averted with the carrier that Unit K-321 are allocated that has an unfortunate resemblance to a school bus. Later they get rescued by SpaceMarines who are driving a far more impressive carrier.
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:Comic Books]]
42* In ''ComicBook/WeStandOnGuard'', LaResistance has modified an oilfield transport to sport a variety of jerry-rigged weaponry to fend off the vehicles of the American occupation.
43[[/folder]]
44
45[[folder:Fan Works]]
46* In the ''Literature/TheTomorrowSeries'' fic, ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7102832/1/Ellie-s-Heroes Ellie's Heroes]]'', Ellie and her friends steal a 10-wheel Piranha APC and use it to great effect in a raid on an enemy-held city.
47* Noting the glaring lack of such a vehicle in the ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' canon, ''FanFic/AFeddieStory'' introduces a the [=M74A6=] Wolfhound, which is based off the canonical Type 74 Hovertruck. An impeller-fan-based hover vehicle with six fans, it has sufficient armor to withstand small arms and low-end anti-vehicle weapons, transports a squad of twelve infantry in (very cramped) conditions, and is armed with a 60mm cannon, a coaxial machinegun, and either a wire-guided or laser-guided antitank missile system depending on the model. They're larger and considerably faster than the tanks they usually operate in support of.
48* The Lancer seen in ''VideoGame/Borderlands1'' shows up in ''Fanfic/FracturedSovereignGFC'', albeit heavily modified for long-range travel. In the sequel, ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}'', ''Fireant'' blastboats serve this role [[JustForFun/RecycledInSPACE IN SPACE]] since troop-carrying shuttles without armaments have ([[JustifiedTrope justifiably]]) been out-of-favor for as long as ships have had point-defense guns, starfighter escorts, [[spoiler:or Flood infestations]].
49[[/folder]]
50
51[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
52* The Colonial Marines APC[[note]](built around the chassis of a surplus Hunslet ATT 77 Aircraft Towing Tractor)[[/note]] carried by the DropShip in ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. It includes sliding armored side doors, front minigun turret, PlasmaCannon turret (with reduced clearance option), no-flat tires, and a fully integrated command station that could provide the platoon leader with real-time video feeds from every grunt. Although it manages to be [[ClownCar bigger inside than out]] -- the squad can stand up within the APC but are taller than it outside.
53* ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' features the C-21 Dragon Assault Ship, featuring eight 50MM sentry guns, dozens of missile pods, not one but ''two'' cockpits, and enough cargo space for a squad of [[MiniMecha AMP suits]].
54* ''Film/BillionDollarBrain'': The tanker-trucks of Texas oil billionaire General Midwinter are disguised troop transports armed with machine-gun turrets and rocket launchers. {{Subverted|Trope}} when they're curb-stomped by the Soviet Air Force; no matter how awesome your personnel carriers are, you still need air support.
55* In ''Film/BlackHawkDown'', the Pakistani troops display this trope by playing TheCavalry the smart way: by charging in heavy [=APCs=] that can withstand the withering crossfire that the American Humvees couldn't. However, once rescued, the Americans aren't happy to be told they're expected to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_desant ride on top of the vehicle]], out in the open.
56* The "Land Master" from ''Film/DamnationAlley''. Amphibious, heavily armed, RV-like and by Major Denton's own admission the only way the survivors will make it to Albany from California.
57* ''Film/DangerCloseTheBattleOfLongTan'': The tropical climate means the relief column's M113s are actually rusty as hell, but the GunshipRescue they and their [[{{BFG}} fifty-calibre machine-guns]] deliver is ''first-rate''.
58* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''Film/DieHard''. After the initial assault on the front doors fails, SWAT sends in "the car", an APC[[note]]It is a Ford M8 Greyhound, a UsefulNotes/WorldWarII-vintage armored car used in the reconnaissance role. It had a small caliber cannon and a crew of four, but no troop transport capacity. The one used by the LAPD has had the turret and gun removed.[[/note]] that immediately gets stuck on the railings of the front steps, then hit by an RPG. Then by another one. So much for full frontal assault on a fortified position. The bad guy hacker calls it "an RV", and when it gets blown up, gleefully shouts that "the quarterback is toast!"
59* In ''Film/{{Doomsday}}'', Sinclair's team enters virus-infected Scotland through the rebuilt Hadrian Wall in a pair of sleek-looking [=APCs=] said to be the last of their types. They look heavy, but a crossbow arrow kills one of the drivers, though the action doesn't let audience wonder about armor long enough to suspend suspension of disbelief.
60* The Herkimer Battle Jitney in ''Film/MysteryMen''. Dr. Heller -- "Wait! You have a Herkimer Battle Jitney? That's the finest nonlethal military vehicle ever made!"
61* In ''Film/ThePentagonWars'', {{inverted|Trope}} to hell and back by the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a stupid MasterOfNone rolling deathtrap designed by the whims of bureaucracy and self-interested politics. It is conceptualized as a combined weapons platform, troop transport and scout vehicle, and cannot effectively do ''any'' of those things. It can't fight because the armour is too thin (to save weight for the insane amount of stuff it carries, especially as it is also designed to be ''amphibious'') and dedicated combat vehicles will chew it up and spit it out; it can't carry a full squad because the planned spaces for the men were removed to make room for all the ammo; and it can't be stealthy because it is twelve feet tall and has a colossal cannon and missile launcher on it, which make it an obvious target for every enemy on the field. [[TroubledProduction While the Bradley IFV's development history really was long complicated]], a lot of how it is represented in the film is [[RealityIsUnrealistic highly exaggerated or misrepresented]]; check out the RealLife section below.[[note]] Summarized briefly, the Bradley was not originally a troop carrier that snowballed out of control, but rather was built around its main weapon from the start. It was always intended to be [[GlassCannon a hard-hitting vehicle with a large gun]], and the relatively thin armor (though comparable to the BMP-1 and 2 it was intended to fight) and tall height was compensated for by [[AlphaStrike using its firepower to knock the enemy out before they could fire back]]. The reduced capacity was understood as a NecessaryDrawback in order to carry the firepower, because [=IFVs=] in general have a different set of priorities to traditional [=APCs=].[[/note]]
62* The villains in ''Film/{{Sheena}}'' use a UR-416 armored car as one of their main vehicles. {{Subverted|Trope}} in that it gets taken out by an elephant, who easily overturns it during the climax.
63* ''Film/{{Soldier}}'''s Crawler APC is just as sophisticated as [[Film/{{Aliens}} the Colonial Marine APC]]: armored side doors, missile launchers, a dual machine gun turret, a remote-controlled mortar, tires larger than its passengers and a command interface fixed onto the driver's pod. The director [[WordOfGod claims]] that the Crawler is almost as powerful as a tank. The model was built from a stripped-down tractor. However, just like the Colonial Marine APC, it had interior size problems when it comes to people 6 feet tall. The solution: hire 5-footers. Oh, and just in case you're wondering, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/soldier_movie_-_crawler_screenshot.jpg this is what it looks like]].
64* A number of the vehicle in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies would count, with the regular troops often outnumbering crew.
65** ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'': The most famous example in the franchise is the [[HumongousMecha AT-AT]], a large quadrupedal carrier that looks like a mechanical elephant without a trunk. This is subverted occasionally though, in that some vehicles that are called transports in fact aren't.
66** The [[SpiderTank AT-TE]] from ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''. Although not specifically referred to as a transport, it is one, and also mounts enough fire to be a respectable threat in their own right.
67* The EM-50 from ''Film/{{Stripes}}'' is an example that is PlayedForLaughs (but is still Awesome).
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Literature]]
71* In ''Literature/TheDoomfarersOfCoramonde'' by Creator/BrianDaley, a sorcerer from a parallel sword-and-sorcery universe grabs an APC and its crew from out of the middle of the Vietnam War...in order to [[CoolVersusAwesome fight a dragon]]. (The sorcerer was actually trying for a [[TankGoodness full-scale tank]], somewhat to the irritation of the APC crew.)
