Tankbaserade

Tankbaserade is a Swedish term used to describe something that is based on or centered around tanks. In military and defense contexts, the expression refers to doctrines, operations, or force structures that rely primarily on armored fighting vehicles for offensive action, breakthrough, and rapid maneuver. The term appears in Swedish-language defense analyses and war studies to distinguish tank-centered approaches from infantry- or air-dominated concepts.

Etymology: the compound comes from tank and baserad (based), directly translating to “tank-based.”

Applications in military doctrine: Tankbaserade concepts emphasize the concentration of main battle tanks to achieve armored penetration, exploitation of breakthroughs, and rapid pursuit. They are typically integrated with mechanized infantry, artillery, engineer support, and air assets in a broader combined-arms framework. Critics point out vulnerabilities to anti-tank weapons, air power, and anti-armor defenses, and note that modern operations often require dispersion, mobility, and sophisticated logistics rather than sole reliance on heavy armor.

Non-military usage: In gaming, simulations, and educational contexts, tankbaserade describes scenarios or mechanics where tanks are the central combat units or strategic focus. The term can also appear in comparative analyses of military reform or defense planning.

See also: armored warfare; combined arms; mechanized infantry; main battle tank.