FV 432
| FV432 | |
|---|---|
FV432 in Iraq (2003) |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 2 (driver, commander) + 10 infantrymen |
| length | 5.25 m |
| width | 2.80 m |
| height | 2.28 m |
| Dimensions | 15.3 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Max. 12.7 mm |
| Main armament | 7.62mm L7 GPMG machine gun |
| Secondary armament | Fog lights |
| agility | |
| drive |
Rolls-Royce K60 No.4 MkF4 ( multi-fuel engine ) 177 kW (240 PS ) |
| suspension | Torsion bar |
| Top speed | 52 km / h |
| Power / weight | 11.6 kW / t |
| Range | 580 km |
The FV 432 is a vehicle in the British FV430 series of tracked armored vehicles. Like its US counterpart M113, the FV 432 was used for many different tasks. It is still used today by the British and Indian armed forces. He replaced the Saracen APC .
history
The vehicles of the FV-430 family were built by the British company GKN Defense from 1963 . The vehicle was actually supposed to be called "Trojan", but legal naming problems meant that this tank family was only known under the name "FV". The tank is similar to the M113, but in contrast to this, it is made of steel and not aluminum. This explains why the M113 could be made buoyant in a very short time or even achieved this without major problems. Swimming aids had to be attached to the FV 432. This option was later completely dispensed with. A difference in weight of 4 tons compared to the M113 meant that the M113 drove about 10 km / h faster despite its approximately 30 hp lower performance.
technology
In addition to the driver and commander, this tank has space for ten soldiers who sit on benches attached to the outer wall across the direction of travel. Alternatively, the tank can also carry loads of up to 3750 kilograms with the benches folded up. The soldiers can exit the tank via a large rear door that opens to the right. There is also a roof hatch, but for tactical reasons it is not used to leave the vehicle. The mortar variant, however, uses the hatch as an opening to be able to fire from the armored interior. The tank is equipped with NBC protective ventilation , which was not common with armored personnel carriers of the 1960s, and has a Clansman intercom system with Clansman HF and VHF radios.
The RR-K60 engine is a six-cylinder two-stroke multi-fuel engine and is installed on the front left next to the driver. Earlier versions were also equipped with the eight-cylinder Rolls-Royce B81 petrol engine.
Versions
- Mark 1: personnel carrier, petrol engine
- Mark 1/1: personnel carrier, petrol engine
- Mark 2: crew transporter, multi-fuel engine
- Mark 2/1: crew transporter, multi-fuel engine
- Command tank
- Ambulance tank
- 81 mm tank mortar
- Anti-tank missile carrier
- Peak Engineering L7-A2 GMPG combat tower
- Cymbeline mortar, radar
- Artillery fire control armor
- Battlefield surveillance vehicle
Bulldog
Due to the increased need of the British Army for armored vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fact that the armored Land Rover "Snatch" were not adequately armored, FV-432 personnel carriers with new engines, improved steering and brakes as well as additional armor (for Partly reactive) by BAE Systems . At first there were only 54 vehicles, in August 2006 a further 70 FV 432 were converted. The armor should be at the level of the Warrior IFV . 500 vehicles are now to be upgraded. EloKa systems against IEDs were also installed for use in Iraq .
FV-430 series
There are different versions of the FV 432:
- FV 431: Armored cargo carrier, was not built in series
- FV432: armored personnel carriers and armored personnel carriers
- FV 433 : Abbot 105 mm self-propelled howitzer
- FV 434: REME maintenance tank with hydraulic crane (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)
- FV 435: former FV438, converted into a communications tank
- FV 436: command tank
- FV 438 Swingfire : Swingfire anti-tank missile carrier
- FV 439: Telecommunication tank for Ptarmigan and other radio systems
See also
Web links
literature
- Christopher F. Foss : Modern combat weapons. Stocker-Schmid Verlags AG, Dietikon 1998, ISBN 3-7276-7092-4 .