A light tank is a tank variation that was originally designed to outmanoeuvre bigger tanks by moving quickly in and out of combat. It is smaller in size, with thinner armour and a weaker main gun, and is designed for superior tactical mobility as well as ease of transport and logistics. They are generally used for screening, armoured reconnaissance, skirmishing, artillery observation, and complementing landing operations in the fire support role of expeditionary forces when larger, heavier tanks are unavailable or have difficulty functioning safely or efficiently.