72* The ''Endworld'' novels by Dave L. Robbins features the Family, a benevolent survivalist group made by an extremely rich movie star. The star also paid unemployed Detroit engineers and scientists to create a prototype vehicle called the SEAL. Officially a large recreational vehicle, it's actually a solar-powered, amphibious troop transport that's sealed against hostile environments. It's exceptionally well-armoured being made with experimental plastics and alloys and can combat various enemy types with its arsenal of .50 machine guns, rocket launcher, flamethrower and stinger missile launcher.
73* Downplayed initially in ''The First American Rising'' series by William C. Dietz. First Lieutenant Robin "Mac" [=MacIntyre=] has several Stryker [=APC=]s in her mercenary company "Mac's Marauders". They're very modern vehicles and all are equipped with a ''birdcage'' armor set to protect against rockets. Unfortunately each of her Strykers are only armed with a .50 machine gun. The main hitter for the company is an Apache attack helicopter that joined her company. Later in the first novel, the company gets a number of new Strykers that carry a 105mm cannon.
74* The main characters of ''Literature/TheFungus'' use a heavily modified Alvis [=PV2=] "Stalwart" to venture forth into a London that has been taken over by FesteringFungus.
75* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'':
76** [[SergeantRock Shirakabe]], due to his rank in the Drankam PrivateMilitaryContractors, has one. It's noted that it's standard to get a double share of mission rewards to pay for its upkeep. It has automated machineguns on it, and it's used to launch two of his buddies on motorcycles out the back during one battle, and for medevac operations during another.
77** The MadScientist Yatsubiyashi sets up a field clinic as an excuse to track down one of his escaped test subjects, setting it up in a large converted APC where he overcharges injured hunters in order to force them to work for him in exchange for discounts. He ends up lifting it off its side, which he can do due to his ProfessorGuineaPig experiments giving himself SuperStrength.
78** Due to the high ammo consumption of his chain-gun equivalent [[BifurcatedWeapon SSB multi-weapon rifles]], Akira buys a small APC to make sure that he doesn't run out of ammo and rides his CoolBike out the back of it. It ends up getting blown to pieces (like most of his vehicles), but only after Akira's used up all the spare ammo inside.
79* These appear in ''Literature/{{Worldwar}}'', used by the Lizards (given the technology used by them, they're likely comparable to a Russian BMP, albeit powered by hydrogen). While described as combatable by Tosevite landcruisers... er, human tanks, the missiles often carried by them are quite nasty against said tanks.
80* ''Literature/TheZone'' by James Rouch features the [=FV499=] Hovercraft APC used by the RagtagBunchOfMisfits in the CrapsackWorld of WorldWarIII Europe. According to the stats at the start of "Hard Target":
81-->''A planned production of 300 was cut to 60 due to shortage of engines. Issue is limited to Armoured Reconnaissance and Special Anti-tank units. In both roles they have proved highly popular with users, exceptional speed and cross-country performance giving them a survival rate three times that of any other NATO combat vehicle. A major drawback of the type is the difficulty of recovery if battle damage results in total loss of power. Plans for a special transporter were shelved when production was curtailed.''
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
85* ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': With the Power Rangers' SWAT Mode comes with a SWAT truck that's loaded with cannons and can crash through pretty much anything.
86* ''Series/UFO1970'': The fully tracked Mobiles of SHADO have a radar dish on top and carry a squad of assault rifle-toting {{Red Shirt}}s for taking on the anonymous alien invaders yet are small enough to be deployed via aircraft.
87[[/folder]]
88
89[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
90* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' fields a number of [=APCs=] and [=IFVs=] which include wheeled, tracked, hover, and flying varieties. It is also quite guilty of mixing the categories. The ten-ton 'generic' [=APCs=] aren't much to write home about and thus not this trope (and in fact can't even be used ''as'' [=APCs=] without optional rules because their infantry bays are too small for a full platoon) -- on the other hand, one gets things like the Maxim Heavy Hover "[[TechnicallyATransport Transport]]", which dedicates all of three of its fifty tons to transport space (just enough for a single platoon on foot), but packs a fair-sized array of missiles and machine guns to 'defend' itself with. Adding to this, [=OmniMechs=] and -Vehicles of any stripe can serve as Awesome Personnel Carriers to ''battle armor'' infantry, a friendly four- to six-trooper unit of whom can simply hitch a ride on any of them by clinging to dedicated handholds on the outside.
91* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has the Siege Crab, a [[MagicEnhancement magically altered and reinforced]] [[GiantEnemyCrab Giant Friend Crab]] with a cabin [[{{Squick}} hollowed out of its body]]. A magical piece of headgear lets the wearer control the crab, so it can be used to both carry people through dangerous environments and crush enemies in its four claws.
92* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' has a plethora of these, such as the heavily armed Coalition Mark V, the amphibious Iwo Jima-class hovercraft, or the German Leopard III, which not only carries infantry, but can also lug around a ''small tank''' for extra firepower. Extra points for many Coalition [=APCs=] being VTOL aircraft, and one giant 8-wheeler. While not bristling with turrets like a Victorian battleship in the manner of the previously mentioned Mark V or Leopard, it is immense as it carries a squad of PoweredArmor.
93* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'': The ATV (not to be confused with those four-wheeled dirtbike things) is a fully enclosed and pressurized vehicle capable of carrying 15 passengers, has a hardpoint for a turret, and is a common add-on for spaceships. The AFV sacrifices some passenger space for a triple laser turret. Finally, G-carriers are essentially {{Hover Tank}}s that can carry passengers.
94* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
95** The Imperial Guard has the Chimera, which is essentially a BMP JustForFun/RecycledInSPACE.
96*** Not to mention the Valkyrie Gunship, which is essentially a Hind In SPACE!
97** The Space Marines have Rhinos, which are essentially [[strike: [[Memes/TabletopGames metal BAWKSES]]]] M113s IN SPACE! They also have the Land Raider, which is essentially a mobile fortress packing twin-linked heavy bolters and lascannons. Alternatively, one can view the Land Raider as just a UsefulNotes/WorldWarI tank IN SPACE!
98*** Note, however, that the Rhino isn't particularly awesome for this trope's specifications: its armour and firepower are rather modest for game standards (the IG Chimera mentioned above is ''better'' armed and armoured). Then again, the {{Space Marine}}s inside are also better armed and armored than the [[RedshirtArmy Imperial Guard]].
99*** The Rhino, apparently, is such an Awesome Personnel Carrier that with the exception of the aforementioned Land Raider, Rhino chassis form the basis for every tank the army fields. Need an [=IFV=]? Reduce the transport and stick a couple of heavy weapons on top (The Razorback)! Need a Main Battle Tank? Slap some more armour on the front (internally!) and a turret on top (The Predator)! Need a Multiple Missile Launcher? Just... you get the picture (The Whirlwind).
100*** Let's not forget that this same "APC" is used by the Arbites -- the police -- on Imperial worlds. The cops don't drive around in squad cars. They drive around in fucking tanks. And they will use a whole station house's worth of Rhinos to barricade a damn street if they need to.
101*** The Land Raider has, recently, undergone the same level of insane modding as its Rhino cousin. Anything you can stick on a Rhino these days, you can stick on a Land Raider -- but more. (Helios has a multiple missile launcher like the Whirlwind, Prometheus has a massive comms array like the Damocles Rhino, Redeemer has a pair of super flamers and assault cannons like a Bhaal Predator... and so on, up to one variant which has a fortress-busting siege cannon on its forward miniturret.)
102*** With the capacity to carry eight guys in power suits originally designed for performing maintenance on active plasma generators from the inside.
103** The Imperial Guard also has a super heavy transport, the Crassus. Or, as MemeticMutation demands, the CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT, which can carry thirty Guardsmen or two [[ActionBomb Cyclops]].
104** And the Gorgon, which is basically a scaled-up WWII landing craft with caterpillar tracks, able to carry ''fifty'' infantrymen or two Cyclopes, or, if you really want to bring the pain, three [[MiniMecha Space Marine Dreadnought]] combat walkers.
105** The Marines have the Spartan Assault Tank, an up-armored, up-gunned, and enlarged Land Raider that can carry 25 marines or 12 Terminators. They have something even larger, the Mastodon, with a capacity of up to 40 marines or 20 marines with 2 Dreadnoughts.
106** The Sisters of Battle use the Immolator, which is also built on the Rhino chassis and usually features turret-mounted flamers -- essentially, a Razorback modded as a chapel. They also field the Reppressor, an even more awesome version of the basic Rhino, with expanded transport capacity, a flamethrower miniturret, and a massive bulldozer blade. Like the Marines, they also have the Exorcist, which mounts a Pipe Organ/Multiple Missile Launcher.
107** The Tau have the Devilfish Skimmer, which packs on a [[GatlingGood burst cannon]], some deployable {{Attack Drone}}s, or [[MacrossMissileMassacre multiple-firing]] [[{{Roboteching}} smart missiles]], with the option to mount a couple of [[AntiArmor anti-tank missiles]] for good measure.
108** Orks have Wartrukks and Battlewagons.
109** The Eldar have the Wave Serpant grav-tank fitting into the APC role, with an [[DeflectorShields energy-shielded prow]] and a pair of heavy infantry scale weapons mounted on top, while their Falcon grav-tank fits into the [=IFV=] role, being able to carry smaller squads than the Wave Serpent but having superior weaponry for suppressing enemy armor and infantry.
110** The Imperial Guard have the Stormlord Super Heavy Tank, its basic chassis is shared with that the other Imperial Guard Super Heavies (i.e., [=BaneBlade=] Shadowsword) and it can carry 40 guardsmen and has enough firepower to slaughter any infantry in sight.
111** Don't forget the Eldar Storm Serpent in Epic; this thing doesn't carry infantry like a normal APC but has an in-built webway gate which can pump out as many reinforcements as you need from half the galaxy away.
112** The Dark Eldar Raider, which looks uncannily like a scaled-down version of Jabba the Hutt's sail barge in ''Franchise/StarWars''.
113** The Empire's Capitol Imperialis and Leviathan. Both are giant tanks the size of, and capable of going toe-to-toe with, [[HumongousMecha Titans]]. The former is 50m tall and sports a main gun large enough to fit several regular tanks, which also carries a few companies of infantry. The latter scales the guns down a bit but is a dedicated troop transport capable of carrying a decent-size army on its own.
114[[/folder]]
115
116[[folder:Toys]]
117* In ''Toys/{{BIONICLE}}'', the Toa Terrain Crawler is a living example. [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse It's only used once]].
118* The Earth Defense HQ set from ''Toys/LEGOAlienConquest''. It helps that the set is, by common consensus, exceedingly well-designed and as such is something of an EnsembleDarkHorse among LEGO's 2011 lineup.
119-->''"You will respect the truck! You will keep the truck's weapons loaded and its tank fueled up! You will polish the truck's armor plating each and every day! When the truck saves you from alien brain-drainers -- and it will -- you will thank the truck sincerely! Now get on board and MOVE OUT!!!"''
120[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Video Games]]
123* Most of the CESO tanks from ''VideoGame/{{Achron}}'' can carry infantry with them, which basically turns CESO armies into battlegroups of Awesome Personnel Carriers.
124* ''VideoGame/ActOfWar'' features many RealLife carriers, including the Stryker and the BTR-80, all of them beautifully modeled.
125* The [=APCs=] of ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'' got an upgrade in ''Days of Ruin''; now they are Rigs, which in addition to transporting infantry and resupplying any adjacent units (including naval and even air units, as well as other rigs) can also build repair stations for naval units (on beaches) and air units (on plains).
126* ''VideoGame/AliensExtermination'' lovingly recreates the APC from ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', with an entire level having the players evacuating in the APC while gunning down surrounding alien drones in a tunnel.
127* In ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'', you fight a Stryker at the end of the Saudi Arabia hub. Later on, if you chose SIE as your handler for "Intercept Surkov at US Embassy", you'll get to "Assault Brayko's Mansion" manning the turret of another.
128* In ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}}'' and ''ARMA II'', the successors to ''VideoGame/OperationFlashpoint'', the latter's Bradley is replaced by variants of the LAV-25. The OPFOR continue to use BMP variants.
129* ''VideoGame/ArmoredWarfare'' features a whole slew of [=IFVs=], ranging from early model [=BMPs=] to cutting edge vehicles such as the T-15 Armata. They usually have good mobility, excellent stealth, and a combination of autocannon and anti-tank missiles that can output very high amounts of sustained damage. Their unique Troop Compartment module grants faster repair of damaged modules and higher base capture rate, though they can't actually deploy mechanized infantry until the American Dream update.
130* Most ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' games have this in one form or another. ''[=BF2=]'' gives us the LAV-25 and its Chinese and Russian counterparts, which are in fact so well-rounded in terms of firepower, armour and speed that most people forget they were initially meant to transport and fight alongside infantry. In ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany 2'', [=APCs=] are referred to as "light tanks", but that name is misleading.[[note]]However, BMP ''is'' based on a light tank chassis, and ''does'' count as one in international treaties in RealLife.[[/note]] With 3 machine guns and 1 autocannon, a fully crewed "light tank" can murder infantry in any direction, and it never runs out of ammo. With the alternative weapon upgrade, it can also utilize its wire-guided missile launcher to fight off enemy tanks. Special mention goes to the A3-Goliath IFV from ''VideoGame/Battlefield2142'', a truly massive vehicle armed with grenade launchers, autocannons, and machine guns, with armor that is strong enough to withstand strikes ''from orbit''. Oh yeah, and its armor ''regenerates''. It usually takes a lot of heavy firepower to put that beast down.
131* ''VideoGame/Battlezone1998'' has a [[HoverTank hovering APC]] for both the Americans and the Soviets. They are heavily armored but have no inherent weapons, instead relying on their ability to deploy half a dozen heavily armored and comparatively tiny soldiers that are difficult to hit. The ISDF in ''Battlezone II'' retain the APC, which instead of hovering close to the ground, flies a hundred meters in the air above the range of most defenses before [[DynamicEntry landing in the middle of an enemy base]] to deploy even more heavily armored shock troopers armed with bazookas and grenades, who can wreak havoc in a densely built-up base.
132* ''VideoGame/Borderlands1'' gives us the Lancer in the DLC ''The Secret Armory of General Knoxx''. It seats 4 players, all of whom have some kind of weapon they can use against enemies. It also has at least 50% more hitpoints than the next strongest vehicle in the game.
133* ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'' has the Sdkfz 251 half-track used by Heer Infanterie units. Aside from serving as mobile machine-gun platforms, they're also used to transport German reinforcements into battle, or helping to tow artillery pieces into position.
134* In ''Camp Defense'' from stereo7 Games, taking place in their ''Last Defense'' setting, you are fighting off zombies and raiders with a heavy-duty truck that has a multi-storied frame in its back. The frame carries various post-apocalypse heroes that can shoot or use special abilities. Additionally, modules may be added to the frame, ranging from a cauldron of coals to the turret of a tank and a four-barreled AA gun to a force-field generator.
135* The Cops in ''VideoGame/{{Carmageddon}}'' don't fuck around. Their solution to stopping an AxCrazy speedster who's been mowing down innocent pedestrians: send a bunch of [=APCs=] known as Squad Cars to wreck him/her to death. These [[DemonicSpiders Squad Cars]] are [[LightningBruiser fast, extremely resilient and hit hard]]. When they don't work, the [[ElitesAreMoreGlamorous Special Forces]] come in with the ultimate in road justice: the [[EliteMooks Suppressor]]. Bigger, faster and harder than the Squad Cars, this behemoth can wreck pretty much any other car in the game and can even ''outrace them''. It appears near the end of the game, [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt but if you waste it, you get it]] and the remainder of the game will be a cakewalk.
136** It returns in ''TDR 2000'' and is notable for being ThatOneBoss. It appears as the final target in the last mission, driven by the police commissioner who has the [[spoiler:killswitch to the nuke he had armed]]. [[TimedMission You have to wreck him before the timer runs out]], and you don't have much time... ''and'' his Suppressor is [[NighInvulnerability nigh-invulnerable]], only being [[AttackItsWeakPoint weak on its underside]], so you'll have to flip him on his side somehow. All this while you're being [[FlunkyBoss rammed around and grenaded by a bunch of lesser cop cars]]. [[NintendoHard Yeah]]. [[spoiler:[[GuideDangIt Unless you can find the Nuke power up somewhere near your starting position]] which can be used to [[OneHitKill wreck it in one shot]], provided that you yourself stay clear from the explosion...]]
