Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Personal
The Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Personal (VCTP) ( Eng. "Troop Combat Vehicle ") is an armored personnel carrier of the Argentine armed forces since 1976 . It is based on the German Marder infantry fighting vehicle and was developed by TAMSE in parallel with the Tanque Argentino Mediano . The VCTP shares the frame, engine and transmission with the TAM. A total of 106 VCTPs were built.
background
The main differences to Marder exist in the more powerful 530- kW - Diesel engine and some minor modifications to adapt to the local conditions.
The crew consists of a driver and a shooter. Up to ten infantrymen can be taken along.
The armament consists of a 20 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun for air defense. Another 7.62mm machine gun is attached to the rear of the tank and can be remotely controlled from the cabin. Ball panels are attached to the sides of the tank. These allow the infantrymen to use their weapons while protecting the tank. A fold-up ramp is attached to the stern. Through this, the infantrymen can mount or leave the tank (mount and dismount).
There are other versions of this vehicle that include a 120 mm mortar carrier. The armored recovery vehicle and the 155 mm self-propelled artillery were faulty designs and development was abandoned. The chassis of the VCTP was also experimented with as a carrier for multiple rocket launchers, but these attempts never got beyond the prototype stage .
Data
vehicle
- 28 tons
- External dimensions (length × width × height): 6.8 m × 3.3 m × 2.4 m
- Top speed on the road: 75 km / h
- Engine: V6 diesel engine MTU MB833, 530 kW
- kW per ton: 18.9
- Ground pressure : 7 N / cm²
- Range: max. 590 km
- Armor thickness : max. 50 mm armored steel on the front
weapons
- a 20 mm Oerlikon machine gun in a two-man turret or a 120 mm FM mortar
- two 7.62 mm machine guns (FlaMG and rear)
