Definition

Noun: 1. A military vehicle (usually armored) for transporting military personnel and their equipment: A personnel carrier is a specialized vehicle designed to safely move soldiers and their essential gear, often across challenging or dangerous terrain. It typically features protective armor.

Usage

The term "personnel carrier" is used to specify the primary function of a military vehicle as a troop transport. It is often modified by other words to indicate specific types (e.g., armored personnel carrier, tracked personnel carrier).

Examples

• The infantry battalion deployed using a fleet of personnel carriers.
• An armored personnel carrier provides protection against small arms fire and shell fragments.
• The mission required a personnel carrier capable of amphibious operations.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be part of formal military designations and classifications for vehicles.
• In historical or technical contexts, it distinguishes transport vehicles from tanks, artillery, or reconnaissance vehicles.

Variants and Related Words

• Armored Personnel Carrier (APC): The most common specific term, emphasizing the vehicle's protective armor.
• Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV): A related but more advanced type of armored vehicle that not only transports infantry but also provides substantial direct fire support in combat.
• Troop carrier: A more general synonym that can sometimes refer to non-armored transport vehicles or aircraft.

Synonyms

• Troop carrier
• Armored transport
• Military transport vehicle

Related Phrases

• Combat vehicle: A broader category that includes personnel carriers, tanks, and other armed vehicles.
• Armored vehicle: A general term for any vehicle with protective plating, which includes personnel carriers.

Noun

1. a military vehicle (usually armored) for transporting military personnel and their equipment