137** As a nod to the first game, in the last race immediately before the last mission, a DegradedBoss version of the Suppressor (though actually a brand new one fresh from the production lines) will be parked near the ''starting line'', though its actually there to confront you when you make a full lap. Naturally, you might capture its attention should you go backwards when the race begins, along with the attention of [[DemonicSpiders two cop cars]].
138* Featuring throughout the ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' series, the Mechanized Infantry represents the ultimate form of infantry unit in most entries. They are generally intended for defensive roles -- e.g., city garrisons -- and often modeled after real-world examples of this trope like [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Bradley the M2 Bradley]].
139* The Battle Fortress, IFV, Humvee and the many other forms of it in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer''. Some forms, like the Battle Fortress, can crush other vehicles!
140** One particularly hilarious example from ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' is the Bullfrog, an otherwise-normal APC armed with an anti-air gun. Its only outstanding feature is its method of delivery: instead of unloading the troops, it fires them out of a cannon on its back. So we've got a scenario in which you can parachute [[BearsAreBadNews armored war bears]] onto a group of infantry, [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential and the bears have a stun ability and instant-kill attacks]]. The downside is that it's suicide to unload the troops in an area where the enemy has anti-air defenses.
141** Also from ''Red Alert 3'' is the Sudden Transport, a hovering APC that can disguise itself as an enemy vehicle to sneak its troops past enemy lines. Completely unarmed, though.
142** The Allied Multigunner IFV, also from ''Red Alert 3'', is billed as an IFV despite only carrying one soldier. However, its weapon changes to match that unit's specialty -- i.e., loading a rocket trooper gives it (more) rocket pods, and loading a [[AnIcePerson Cryo Legionnaire]] gives it an ice beam. It can even gain weapons from troops of other factions.
143** The Nod Subterranean APC in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSun'' combines this with DrillTank. Even more awesome still for being able to carry the [[SuperSoldier Cyborg Commando]], the ultimate Nod unit in the game, right into the center of an enemy base. Unfortunately, its WeaksauceWeakness is the inability to burrow through concrete, meaning the enemy can rather cheaply cover his entire base with concrete slabs, preventing the APC from surfacing.
144** The Reckoner from ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars Kane's Wrath]]'' is a bit of an odd ball. It is completely unarmed, and infantry can't fire from within it until it deploys, at which point it becomes a permanent bunker.
145** Humvees in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'' can be equipped with drones for self-repair and scouting. Not only that, but it can also carry up to five infantry that can all fire out of the windows, essentially making the Humvee a mobile bunker. Additionally, Overlords are so damn large that you can ''build a Bunker on top of its turret'' (and the Chinese tank general has Emperor Overlords that can carry both a Bunker ''and'' a Propaganda Tower). The GLA has their Battle Bus, an [[TheAllegedCar alleged transport]] that can carry ten infantry and has double health. If destroyed once, it becomes a stationary bunker from which troops can fire out of until it is destroyed again.
146** Honourable mention to ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert'''s Phase Transport. It shows up in a single mission in the ''Aftermath'' expansion, and it can only carry one infantry unit... but on the other hand, the machine gun is replaced with high-powered ''missile launchers'', and it cloaks.
147** Let's not forget the [[ChickenWalker Behemoth]] from ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'', which combines APC with ''Heavy Artillery''.
148** The [=MARV=] Tank, Eradicator Hexapod and the Redeemer {{Hero Unit}}s which the [=GDI=], Scrin and Nod, respectively, can build in ''Kane's Wrath'' can carry four, three or two infantry units, respectively, to serve as support weapons. Unlike other cases, however, the infantry they carry cannot leave the vehicle.
149* As also noted in the Real Life section, the British Kangaroo carrier in ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes''. It's the chassis of a full battle tank, just with the turret removed and the interior filled with seating. It's not particularly well-armed (though infantry can fire their weapons out of the top of it), fast or even pretty, but boy, [[StoneWall can the thing take a pounding]], and they have the highest capacity of any troop carrier in the game -- 15 men in 4 squads. Many British players prefer them over the unit they replace, the Cromwell medium tank, as they solve many of the faction's flaws, chief among which is a vulnerability to snipers and flamethrowers.
150* ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'': The enemy APC is essentially a Bradley clone, complete with chain gun and missiles.
151* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'' uses most of the major [=APCs=] from ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000,'' upgrading them to Clown Car status in the process. The Chimera holds ''42 soldiers'' in some incarnations, though they still die like Guardsmen. Special note should be made to the Space Marines's Land Raider and Land Raider Redeemer as well as the Necron's Monolith (which act as a gate for Necron Flayed Ones) as these examples are essentially [[TankGoodness battle tanks]] but are also troop transports.
152* In ''VideoGame/EmperorBattleForDune'', the Atredies and Ordos use [=APCs=]. The Atredies one can use an InvisibilityCloak while not moving, and the Ordos one is a very nimble HoverTank with a rocket turret for anti-vehicle defense and anti-aircraft defense.
153* ''VideoGame/EmpireAtWar'': The ''Forces of Corruption'' expansion introduces structures and vehicles that can garrison units; naturally, each faction gets their own [=APC=] . The Rebellion gets the HTT-26 (capable of flying over the battlefield), the Empire gets the [=HAVt=] B5 Juggernaut (equipped with a point-defense system for destroying incoming missiles), and the Consortium gets the F9-TZ (equipped with a CloakingDevice). Garm Bel Iblis's ''Gargantuan'' tank takes it a step further, being a massive, heavily-armed and -shielded weapons platform that also has the ability to carry a few units of troops.
154* ''VideoGame/ExtrapowerAttackOfDarkforce'' has the Jaeger 2, the BaseOnWheels for the SPICA mercenary group and, later, for the player characters as well. It has a comfortably large command center, space for research and medicine, and its plating makes it a powerful presence on the battlefield. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking It can even transport troops]].
155* The APC in ''VideoGame/FalloutTacticsBrotherhoodOfSteel'' is one of the few vehicles that can carry your entire squad. While it has no weapons itself, your entire squad can shoot out.
156* In the second main story arc of ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', known as ''Cosmos in the Lostbelt'', Chaldea has the Shadow Border. At first, they use it as a makeshift mobile base, but they continue using it as their main form of transportation after setting up a more permanent base within the Wandering Sea. It establishes its awesome credentials early on by first escaping from their original base (which, mind you, is in ''Antarctica''), then by initiating a Zero Sail, a process that allows them to travel through Imaginary Numbers space. Later on, they upgrade to the [[CoolShip Storm Border]], but the Shadow Border is still used for deploying personnel on foot or for situations where the Storm Border is simply too large to function.
157* The APC in which the player and his squad ride around in the second ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'' game.
158* The Armadillo and its [[WeaponizedCar technical version]], the Junker, from ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar''. Admittedly, driving it [[ScrappyLevel isn't quite so awesome]].
159* ''VideoGame/GhostReconAdvancedWarfighter'' has the Stryker and Bradley on the player's side, and the Mowag and Panhard on the enemy's side.
160* ''VideoGame/GroundControl'' has an APC that can fire at ground or air targets and heal/repair other units, all while carrying a squad of soldiers in PoweredArmor. The sequel's [=APCs=] are considerably less cool but do come with fun tools like flamethrowers and smoke screens. They also have a separate repair vehicle that can carry four soldiers.
161* The "AC-HMV" Gun Trucks of Bit Monster's ''Gunner Z'' are basically customizable IFV that have a crane on a turret for mounting guns that range from a Browning .50 to the 30mm Gau Avenger, a lightning gun and a weapon that shoots razor-sharp discs the size of truck tires. However, given that it's too dangerous for your driver and you to exit out of the AC-HMV, your gun truck acts more like a {{tank|Goodness}}.
162* The [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090527030927/half-life/en/images/6/62/APC.jpg Combine APC]] from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' looks pretty cool. Its design features room for several fully equipped soldiers, a siren, [[ImmuneToBullets bulletproof armour]], [[LightningBruiser a good speed]], and the ability to be plugged in and provide external power for other applications when it's not in use. Its armaments include a mortar-esque [[LaserSight laser-guided]] missile launcher, forward-mounted and fast-firing dummy missiles, and a [[MoreDakka pulse machine gun]].
163* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
164** ''VideoGame/HaloWars'' has the M312 Elephant, which also serves as a mobile infantry barracks. The M313 version has cameos in ''VideoGame/Halo3'' and ''[[VideoGame/Halo3ODST ODST]]'', but it isn't usable except on the multiplayer map "Sandtrap"; it's big enough to transport light vehicles in addition to people.
165** The Mammoth, introduced in ''VideoGame/Halo4'', is basically an upgraded and even bigger version of the Elephant that also has a giant [[MagneticWeapons MAC]] cannon.
166** ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite'' introduces the Razorback, a new vehicle that resembles an up-armoured Troop Transport Warthog and serves a similar role, though with the added benefit of a rear-mounted rack from which Support or certain Power Weapons can be stored onto, with two additional slots for fusion coils. The turret is removed and replaced with seating for four additional passengers. Especially if they are properly armed, having five allies with rocket launchers easily outstrips the firepower of a turret gunner and one passenger.
167* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
168** The first ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' has the player travel around between important points on planets in the Mako which can be dropped in from high atmosphere (kind of like a DropShip, but with less emphasis on the ship part and more on the ''drop'') and has significant armaments to justify its own battle sequences (though you can always get out and try killing them all with your firearms if you feel so inclined, especially since riding the Mako instills an ExperiencePenalty) in the form of a powerful railgun that hits with the power of a tank's main gun and a mass accelerator machine gun. As with all weapons in the ''Mass Effect'' universe, these have effectively unlimited ammo. On top of that, it's ''very durable'', complete with absurdly resilient shields and thick armor, letting it shrug off a dozen anti-tank rockets without even losing the shields.
169** DLC for ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' gives us the Hammerhead, which is part APC, part hover vehicle, and part ''ground-effect aircraft'', now with a guided main weapon. There's also the UT-47A Kodiak Shuttle. Not only is it a heavily armored aircraft that can fly faster than a jet, hover, and carry twelve passengers, but it also has an FTL drive for space travel, DeflectorShields, anti-tank cannons on either side, and two side door-mounted autocannons.
170** As ''VideoGame/MassEffectAndromeda'' returns to the planetary exploration idea, it has the Nomad. While it may not have any guns, it is a durable and speedy thing, with a top cruising speed of 161 KPH (and handles far better than the Mako ''ever'' did).
171* The M113s play an important role in several missions of ''VideoGame/MenOfValor'', which is not surprising for a game set during the Vietnam War. You even get a chance to see the APC's troop compartment from inside while being transported to the battlefield.
172* As many of the vehicles in ''VideoGame/{{Mercenaries}}'' and its sequel are just a case of AKA47, they still apply. Especially the Hind, which is basically going to be your air-evac vehicle of choice; it is basically the toughest chopper available and, like the real thing, is more than capable of clearing out its own LZ, being armed with an autocannon, rocket pods, four to eight anti-tank missiles and possibly even up to four anti-air missiles if you're lucky. The SK and AN Bradley-clones are also a pretty good ground alternative given their powerful autocannons and anti-tank missiles.
173* The Stryker used by Drebin and the [=PMCs=] in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots''; you also get to ride on top of Drebin's during the epic chase scene in chapter 2. It's even been upgraded to have the same octo-camoflage system that Snake has in his sneaking suit.
174* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'' features the flying [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace space version]], the Space Pirate ATC (Armoured Tactical Carriers), and their upgraded counterpart, the Assault Skiff. Both will drop off Space Pirates and continue to provide aerial support via laser fire. They have a weakness in the front-facing heat vents, subverting the 'armoured' aspect.
175* The "[[MookMaker Transporter]]" enemy from ''VideoGame/MiniRobotWars'' appears as a regular, mook-spawning APC... until it gets a helicopter upgrade in the second playthrough. Then it becomes a ''[[AirborneMook flying]]'' APC.
176* The BTR, BMP, M2 Bradley and Humvee in the ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' series take their RealLife counterparts and thrust them into a fictional war with each other. The Seaknight is an airborne version equipped with a machine gun and a Mark-19 auto grenade launcher. Ditto for the helicopters that enemies [[FastRoping fast-rope]] in from, which have mounted machine guns that can kill you almost instantly on Veteran.
177* Being a mil-sim, ''VideoGame/OperationFlashpoint'' is loaded with these. The BMP-1 is ubiquitous throughout most of the campaigns, either as a friend or as a foe. Particularly nasty are the BMP-2 and the Bradley, as both mount powerful autocannons that can rip apart enemy squads and light vehicles from ''kilometers'' away.
178* One of the villains in ''VideoGame/PerfectDark Zero'' has a [[FutureCopter jet VTOL]] combination gunship/personnel transport.
179* ''VideoGame/PlanetSide'' has several: the amphibious 5-seat Deliverers (which look like beefed-up futuristic Hummers) and their faction variants, with their own unique weapons. The Sunderer or "Bang Bus" is an absolutely massive bus covered in guns with the capability of carrying players in MAX armor and seating 11 users. The Sunder was later removed from the game and replaced with a uniquely armed variant for each faction, though all variants have a cattle catcher, an EMP blast ability, and ball turrets on the sides. ''[=PlanetSide=] 2'' only has the Sunderer, but it functions much better as an APC due to far better handling, [[CarFu ability to run over smaller vehicles]], [[MoreDakka a metric crapton of weapons]], and an array of support abilities like [[BaseOnWheels deploying to turn into a spawn point]] and [[NoSell being able to phase through anti-vehicle barriers]] for a limited time.
180* In ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' you drive the "Zero-One", an all-terrain vehicle that can withstand going inside a volcano or outer space, withstand flamethrower attacks, [[WeDontNeedRoads fly and travel over water]]. With it, you must carry out the awesome task of... [[FirstPersonSnapshooter taking wildlife photos]].
181* ''VideoGame/ProjectReality'' gives us the BMP-3, which packs more firepower than most tanks in the game, is amphibious, and still has room for a full infantry squad.
182* ''VideoGame/RedFaction: Guerrilla'' has drivable [=IFVs=], mounted with machine guns, [[MoreDakka railguns]], and other futuristic weaponry, forming an integral part of the enemy EDF's presence on Mars. They are notable for the loving detail of their models and are undoubtedly cool.
183* An update to ''VideoGame/RedOrchestra2HeroesOfStalingrad'' introduced the German Sd Kfz 251 Ausf. C and Lend-Lease Universal Carrier for the Wehrmacht and Red Army. Both can be driven by just about any regular soldier, can carry up to a half dozen men, and have usable machine-guns.
184* The ''Bear'' APC from ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2''. It features an independent driver-controlled MG turret, six wheels, heavy armour, seating for 4 or 5 passengers, and can keep up with most four-wheeled vehicles. You can even install a NitroBoost in it!
185* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'''s ''Lightning'', ''Blue Jet'', ''Elve'', ''Gigantic'' and ''Red Sprite'' straddle the line between IFV, APC and CoolShip, as they share attributes of all three: they are insanely well equipped with plasma armor, limited VTOL capabilities and attack turrets, but they are unsuited for entering each of the Schwartzwelt's sectors for direct combat due to terrain issues, though the ''Red Sprite'' does a wonderful job of directly engaging Horkos. Each carries a massive contingent of armed soldiers and support units, and have enough supplies and technology to count as independent bases by themselves.
186* ''VideoGame/SoldiersOfAnarchy'' has several options in this regard, all of them real-life models.
187** Humvees are the weakest (a single mine or RPG is enough; snipers can kill the crew without damaging the vehicle) and can only carry two passengers plus crew, yet they are fast and have variable weaponry (M60, TOW missile or grenade launcher). They can also carry combat gear, unlike the others.
188** [=BTR-60s=] have the second highest capacity (10 passengers plus crew) of all ground vehicles. They use a turret-mounted machine gun and smoke grenade launcher, perfect for hot drops.
189** The BMP-1 is a rather fearsome opponent, armed with a machine gun, a cannon and ''AT-2 anti-tank missiles''. It can't carry as many passengers but it more than makes up for that with its significant firepower.
