Hot Wheels Battle Tank & Command Tank — Casting Info & Complete Collector’s Guide

About the Battle Tank casting

Designed by Larry Wood, Battle Tank uses a low tracked body, small wheels concealed under the sides, a rotating turret and a long gun. The first release kept the Battle Tank name; later packages and catalogs commonly use Command Tank for the same casting. Collector lists describe it as inspired by the M113 family of armored vehicles.

The 1984 tan debut appeared in Hong Kong and Malaysia with the same toy number, 4920. Later releases reused camouflage palettes and numbers across different package types. Check the underside and original package together when a car’s paint alone cannot distinguish the entry.

How to identify the casting and release

1. Look for the molded track sides, small rolling wheels, movable turret and forward cannon.
2. Compare body color and camouflage placement; tan and olive patterns recur across multiple years.
3. Read the base and package for a toy number and country stamp. Some release guides report catalog differences, so do not assign a date from color alone.
4. Use package names such as Action Command, Battleground, Color FX and Night Force to separate set-specific versions.

Documented Battle Tank and Command Tank releases

The two tan 1984 records share toy number 4920 and differ by country of manufacture. The olive 9371 is dated to both 1985 and 1990 in collector references; the 1985 Action Command and 1990 mainline entries should be checked against their original packages.

The 1995 Color Changer listing is separate from the flat-green Action Command 5-Pack issue. Both are included because the finish and package differ.

Physical details

The turret turns on the body and the long gun forms the most exposed part of the sculpt. Look for stress or loss around the mount, cannon tip and turret edges. The small wheels are tucked beneath the molded track shapes, so check that all four remain attached and roll freely.

Color-changing releases can look different depending on temperature. Record the package or set alongside the car’s visible color, rather than treating a single color state as a separate version.

Packaging and release names

Battle Tank is the name used on the first issue; Command Tank appears on later listings and packages. Action Command multipacks, Battleground, Color FX and Night Force references help identify specific releases. Collector and product lists sometimes disagree on years or names, particularly for the olive and Night Force entries.

The 1984 tan car uses 4920 in both country records. Later numbers include 9371, 3870, 11365, 0418, 11043 and 16057; package number and mainline collector number are different fields.

Battle Tank and Command Tank variation web

Open each release guide to compare its paint, package and catalog identifiers.

Condition and completeness

Check the turret and cannon first, then inspect the body edges for chips and the camouflage for rub-through. Look underneath for country and base marks. On color-changing versions, note the conditions under which the current color appears.

For carded examples, assess blister and card wear separately from the tank. Keep a multipack’s original packaging when it establishes which set the car came from.

Value Research

Compare completed sales only after matching the release’s year, color, graphics, package and country where those details are known. Several camouflage treatments recur, and the same toy number can appear in different package records. Check the turret, cannon, wheel condition and paint separately from card or blister wear.

Use the release record and variation web to confirm which version is being compared.

Collector FAQs

Why is the casting also called Command Tank?

The first release used Battle Tank; later releases are commonly listed as Command Tank. Both names refer to the same Hot Wheels casting.

How can I distinguish the two 1984 tan versions?

They share toy number 4920 and the same tan camouflage. Check the country stamp on the base: the records list Hong Kong and Malaysia examples.

Does the 1995 color-changing Command Tank match the flat-green Action Command release?

No. Collector records list a 1995 green color changer separately from the flat-green Action Command 5-Pack car.

What is the best way to compare value?

Match year, package, number, paint and completeness, then compare completed sales for the same release. Loose and carded examples belong in separate comparisons.

Related collector guides

Browse Collector Guides or the Hot Wheels A–Z Casting Guide for other castings.