Panhard M3 VTT

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Panhard M3
Panhard M3 VTT in the South African Armor Museum (2014)

Panhard M3 VTT in the South African Armor Museum (2014)
General properties
crew 2 + 10
length 4.45 m
width 2.40 m
height 2.48 m
Dimensions 6100 kg
Armor and armament
Armor 8–12 mm armor steel
Main armament Depending on the equipment
Secondary armament no
agility
drive Panhard 4 HD
90 PS
Top speed 90 km / h
Power / weight 14.75 hp / t
Range 600 km

The Panhard M3 VTT ( Véhicule de Transport de Troupes ) is an armored wheeled vehicle for troop transport . A first prototype was completed in 1969 without a government contract.

This prototype had one door on each side and a double door in the rear. An AA-52 machine gun was mounted on the roof . The first production vehicle with three man hatches was completed in 1971. The Panhard personnel carrier consisted of 95% parts that were also used in the Panhard AML . This prompted many countries to use both vehicles side by side in order to reduce costs.

The Panhard Buffalo was offered as the successor to the M3 VTT .

description

The shell of the Panhard M3 is made of welded armor steel. The driver sits in the middle with a hatch that opens to the right and three corner mirrors . The middle of the corner mirrors can be exchanged for a night vision device. Behind the driver is the Panhard 4 HD engine.

The individually suspended wheels are equipped with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers . The tires have bulletproof tubes.

There are a total of three doors; two in the sides and a double door in the rear of the vehicle. The latter is equipped with round gun hatches. On the top of the vehicle in the bevel, there are three hatches on each side in the longitudinal direction, which can be opened upwards and locked in the open position. There are also two round hatches on the vehicle roof, one behind the engine compartment and another in the rear. Different types of armament can be mounted on the forward hatch; usually a 7.75mm or 12.7mm machine gun (some users have a turret with a 20mm automatic cannon installed here).

In addition to the two-man vehicle crew, ten infantrymen or 1,360 kg of cargo can be carried.

The basic model is fully buoyant without preparation, but only possible on inland waters. It is driven by the wheels, the maximum speed is 4 km / h. It is controlled via the front wheels.

Optionally, the vehicle can be equipped with air conditioning and smoke throw cups.

variants

  • M3 VTT : (Véhicule Transport de Troupes), armored troop transport as the basic version.
  • M3 VDA : The VDA (Véhicule de Défense Antiaérienne - anti-aircraft vehicle) is a modified M3 chassis with an attached turret and a 20 mm twin gun. There is an option to equip with an RA-20 radar on the turret stern. (An M3 VDA vehicle with radar can control two other vehicles without radar.) These systems are in use in the Armed Forces of Ivory Coast (6 systems), Niger (10 systems) and the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (48 systems)
  • M3 VAT : recovery and repair vehicle with a crew of five (commander, driver and three mechanics) and extensive equipment. It is a block for a pulley block, cutting tool , power generator, workbench with vice , tow shears, tow ropes and a complete set of tools.
  • M3 VPC : command vehicle with additional communication equipment, two additional batteries and map tables. The crew consists of the commander, his representative, the driver, two radio operators and staff.
  • M3 VLA : pioneer vehicle with a removable, hydraulically operated dozer blade on the front. The crew consists of the driver, the commander, an engineer sergeant and three engineers.
  • M3 internal security vehicle : Equipped as a vehicle for use in international peace missions. This includes a front shield to remove obstacles.
  • M3 VTS ambulance : ambulance, manned by a driver and two paramedics. Four wounded lying down or six wounded seated can be transported. Another possibility is the transport of two lying and three seated wounded. It is unarmed and only has a single door in the rear.
  • M3 VSB radar : The VSB can be equipped with different radar systems - e.g. B. with the "RASIT battlefield surveillance radar" (battlefield surveillance radar), or the "RA-20S air surveillance radar" (air surveillance radar). The latter is built into the M3 VDA as standard, unless the user has made another choice.
  • M3 VPM : With 81 mm mortar in a turret.

Combat value increases

Saymar M3 APC

The Israeli company Saymar extensively revised the vehicle and equipped it with a new drive system. The old Panhard petrol engine was replaced by a Toyota 2-liter turbo diesel with 102 hp. The vehicle also received a new gearbox, improved engine cooling, four new disc brakes , power steering, new tower electronics and a new inboard intercom, plus new vehicle electronics including voltage regulator, 24 V 65 A alternator , 24 V starter and new instrument panels . These improvements could be carried out at Saymar or by the user himself after the relevant parts had been delivered by Saymar. This increase in combat value could be combined with a major overhaul, so that a practically new vehicle was available after the measure.

Irish Army

In 1983, the Irish Armed Forces fitted one of their M3s with a 140 hp Peugeot V6 petrol engine . Tests were satisfactory, after which the 14 Irish Panhard M3s were converted and a new Citroën brake system, a six-speed gearbox and new electrics were installed.

Possible armament

  • TL.2.1.80 turret with two 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns
  • TL.52.3.S turret with a 7.62mm machine gun and a triple LRAC-F1 anti- tank missile launcher
  • TL.52.S turret with a 7.62mm machine gun and a single LRAC-F1 anti-tank missile launcher
  • CB.127 ring mount for a 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun
  • STB to the front as a protective shield opening hatch with ring mount for a 7.62 mm machine gun
  • CB.20 M621 ring mount with a 20 mm automatic cannon.
  • HOT: Equipped with four HOT anti-tank guided missiles
  • MAS T 20.13.621 turret with an AME 20 mm automatic cannon

Combat missions

A total of 60 M3 were delivered to the Lebanese army from 1970 to 1973 and were used during the civil war there. Some were loaned to the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in 1976 .

Users

Former and current M3-VTT user states. Blue, still in use - red, retired.

Previous users

literature

  • Christopher F. Foss: Jane's Tank and Combat Vehicle Recognition Guide. HarperCollins Publishers, London 2002, ISBN 0-00-712759-6 .
  • Steven J. Zaloga: Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2): The wars of 1973 to the present. Concord Publications, Hong Kong 2003, ISBN 962-361-613-9 .

Web links

Commons : Panhard M3  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Zaloga: Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars. 2003, p. 52.
  2. ↑ Trade Registers . Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.ucalgary.ca/innovations/files/innovations/Fitzsimmons%20Culture%20Clash.pdf
  4. ^ Armor Museum ( Memento from July 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive )