What is a glacis plate?

• A. The main armored body of a vehicle.
• B. The toothed, powered wheel transfers power of the engine to the tank's tracks.
• C. The front and most heavily armored portion of a tank.
• D. The free turning wheel which helps maintain track tension.

Answer: (C)

The glacis plate is the front armor plate of a tank’s hull. It sits at the leading edge and is typically angled to increase protection by making incoming projectiles deflect and lose kinetic energy, giving the crew and internal systems better shielding as the vehicle faces threats head-on. Because of its position and extra armor, it is the frontmost and most heavily armored portion on many designs. The other parts described refer to different components: the hull armor covers the main body, the drive sprocket is the toothed wheel that powers the tracks, and the idler or tension wheel helps maintain track tension.