190** Finally, there is an M163 around mid-game that can carry as much people as the BMP even though it's technically a [[GatlingGood self-propelled anti-aircraft gun]]. An APC with a minigun, how cool is that?
191* ''Spellcross: The Last Battle'' from Cauldron Interactive has an interesting aversion with its Transporter choices. Whether it's the Marder, M113 or Piranha, none of these vehicles can transport any troops. Instead they serve as a fast-moving, extra-light tanks or exotic weapon platforms. Of the conventional APC, the Piranha is the best as its something of a MasterOfAll. Your scientists will eventually research new weapons such as lasers, rail guns and flamethrowers and then mount them on various APC chassis to create the new vehicles: [[WeWillUseLasersInTheFuture Laser-Strahler]], Elmag I and Elmag II as well as the [[KillItWithFire M132]]. The reason why [=APC=]s are used instead of tanks is that the APCs can easily swap out the old space for housing soldiers for an extra power plant, tanks were simply too cramp and had nothing more to remove.
192* A rather unconventional example as it's actually a sentient being, but Nydus Worms from ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'' work as the only ground-based transport in the game. They are burrowing transports that can unburrow ''anywhere'' in the map and can transport a huge amount of units through it. Even if they have a weakness in that their unburrowing is very noticeable is compensated come ''[[VideoGame/StarCraftIILegacyOfTheVoid Legacy of the Void]]'', in which they become invulnerable while unburrowing.
193* ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter 2'' has a highway tunnel where you run up against a pair of [=APCs=] with machine gun turrets, and you must [[BlackoutBasement kill the lights]] to advance.
194* ''VideoGame/TerminatorDarkFateDefiance'': You have numerous options for transporting men in the field. The Founders, being TheRemnant of the United States Army, take the M113 and the Stryker [=APC=] as well as the Bradley [=IFV=]. The [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Movement]] have the perhaps even cooler option of taking [[BigBadassRig up-armoured and armed civilian rigs towing trailers]]. ''Honk honk'', wireheads. Even their modified war vans can be useful in a pinch and they're very cheap too.
195* ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesII'': [[TheSquad Class G]]'s vehicle can be configured as an APC, which only requires one command point to activate, while most tank chassis require at least two. The Utility APC frame has an exceptionally high capacity for equipment, allowing it to adapt to almost any situation. It can build bridges and ladders to bypass enemy fortifications, negate GeoEffects for nearby allies, break rocks to create paths, and more. While it is less durable than a tank and can't equip any of the anti-tank turrets, the flamethrower is very good for taking out bunkers or clusters of enemy soldiers (especially before you can upgrade your shocktroopers to commandos) and its carrying capability lets you stock a lancer or mauler to deal with any tanks it encounters. The tank/APC debate essentially boils down to "One CP light tank vs. Utility APC", with many preferring the APC because of the flexibility it provides. This functionality was carried over to and improved on in ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesIII''.
196* ''VideoGame/{{Vanquish}}'''s seventh level has you aided by an APC armed with a [[{{BFG}} railgun]] that can take out [[GiantMook Romanovs]] in one shot.
197* ''VideoGame/WargameEuropeanEscalation'' is played on such large maps that infantry moving on foot would never be able to get to where they're needed, so every infantry squad comes with a transport vehicle. Most of them are listed under RealLife, below.
198* [=APCs=] are units available for both NORAD and WOPR in ''VideoGame/WarGamesDefcon1'', being used to transport drones, personnel, scientists and the like across enemy territories. One notable mission in Hong Kong has an objective where players must direct an amphibious APC across the harbour to retrieve a drone on an infiltration mission in order to scan the drone's memory banks.
199* ''VideoGame/WarWind'' has the Incinerator used by the Marines. The vehicle has decent armour, can carry up to four units, and is armed with a ''double-mounted'' flamethrower. However, it is vulnerable to enemy units with Deconstructor ability, and can easily massacre your own troops (if the friendly fire option is activated in the options menu).
200* In ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}'', the later troop transports ([[spoiler:Shrike]] and especially [[spoiler:Valkyrie]]) definitely count, but the good old Chinook is pretty awesome too in its own class.
201* In ''VideoGame/{{Z}}'' an APC can be fitted with any kind of robots, including Toughs, which transforms the APC to a light, fast missile launcher, or with [[KillItWithFire Pyros]].
202[[/folder]]
203
204[[folder:Webcomics]]
205* ''Webcomic/RankAmateur'' includes the HSD's all-terrain six-wheel ''Venturer'' vehicles -- they're the size of dump trucks and can carry their own artillery banks.
206* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'' features something of a [[http://www.sssscomic.com/comic.php?page=189 cross between an APC and a Winnebago]], designed to spend days at a time in [[DeathWorld the Silent World]] with a reasonable degree of safety and comfort. However, it's quite a bit less awesome than [[http://www.sssscomic.com/comic.php?page=185 some of the others in that garage]], and a bit {{used|Future}} to boot.
207* ''Webcomic/TheWhiteboard'':
208** In a 2003 strip, Doc fits a regular [=M2A3=] Bradley IFV with a hot tub, complete with girls and probably an entertainment system, as a gift for the Army after the RealLife capture of UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein.
209** The 2010 ZombieApocalypse story arc features an apparently up-armed version of the APC from ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', its firepower consisting in part of an [[MacrossMissileMassacre ungodly amount of guided missiles]] as well as [[MoreDakka several machine gun turrets]].
210[[/folder]]
211
212[[folder:Western Animation]]
213* Providence's assault vehicles in ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' are built to withstand attacks from E.V.O.s, carry squads of soldiers, and have a machine gun and missile launcher fitted on each side.
214* ''Franchise/GIJoe'' has examples on both sides of the battle.
215** The Joes have the classic APC, the Monster Blaster APC, and the Rhino, which [[DetachmentCombat has a helicopter which docks in the middle]].
216** Cobra has the Parasite and the B.A.T. APC (a repaint of the Monster Blaster, but it's a cool design).
217* The police in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' have TheRoaringTwenties-style [[http://avatarthelastairbenderonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Polic-Truck.png armored trucks]] for carrying officers into dangerous situations.
218* In ''WesternAnimation/MightyDucksTheAnimatedSeries'', the Mighty Ducks travel on the ground in the Migrator, which has various weapons and features built in. In one episode, it's damaged, and they try using [[SuperPrototype a new model]] -- it doesn't end well.
219* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Ultra Magnus is a big bot who transforms into a car carrier truck that can transport a few of [[TransformingMecha his Autobot comrades]] into battle.
220* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' has Grandus and his repaint [[ShoutOut Dug Base]], who turn into Cybertronian Personal Carriers. They're naturally on the big side in both size and girth.
221[[/folder]]
222
223[[folder:Real Life]]
224* The BMP series of vehicles radically altered the conventional wisdom of APC warfare from just a "Battlefield Taxi" to a vehicle that could actually defend itself against tanks and support the infantry. The BMP was '''so cool''' with its 73mm cannon, anti-tank missiles and 360º firing ports it was re-christened as the first ''Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle''.
225** BMP-1 technically ''is'' a light tank (namely, PT-76 amphibious tank) with somewhat reduced armament and other non-essential stuff thrown out to free enough space for a squad of infantry. However it turned out to be less awesome in practice - the 73 mm gun was infamously slow and inaccurate.
226** The BMD series are their respective [=BMPs=] with even more stuff thrown out to allow them to be [[ItsRainingMen parachute-dropped]] at the cost of paper-thin armour. The RedsWithRockets were, and the UsefulNotes/RussiansWithRustingRockets are, the only military with ''fully mechanized'' paratroops.
227** The BMP-2 is very similar to the BMP-1, but trades the 73mm cannon for a much more useful [[MoreDakka a rapid firing 30mm]] with an improved turret, at the cost of being able to carry one less passenger.
228** The BMP-3 is the most heavily armed of the lot, retaining the 30mm and [[NoKillLikeOverkill adding a 100mm gun/missile launcher]]. That's right: this MICV is more heavily armed than some tanks. Also while the BMP-1 and BMP-2 have nigh-identical armor,[[note]]~36-46 mm of RHA steel equivalent on the front, 17-26 mm RHA equivalent on the sides and rear.[[/note]] the BMP-3 got a notable upgrade in this department to make it resistant to 30 mm AP rounds from the front and close-range 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) AP rounds from the sides and rear. However, with the sheer amount of ammo inside, between the shells for both the 100 and the 30 and the missiles, it is a GlassCannon that has a nasty tendency to explode to a pile of scrap when something big enough looks at it the wrong way.
229** The BTR series of APCs were more or less lame, being light, wheeled boxes, with thin 7-10 mm armor only viable against ball rifle ammunition and the smallest shell splinters, and armed with a 14.5mm machine gun and a 7.62mm machinegun - true to the APC standard of "battle taxi". The most recent variant, the BTR-90, fixes all that, having much heavier armour (12.7 mm AP resistance along the frontal arc), better speed, full NBC protection, and a BMP-2's 30mm automatic cannon in place of the 14.5mm. It has proven rather popular with crews.
230* The [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks American M2 Bradley]] and the [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships British Warrior]] were developed to counter the BMP, what ensued became infantry carrying, tank busting, all around cool machines. The Bradley blew its contemporary, the BMP-2, out of the water in pretty much every regard - it had better missiles, much better armor, better optics, and its gun was effectively far more powerful despite the smaller caliber due to its advanced ammunition. Even the BMP-3 is arguably below the basic [=M2A2=] much less all the upgraded versions that have come out since then.
231** In fact, in [[UsefulNotes/TheGulfWar Desert Storm]] the Bradley IFV's accounted for more Iraqi vehicles destroyed than the [[TankGoodness M1 Abrams battle tanks]] they accompanied. They took greater losses though, but to be fair, most of the losses (17 of 20) were friendly-fire incidents.
232** The Yanks were pretty bad about this: something like 3/4 of all American vehicles lost during the war were destroyed by friendly fire.
233*** That the Bradleys were mostly assigned to cavalry scout units accounts for the high attrition; recon troops have been notoriously susceptible to friendly fire since dirt was invented. Even friendly fire from their accompanying tanks. The fact that the vast majority of combat missions were flown by US aircraft is also a contributing factor, as was the fact that being hit from above or behind was about the only thing that could knock them out.
234*** It has been stated that the Bradley is a jack of all trades but master of none, since it's a track-laying, 30 ton, gun-and missile-toting thing that makes anybody who looks at it think "TANK!", carries only half a squad of infantry, and doesn't carry enough gun to be considered a full tank. It even got its own [[Film/ThePentagonWars movie mocking it.]] As the disgusted engineers put it, [[ArtisticLicenseMilitary "It's a troop carrier that can't carry troops, a recon vehicle that's too conspicuous to do reconnaissance, a psuedo-tank with less armor than a snowblower, but carries enough ammo to take out half of DC."]][[note]]The Pentagon Wars movie misrepresents the development of the Bradley as a MasterOfNone vehicle that was originally intended to be a Battle Taxi that was feature crept to it's current form, which is not particularly accurate as it was always intended to have a large autocannon in order to support troops rather than simply dropping them off and the complaints about low troop capacity and the like were a NecessaryDrawback to keep everything at a reasonable size [[/note]] The Bradley's performance in actual combat so far has been excellent; at the battle of 73 Easting two troops of US Cavalry mounted mostly on Bradleys rolled up an entire Republican Guards armored division like a cheap rug while suffering almost no casualties, with each Bradley accounting for several Iraqi tanks and literally dozens of Iraqi [=BMPs=].
235** The British Warrior has had a very understated career, just persistently being there in the background and doing the job modestly, reliably and stomping out 30mm RARDEN nightmares to anyone unfortunate enough to cross its path. It's soon to gain one heck of a popularity boost though, with the [=CT40=] Turret upgrade happening soon giving it an auto-stabilised 40mm cannon and a new sensor package. Yup, the British make their upgrades very simple and true to the word of MoreDakka. Unlike the Bradley, the Warrior lacks anti-tank missiles, the British thinking being that if you're using an APC to fight tanks you're doing it wrong.
236** Less well known are the British [=FV103=] Spartan (basically a CVRT Light Tank without the Turret and with space for a Section) and [=FV432=] Bulldog. Both of which have been quietly taxiing squaddies around battlefields for nearly fifty years now.
237** The British will soon be adding the Ajax to their list, the turreted version of which will have the same 40mm cannon as the Warrior.
238* The [[SemperFi U.S Marines]] were planning on upgrading their own AwesomePersonnelCarrier with the amphibious Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle ([=EFV=]), due to enter full service in 2015. Not only can it carry seventeen Marines, but also packs a [[MoreDakka 30mm autocannon]], more powerful than the Bradley's 25mm gun, and has a whopping 2700 hp engine and amphibious capability, making it one of the most mobile armored fighting vehicles around. Compare this kind of power to most tanks, which have ~1500 hp, and other [=APC=]s, which have 1000 hp or less. Of course, it only uses its full power when traveling on water, and uses only 850 hp on land. It also essentially transforms into a boat mode, sealing up various panels and extending the front into a prow. Unfortunately, the program has since been cancelled due to the budget costing a projected 15 billion American dollars.
239** Their current [=AAV7=] is more of a very high-capacity (25 troopers) APC. Its nature as a MilitaryMashupMachine is made quite obvious by its boat-shaped front.
240* The Canadian LAV-III and all its derivatives, also having 8 wheels rather than tracks it - can move a lot faster then most other IFV's, and is amphibious.
241** The Aussie version, the ASLAV, is even more awesome by having something most military vehicles lack, [[MundaneUtility air conditioning]].
242** The American version would be the Stryker, which, like all American vehicles deployed in support of OIF, has at least nominal air conditioning. A variant trades troop capacity for a [[{{BFG}} tank gun]], becoming a GlassCannon.
243** The LAV-25 is itself a derivative of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOWAG_Piranha MOWAG Piranha I]], while the Stryker is a derivative of the Piranha III, both produced by Switzerland.
244* During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, the US fielded a simple vehicle known as the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT). In essence, this was a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin landing craft with tracks]] on it, capable of hitting the beach and rolling inland from there. It was originally intended to haul cargo ashore without forcing troops to drag heavy crates up the beach, but it didn't take long for it to be equipped with ever increasing amounts of armor protection and firepower. The Marines loved it, but lacking much in the way of mechanics, they were unable to maintain them. Typiaclly a Marine unit would roll ashore with a complement of [=LVTs=], using them to provide mobile cover and fire support until they would break down and be abandoned where they stopped, and hope to get a replacement later. The LVT(8) was essentially an amphibious tank: in addition to the two HMG positions it carried the turret of an M5 Stuart tank in a fully enclosed superstructure. it was still also capable of carrying troops or cargo.
245* Recently, due to the battlefield saturation with [=IFVs=] and antitank weapons, a new class of [=APCs=] started to appear -- namely, a ''heavy'' IFV: essentially a full-on [[TankGoodness main battle tank]] with all attendant protection, but carrying not a large caliber gun, but a common IFV kit -- [[MoreDakka an autocannon or grenade launcher]] and a squad of infantry. Many are, in fact, conversions of an older [=MBTs=] too obsolete for their original role, but still too solid and functional to be worth scrapping.
246** Israeli ''Azcharit'' and Russian ''BTR-T'' are both conversions of the venerable, but sadly outdated T-55. On a similar theme, the Israeli ''Puma'' is one of a number of conversions of the Centurion MBT used by IDF Engineers. The most awesome of the Centurion conversions would be the ''Nagmachon'', which instead of simply plating over the former turret location has a heavily armored mini-tower for machine guns, looking more than anything like a miniaturized version of a battleship's superstructure. This structure makes the Nagmachon an incredibly effective urban combat vehicle.
247** The ''[[UsefulNotes/IsraelisWithInfraredMissiles Merkava]]'' ("Chariot") is often affectionately referred to as "heavy APC" as well, despite being a full-on MBT. It has the capacity to carry a squad. but only by ditching most of its main cannon's ammunition. Those big rear doors are intended for rapid reloading, not infantry, but in a pinch the Merkava can carry most anything. In some cases, a Merkava will even be used as a "tankbulance", discarding most of the ammo to evacuate wounded troops.
248*** As of 2008, Israel started to produce an actual APC based on the Merkava chassis called ''Namer''[[note]]Hebrew for "leopard", but also an [[FunWithAcronyms acronym]] of "'''Na'''gmash" (Hebrew for APC) and "'''Mer'''kava".[[/note]], making it a truly AwesomePersonnelCarrier. It's easily the best-protected APC in the world. The original plan was a conversion of obsolete Merkava Mark I tanks, along the lines of the above-mentioned T-55 and Centurion conversions. But ultimately, only the prototypes were built in this manner and production models instead used newly-built hulls based on the current, even better-armored Merkava Mark IV design. While the basic Namer is armed only with a machine gun, an IFV version with a 30mm autocannon and anti-tank guided missiles has also been prototyped. Increased automation has allowed for the turret containing these weapons to be completely external instead of needing to pierce the hull, meaning that with unlike past [=IFVs=] there's no loss in troop-carrying capacity to add the firepower.
249*** There's another variant, the Nemmerah ("leopardess") which can not only tow the Merkava, but also swap an extra power system with it, recharging it in under two hours.
250*** As has been talked about with the Mi-24 "Hind", and it's limitations with carrying troops while laden with ordinance: Getting rid of ammunition to make room to load infantry into your pseudo IFV when under fire is a self-solving problem.
251* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier M113]] has to rate pretty well. Despite being an ugly, under-armoured box-on-tracks, it has seen more roles, and been used my more countries than probably any other armoured vehicle. It also remains in use in the country of its production, despite being over 60 years old. It's also the third most numerous armoured vehicle of any time-period, being outdone only by the T-54/55 tank and the Bren Carrier (roughly 100K both).
252* And lets not forget [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_IX_tank the granddaddy]] [[http://www.landships.freeservers.com/mk9_info.htm of them all]], the British Mark IX from the late stages of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI...
253** Unfortunately these proved to be (as with all the UsefulNotes/WW1 tanks) less than successful. The main problems being that WWI tanks struggled to go faster than a brisk walking pace and conditions inside the early tanks being so bad that even if the troops managed to remain conscious they disembarked in no condition to fight. Not to mention they had abysmal mechanical reliability. Rather more successful was the series of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_%28armoured_personnel_carrier%29 Kangaroos]] that appeared late in UsefulNotes/WW2.
254** The German Sdkfz 251 shows the difficulty in dividing [=APC=] from [=IFV=]. The basic model had a couple of machine guns but variants had flamethrowers, triple mounted 15mm [=HMGs=], a light [=PaK=] gun and the turret from an armoured car.
255** The good old British Universal Carrier from UsefulNotes/WW2, also known as the Bren Carrier. It was, however, the most famous personal carrier, rather than the most awesome one.
256*** Also ''the'' single most produced armoured vehicle in history, with over 100,000 made. Its not exactly fast, well-armoured, nor even particularly attractive, but it got the job done. It's a stellar example of BoringButPractical.
257*** More explaination of above: The Universal Carrier wasn't about fighting tanks. It was about ferrying infantry and their support weapons around. The machine guns, mortars, and anti-tank weapons of an infantry unit are mounted in a small tracked vehicle, where they are much more mobile and likely to be in a place to acutally help their assigned infantry. Much is made of the German machine guns, et al., but the standard British response was to call up the UCs with the unit and use the mortar one of them was carrying to shell the enemy.
258* In an unusual example, the Russian combat-transport helicopter Mi-24 Hind can carry a squad of eight men while being a full-power assault bird with gun turret and full array of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided and unguided missiles, literally intended to be the flying BMP. Apparently, the concept is successful enough to stay in frontline service from '71, as well as being adopted by countless countries, including basically the whole former Warsaw pact and India.
259** It should be noted, however, that it can't transport personnel while carrying a full armament. In fact, personnel transport is mostly seen as a distant secondary task to infantry support and strike missions.
260*** It's still seen as useful enough (especially in extraction, medevac and other SAR missions) that Russian AAF recently ordered a batch of a newly-built Mi-35 (an upgraded and mostly export versions of Hind) ''in addition'' to the dedicated gunships like Mi-28 and Ka-50/52. In certain situations Hind's ability to clear up its own LZ and generally look for itself is invaluable.
261*** Having too much ammo to perform a pickup in contact with the enemy is a self-solving problem.
262*** Still the Russians in Afghanistan usually used Mi-8 Hip helicopters for transport and the Hinds only for for fire support. While still having an extra crew member in the troop bay, with a machine gun or two.
263* The German Puma IFV is among the heaviest and best armored [=APCs=] out there, with a maximum weight of 43 tons, still maintaining a high power-to-weight ratio. Using four A-400M transport aircrafts, you could quickly transport three Pumas into the theatre - one of the planes would transport the additional armor (which can be flexibly mounted). The Puma's unmanned turret houses a 30 mm autocannon with airburst ammo, Spike anti-tank missiles with a range of 4,000 meters and a coaxial machine gun. Of course, air conditioning, full NBC protection a very smooth and low-profile hull and an active defense system capable of defeating modern [=ATGMs=] can also be found aboard it.
264** The West German Marder was the second MICV ever developed, and predated the Puma's design. It is still in service in many places.
265** Before the Puma the Marder 2 was conceived in the 1980s to replace the Marder 1 to accompany the Leopard 2 tank into battle. Unfortunately it was canceled in 1992 as it was [[TooAwesomeToUse too large, too heavy and too expensive]] for the post-Cold War era.
266* Newer Russian models of[[TankGoodness the tank-based]] T-15 includes both the heavier armed[[note]]The current version is armed with the ubiquitous 30-mm autocannon, though in the future a 57-mm or a telescoping 45-mm upgrades are projected[[/note]] IFV version, and the lighter armed APC variant (their armor being pretty much the same). The lighter "Kurganets-25" platform mounts pretty much the same turrets, but the IFV version is also better armored as well, while the wheeled "Boomerang" platform is primarily an APC, but also features the more heavily armed version, with some designers even proposing fitting it with the [[GlassCannon 125-mm turret from a "Sprut" light tank]].
267* In most cultures chariots were a predecessor to the HorseArcher. Among Celts and pre-classical age Greeks (according to possible interpretations of Literature/TheIliad) they were an AwesomePersonnelCarrier. Making this OlderThanFeudalism.
268** Also the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_wagon War wagons]] used by the Hussite rebels in 15th century Bohemia.
269* Honorary mention goes to the Schützenpanzer lang Hs. 30 also known as the Schützenpanzer 12-3, the fisrt German APC/IFV after the Wiederbewaffnung. At a time were other APC only sported an .50 machinegun or equivalent it was armed with a 20 mm autocannon that could, under the right circumstances, even threaten (certain) tanks of the era.
270* Singapore employs several versions of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionix_AFV Bionix AFV]] that are intended to replace the [=SAF's=] ageing collection of [=M113s=]. Some of the variants developed include a bridge-layer and a mine-clearing variant.
271* The [[UsefulNotes/SwedesWithCoolPlanes Swedish]] [=CV90=] IFV family is a well-regarded IFV that's been highly popular in Northern Europe due to its emphasis on reliability in even the harshest winter conditions. The Swedish Army's version (the [=CV9040=]) is armed with a 40 mm autocannon (at the time of its introduction the largest autocannon on any IFV), while export customers have all preferred the [=CV9030=] or [=CV9035=] ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin with 30 or 35 mm autocannons]]), accepting less destructive shells in exchange for larger ammunition capacity. Aside from the armament options, they're also divided into Mark I through IV, with the later versions having enhanced armor and electronics. The latest [=CV90=] Mark IV has a new version of the 35 mm autocannon that can be easily converted by swapping the barrel into a [[MoreDakka 50 mm cannon]]. Another version offered is the turretless "[=CV90=] Armadillo", which rather than using the removal of the turret to increase troop capacity, instead becomes a "heavy APC" with armor comparable to a tank. Like the Israeli Namer, an IFV version of the Armadillo has been proposed via an unmanned external turret but has yet to be tested as of 2022.
272[[/folder]]

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