A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.
The light tank was a major feature of the pre-WWII buildup, where it was expected they would be used to exploit breakthroughs in enemy lines. Numerous small tank designs and "tankettes" were developed during this period and known under a variety of names, including Combat Car and Cruiser Tank. These designs were useful in an era where the infantry had no effective anti-tank weapons, but they were largely forced from the battlefield with the arrival of new weapons.
Since then the light tank has seen use in a variety of "low intensity" roles including fire support, scouting, and reconnaissance roles rather than combat. Many militaries no longer procure light tanks or only deploy them in specialized roles such as airborne or amphibious warfare. In these roles they have been largely replaced by wheeled vehicles mounting similar weapons.
List of Light Tank:
| Light Tank | Picture | Specifications | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tosan |  | Weight: 8 tons Length-Width: 4.9-2.2 m Cannon: 90 mm Engine: - hp Speed: - km/h Range: - km | Iran | 1997 |
| M8 Armored Gun System |  | Weight: 19.25-24.75 tons Length-Width: 8.9-2.69 m Cannon: 105mm Engine: 550-580 hp Speed: 72 km/h Range: 451 km | US | 1996 |
| Stingray Light Tank |  | Weight: 22.6 tons Length-Width: 9.3-3 m Cannon: 105mm Engine: 550 hp Speed: 70 km/h Range: 480 km | US | 1988 |
| M551 Sheridan |  | Weight: 15.2 tons Length-Width: 6.3-2.8 m Cannon: 152mm Engine: 300 hp Speed: 70 km/h Range: 560 km | US | 1969 |
| Type 62 Light Tank |  | Weight: 21 tons Length-Width: 7.9-2.9 m Cannon: 85 mm Engine: 430 hp Speed: 60 km/h Range: 500 km | China | 1963 |
| Type 63 |  | Weight: 19.83 tons Length-Width: 8.44-3.2 m Cannon: 85 mm Engine: 402 hp Speed: 64 km/h, 12 km/h (water) Range: 370 km, 120 km (water) | China | 1963 |
| AMX-13 | France | 1952 | ||
| PT-76 | Soviet Union | 1952 | ||
| M41 Walker Bulldog | US | 1951 | ||
| Type 2 Ke-To | Japan | 1944 | ||
| Type 4 Ke-Nu | Japan | 1944 | ||
| M24 Chaffee | US | 1944 | ||
| Light Tank Mk VIII | UK | 1943 | ||
| M22 Locust | US | 1943 | ||
| Type 98 Ke-Ni | Japan | 1942 | ||
| T-70 | Soviet Union | 1942 | ||
| Marmon-Herrington CTLS | US | 1942 | ||
| T-40 | Soviet Union | 1941 | ||
| T-60 tank | Soviet Union | 1941 | ||
| M3 Stuart | US | 1941 | ||
| M2 Light Tank | US | 1940 | ||
| Toldi (tank) | Hungary | 1939 | ||
| 7TP | Poland | 1939 | ||
| T-50 tank | Soviet Union | 1939 | ||
| 10TP | Poland | 1938 | ||
| Verdeja | Spain | 1938 | ||
| Light Tank Mk VII Tetrarch | UK | 1938 | ||
| M1 Combat Car | US | 1937 | ||
| AMR 35 | France | 1936 | ||
| SOMUA S35 | France | 1936 | ||
| Hotchkiss H35 | France | 1936 | ||
| Type 95 Ha-Go | Japan | 1936 | ||
| Panzer II | Germany | 1936 | ||
| Panzer 35(t) | Germany | 1936 | ||
| Light Tank Mk VI | UK | 1936 | ||
| AMC 34 | France | 1935 | ||
| Renault R35 | France | 1935 | ||
| Panzer I | Germany | 1934 | ||
| AMR 33 | France | 1933 | ||
| T-28 | Soviet Union | 1933 | ||
| T-26 | Soviet Union | 1931 | ||
| Vickers 6-Ton | UK | 1928 | ||
| Renault FT | France | 1917 |
