MIM-72 Chaparral

MIM-72 Chaparral (M730)
MIM-72 Chaparral, recorded before 2007
General properties
crew	5 men
length	6.06 m
width	2.69 m
height	2.68 m
Dimensions	11 t
Armor and armament
Armor	Max. 44 mm
Main armament	4 × MIM 72C surface-to-air missile
Secondary armament	k. A.
agility
drive	6-cylinder diesel engine, water-cooled 160 kW (215 PS)
suspension	Torsion bar
Top speed	68 km / h
Power / weight	14.54 kW / t
Range	483 km

The MIM-72 Chaparral was an American short-range anti-aircraft missile system . The designation M-48 Chaparral , which can also be found occasionally, refers to the carrier vehicle, while the guided weapons themselves are designated MIM-72.

The system was retired from the US armed forces during the 1990s but then sold to foreign forces. In order to extend the lifespan of the rockets for them, the supplier of the rocket motors Orbital ATK built and delivered 800 replacement motors in 2008 and 1384 in 2012.

History of origin

In the 1960s, Britain and the US negotiated unsuccessfully about the introduction of a joint short-range anti-aircraft missile system called MIM-46 Mauler , which was plagued by technical problems and had not met expectations. As a result, separate solutions were implemented. While the British developed a completely new design with the Rapier system, the Americans tried to make an already existing system suitable for ground-to-air use - the result was the Chaparral system.

rocket

An air-to-air missile Sidewinder, modified for surface-to-air defense, served as the basis for the Chapparal missile . Four Chapparal missiles were mounted on the chassis of the M113 personnel carrier , which could also carry eight more missiles for reloading. Originally, the missile was aimed at the approaching target and fired after the IR seeker picked up the target. In later years a fire control radar was added to be able to attack targets even in poor visibility. An additional search radar might have to be carried separately.

Users

•  Egypt
•  Chile
•  Israel
•  Morocco
•  Portugal
•  Taiwan
•  Tunisia
•  United States

Technical data of the rocket

• Length of the rocket: 2.87 m
• Diameter: 127 mm
• Warhead: 10.2 kg with proximity fuse
• Takeoff weight: 88.5 kg
• Max. Range: 4000 m

literature

• Ian Hogg : 20th Century Artillery . Gondromverlag, Bindlach 2001, ISBN 3-8112-1878-6 .
• Philip Trewhitt: tanks. The most important combat vehicles in the world from World War I to the present day . Neuer Kaiserverlag, Klagenfurt 2005, ISBN 3-7043-3197-X , ( Worth knowing - Technology ).

Web links

Commons : MIM-72 Chaparral  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual proof

1. ↑ http://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/missile-products/chaparral/ and factsheet about it; accessed on February 7, 2016