TANK & COMBAT VEHICLE RECOGNITION GUIDE Christopher F. Foss HarperCollinsPublishers In the USA for information address: HarperCollinsPafa//s/?ers 10 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022 In the UK for information address: HarperCollinsPw6//s/7ers 77-85 Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith London W6 8JB First Published by HarperCollinsPfy6//s/7ers 2OOO © Christopher F. Foss 2OOO 13579 10 8642 Design: Rod Teasdale All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publishers. Printed in Italy Contents 6 Introduction 58 TM-800 Romania 122 M41 USA 60 T-90 Russia 124 Stingray USA TANKS 62 T-80 Russia 126 M-84 Yugoslavia 10 TAM Argentina 64 T-64 Russia 12 SK105 Austria 66 T-72 Russia TRACKED APCS/WEAPONS CARRIERS 14 Type85-ll China 70 T-62 Russia 130 Steyr 4K 7FA Austria 1 6 Type 80 China 72 T-54/55 Russia 132 Saurer4 K Austria 1 8 Type 69 China 76 PT-76 Russia 134 BMP-23 Bulgaria 20 Type 59 China 78 K1 S Korea 136 YW531H China 22 Type 62 China 80 S-tank Sweden 138 YW531 China 24 Type 63 China 82 IKV-91 Sweden 140 Type 77 China 26 AMX-13 France 84 Pz68 Switzerland 142 AMX-VCI France 28 AMX-30 France 86 Challenger 2 UK 144 AMX-10P France 30 Leclerc France 90 Challenger UK 146 Marder 1 Germany 32 Leopard 2 Germany 92 Scorpion UK 148 Jaguar tank destroyer Germany 36 Leopard 1 Germany 96 Khalid UK 150 Wiesel 1 Germany 40 Arjun India 98 Chieftain UK 152 Boragh i i ; 1 1 1 42 Zulfiqar Iran 100 Vickers Mk lll UK 154 OTOBREDA IFV Italy 44 Merkava Israel 102 Centurion UK 156 Dardo Italy 46 Ariete Italy 106 T-84 Ukraine 1 58 Type 89 Japan 48 OF-40 Italy 108 M1 USA 1 60 Type 73 Japan 50 Type 90 Japan 112 M60 USA 162 Su-60 Japan 52 Type 74 Japan 116 M48 USA 164 Type 60 106mm RR Japan 54 Al Khalid Pakistan 120 M47 USA 166 MLVM Romania 56 PT-91 Poland 118 M551 USA 168 MTLB Russia CONTENTS 170 BMP-3 Russia 222 Lynx USA 270 Iveco Puma Italy 172 BMP-2 Russia 224 M-6OP Yugoslavia 272 Type 661 4 Italy 174 BMP-1 Russia 226 BVP Yugoslavia 274 Boneschi MAV5 Italy 176 BMD-3 Russia 228 M-8O Yugoslavia 276 LBV Netherlands 178 BMD-1 Russia 278 Chaimite Portugal 180 2S9 12Omm mortar Russia 4X4 VEHICLES 280 Bravia Commando II Portugal 182 Bionix25IFV Singapore 232 TenixSGOO Australia 282 TABC-79 Romania 184 Daewoo IFV S Korea 234 ADI Bushmaster Australia 284 BRDM-1 Russia 186 ASCODMICV Spain/Austria 236 BOX Belgium 286 BRDM-2 Russia 188 Pbv3O2 Sweden 238 Jararaca Brazil 288 BRDM-2 (ATGW) Russia 190 CV9O Sweden 240 RH ALAN LOV Croatia 290 BTR-4O Russia 192 Pbv551 tank destroyer Sweden 242 Kader Fahd Egypt 292 BOV-VP Slovenia 194 BvS 10 Sweden 244 Kader Walid Egypt 294 Mamba S Africa 196 Bv2O6 Sweden 246 ACMAT France 296 Casspir S Africa 1 98 FNSS Defense Systems IFV Turkey 248 PanhardVBL France 298 RG-12 S Africa 2OO Warrior UK 250 Panhard M3 France 3OO Santa Barbara BLR Spain 202 FV432 UK 252 AML France 302 MOWAG Eagle Switzerland 204 Stormer UK 254 BerlietVXB France 304 MOWAG Piranha Switzerland 206 Alvis Striker UK 256 HenschelTMl7O Germany 306 MOWAG Roland Switzerland 208 Spartan UK 258 Henschel UR-416 Germany 308 Otakar Cobra Turkey 210 M2 Bradley USA 260 Henschel Condor Germany 310 Otakar Turkey 212 AIFV USA 262 FUG Hungary 312 Shorland UK 214 M113 USA 264 PSZH-IV Hungary 314 Ferret UK 218 M9O1 USA 266 RAM Israel 316 Fox UK 220 AAV7A1 USA 268 Type 66 16 Italy 318 Alvis Saxon UK CONTENTS 320 Shorland S-55 UK 368 Fuchs Germany 416 BTR-6OPB Russia 322 Glover Web APC UK 370 RN-94 International 418 Rooikat S Africa 324 Glover Web Tactica UK 372 Type 87 Japan 326 Alvis Simba UK 374 Type 82 Japan SELF-PROPELLED GUNS 328 Cadillac Gage Ranger USA 376 BTR-152 Russia 422 Norinco 152mm PLZ45 China 330 Cadillac Gage ASV 150 USA 378 AI-FarisAF-40-8-1 Saudi Arabia 424 Norinco 152mm China 332 Cadillac Gage LAV- 150 USA 380 Ratel S Africa 426 DANA 152mm Czechoslovakia 334 Dragoon USA 382 Santa Barbara BMR-600 Spain 428 GIAT 155mm France 336 Cadillac Gage Scout USA 384 VEC Spain 430 PzH 2000 155mm Germany 338 O'Gara-Hess M1114 USA 386 Saracen UK 432 Palmaria 155mm Italy 388 Hotpsur Hussar UK 434 2S19 152mm Russia 6X6VEHICLES 390 Saladin UK 436 2S3 152mm Russia 342 Pandur Austria 392 Cadillac Gage LAV-300 USA 438 2S1 122mm Russia 344 Sibmas Belgium 440 G6 155mm S Africa 346 Engesa EE11 Brazil 8X8 VEHICLES 442 Bofors 155mm Sweden 348 Engesa EE-9 Brazil 396 Bison Canada 444 AS90 155mm UK 350 Cougar/Grizzly Canada 398 LAV-25 Canada 446 M109 155mm USA 352 WZ523 China 4OO OT-64 Czechoslovakia 354 WZ 551 China 402 Spahpanzer Luchs Germany 448 Glossary 356 SISUXA-180 Finland 404 Centauro Italy 358 