tank destroyern.
/ˈtaŋk dᵻˌstrɔɪə/, U.S. /ˈtæŋk dəˌstrɔɪər/ Something designed to attack and destroy tanks; spec. a fast and highly-mobile armoured fighting vehicle equipped with anti-tank guns.After the Second World War (1939–45) it was decided that there was no functional difference between a tank destroyer and a medium tank; the last tank destroyer units were disbanded in 1946.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > military vehicles > [noun] > armed or armoured > tank-destroyer
tank destroyer1917
tank destroyer1941
1917 Times of India 28 Aug. 7/1 The ‘tanks’ have done uncommonly well during the past week, but are now meeting fresh opposition, namely, ‘tank’ destroyers, which are called anti-tank turrets.
1924 Times 16 Feb. 9/2 The types of machine a mechanical army would require were..a semi-armoured small and fast scout machine equipped with a high velocity gun to act as a tank destroyer, [etc.].
1932 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 24/1 Newest weapon against the formidable tank of army warfare is the ‘tank destroyer’, of which the first recently went into service for the Belgian Army. This motorized unit includes a powerful field gun, mounted on a four-wheeled towing carriage.
1942 Fortune Nov. 117/2 As the lower column of tanks comes into range, the tank destroyers lying in wait on the edge of the woods in the left foreground blast away with armor-piercing ammunition.
1990 C. E. Kirkpatrick Unknown Future 111 More heavily armored tank destroyers resembled tanks so closely that the distinction between the two blurred.
2000 W. S. Dunn Soviet Blitzkrieg ii. 47 The medium and heavy assault guns were used primarily as tank destroyers.
2004 Washington Post (Nexis) 30 May t4 Sighting several concealed German tanks and tank destroyers, Rivers advanced toward the Germans and opened fire.
Compounds
General attributive and appositive, as tank destroyer battalion, tank destroyer unit, tank destroyer weapon, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > military vehicles > [noun] > armed or armoured > tank-destroyer
tank destroyer1917
tank destroyer1941
1941 Ames (Iowa) Daily Tribune 3 July 1/4 Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson said today that the army is organizing 22 tank ‘destroyer’ battalions.
1942 Life 14 Dec. 83/3 The Army is training men in the use of new tank-destroyer weapons and equipment.
1944 Times 18 Aug. 4/4 Our first formations..are ashore with complete tank and tank destroyer units.
1991 N.Y. Times Mag. 26 Feb. a13/4 Army A-10 Thunderbolt tank-destroyer planes claimed 35 more tanks.
2001 R. A. Hart Clash of Arms ii. 77 The policy of pooling prevented integration of the tank destroyer and antiaircraft battalions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1917