ERC-90 France 406 TAB-77 Romania 360 AMX-10RC France 408 TAB-71 Romania 362 VBC-90 France 410 BTR-80 Russia 364 Panhard VCR France 412 2S23 SP mortar Russia 366 Renault VAB France 414 BTR-70 Russia Introduction he aim of this book is twofold: firstly, to act as Ta convenient handbook for the reader to identify quickly and accurately almost any modern armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) in service today; secondly, to provide key information on the vehicle. Some entries are more highly illustrated because there are so many local variants; indeed for some vehicles space limitations have prevented inclusion of every possible variation. A typical example is the M48. This was built with a 90mm gun, but many countries have refitted it with a 105mm gun which has a distinctive bore evacuator mid-way along the barrel; some countries have also added a thermal sleeve. US M48s have never been fitted This Iraqi T-55 sports add-on armour on both turret and hull. with skirts, but the South Korean vehicles have skirts. one particular section. For example, the Alvis Recognition features can be further complicated Scimitar is used by the British Army as a by additional stowage bins and baskets, while the reconnaissance vehicle, other countries use it as a introduction of reactive armour, for example on light tank. As it is one of the few tracked the Israeli M48, M60 and Centurion tanks and reconnaissance vehicles, we have included it under Russian T-64, T-72 and T-80 MBTs, alters their tanks. 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles have all been appearance completely. grouped, as they have in the wheeled armoured Complications can arise from placing a vehicle in personnel carriers section, but some vehicles have INTRODUCTION been developed for use in a wide range of roles. For example, the Cadillac Gage LAV-150 and the Swiss MOWAG Piranha range of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles can be fitted with weapons ranging from a 7.62 mm machine gun to a 105mm gun in the case of the 8x8 version. Although space limitations have prevented all possible versions being included, many of these are mentioned in the text. Each entry has full technical specifications, key recognition features, development notes, list of variants, current status and list of users, manufacturer and, for most entries, a side view drawing and three photographs. The fourth edition of this book, which has become the standard work of its type in its class, 6x6 vehicles can carry many different turrets. In the recce was compiled in the mid-1999. This edition has role the Pandur has a two person 90mm turret. over 380 new photographs and drawings and virtually every entry has been updated. In addition companies, governments and individuals who have there are 16 new entries covering new armoured provided information and photographs for the vehicles that have entered production or service or book. Special thanks are due to my wife Sheila for are expected to do so in the near future. her help and encouragement while the book was Comments and new photographs for future being compiled. editions should be sent to the author as soon as Christopher F Foss possible. The author would like to thank the many TANKS TAM Tank (Germany/Argentina) KEY RECOGNITION SPECIFICATIONS DEVELOPMENT FEATURES Crew: 4 In 1974Thyssen Henschel (today Henschel Wehrtechnik) was • Hull similar to Marder MICV Armament: 1 x 105mm, 1 x 7.62mm MG awarded a contract by Argentina for design and development of a with well sloped glacis plate. (coaxial), 1 x 7.62 MG (anti-aircraft), new medium tank designated TAM (Tanque Argentina Mediano), Driver front left, horizontal 2x4 smoke grenade dischargers as well as infantry combat vehicle VCI (Vehiculo Combats hull top with turret towards Ammunition: 50 x 105mm, 6,000 x 7.62mm Infanteria) subsequently redesignated VCTP. Three prototypes of rear, hull back slopes to rear Length gun forwards: 8.23m each were built and shipped to Argentina. Production commenced then inward at mid point Length hull: 6.775m at a new factory in Argentina with a requirement for 512 TAMs Width: 3.29m and VCTPs, but production was stopped after about 350 vehicles • Turret has flat sides that Heiqht to turret top: 2.43m for budgetary reasons. Further development by the company has slope slightly inward, turret Power-to-weight ratio: 24.27hp/tonne resulted in the TH301, which has a number of improvements bustle extends almost to hull Ground clearance: 0.45m including a new fire-control system and a more powerful engine.