In 1964, the Federal Army of Germany proposed the development of the second generation of post-war medium-tonnage (35 10 tons) wheeled vehicles, driving types include (4 4), (6 6) and (8 8) armored vehicles and tactical trucks. All vehicles should be able to travel on land and water, and use civilian components as much as possible to reduce vehicle costs. In the same year, five companies, including ThyssenHenschel and MAN in Germany, formed a general design bureau and decided to jointly develop a prototype. Although Daimler-Benz did not participate in the General Design Bureau, in 1966 it began to develop a new wheeled vehicle on its own, and was selected. In 1968, both design departments developed the first prototypes and conducted comparative tests. After the test in October 1970, the prototype was evaluated from military and technical aspects. The development of the Bobcat (8 8) armored reconnaissance vehicle, the TPZ-1 (6 6) and TPZ-2 (4 4) armored personnel carriers and three types of tactical trucks with drive was finalized. Among them, the TPZ-1 is also known as the Fox (Fuchs) armored personnel carrier. Later, the TPZ-2 car was not put into production, but was developed by the EWK company into an APE amphibious engineering reconnaissance vehicle. In 1977, the Federal German Army signed a contract with Thyssen-Henschel for the production of 996 TPZ-1 armored personnel carriers based on Daimler-Benz, including 110 reconnaissance vehicles with RASIT battlefield search radars, 134 command and communication vehicles, 140 three-defense detection vehicles, 220 combat engineering vehicles, 172 electronic combat vehicles, and 220 ambulance and logistics vehicles. In addition, the Federal Republic of Germany also developed the Wildcat twin 30-mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns on the chassis of the vehicle;Tested installation of a 105 mm ultra-low recoil gun, as well as a Cockerill 90 mm MK3, Hotchkiss armored personnel carrier.
The total combat weight of the vehicle is 17 tons, which means that it weighs enough to carry enough equipment and ammunition to guarantee a strong firepower in battle. In addition to the driver and the commander-co-driver, the car can carry 10 12 infantry or 2 tons of cargo. This design allows the vehicle not only to transport personnel and materiel, but also to provide fire support on the battlefield.
The hull is made of a monocoque constructed of high-strength steel plate welded and partially supplemented with gap armor, which makes it extremely bulletproof and anti-fragmentation. The armor angles of the hull have been carefully designed to effectively defend against all kinds of bullets and shrapnel. On the left side of the front of the hull is the cockpit, which is equipped with a variety of advanced driver assistance systems that make it easier for the driver to maneuver the car.
The power transmission is located behind the cockpit and uses a high-performance engine and transmission system to ensure that the vehicle maintains good maneuverability in a variety of difficult road conditions. The crew compartment is located in the rear of the hull, and the interior is spacious and can accommodate 10 infantrymen. In order to maintain the balance of the vehicle, the center axle is moved slightly backward from the centerline of the vehicle, so that the load on each bearing is more uniform.
There are a total of 3 doors, and each occupant has its own dedicated door for easy access. There is also a large double door at the back of the car, which is convenient for people to get on and off quickly. In addition, there are multiple windows in the car, including a large-sized ** window, two top windows, and three small rectangular windows, which provide occupants with a wide field of view and easy to observe their surroundings.
The driver's seat and the driver's and co-driver's seats have been carefully designed to meet the requirements of full ergonomics. In order to provide the driver with a more comfortable and safer driving environment, his seat adopts an overall hoisting method, which can be adjusted according to the driver's height, and the seat can be rotated 45 degrees to the left and right, which increases the flexibility and comfort of the driver.
The seat of the commander-co-pilot is the same as that of the crew compartment, but when he needs to maneuver the machine gun, the seat floor can be easily folded so that he can stand and operate the machine gun better. This design takes into account both peacetime comfort and wartime practicality.
Bulletproof glass is installed in the front windshield and the small side window next to the driver, providing a strong layer of protection for the driver. The bulletproof glass also has a rotating armor cover on the outside for additional protection, and this double protection design greatly improves the safety of the vehicle.
When the driver chooses to drive with the windows closed, he can use 3 observation devices to obtain information outside the vehicle. These observation devices not only improve the driver's visibility, but also enhance safety in complex environments.
On the dashboard, the controllers, wheel position displays, alarm and switch indicators are all well arranged, so that the driver can see at a glance for easy operation and observation. This design not only improves the driver's work efficiency, but also helps to reduce the possibility of operator errors.
From the driver's position to the passenger compartment, there is a passageway, which is a narrow space next to the driver. The passage is wide enough for a person to pass sideways, but the height and depth are relatively small, giving it a compact feel.
The crew compartment is a relatively independent space, and its dimensions are 320 meters, 125 meters, the widest part 250 meters, the total volume reached 6 cubic meters. Although this space is not large, it provides a relatively comfortable rest environment for the passengers. The special design close to the wheel arc allows the tunnel and the cockpit to have an additional 17 cubic meters of volume, this part of the volume can be used to place some small items, increasing the practicality of the crew compartment.
The cabin is very user-friendly, with 10 face-to-face, ceiling-mounted seats. These seats can be folded and retracted to provide more space for occupants to move. At the same time, the crew compartment is also equipped with a 01 kilowatt cooling fan to ensure air circulation in the cabin. In addition, there is a 24V auxiliary heater to keep the cabin warm even in cold weather. Safety facilities such as automatic fire extinguishing systems and three-proof devices are also readily available to escort the safety of passengers.
The car can reach a staggering top speed of 105 km/h on the road and can also go slow at low speeds of up to 4 km/h. Amazingly, it can travel up to 800 kilometers on the road, which undoubtedly provides great convenience for long-distance travel.
What's even more amazing is that the car is not only capable of performing well on the road, but also on the water. When it enters the water, it is driven by two propellers with a diameter of 480 mm and four blades, reminiscent of the old saying, "Fast and Furious". The two huge propellers are controlled by a two-stage electro-hydraulic control system, which allows the driver to precisely grasp the vehicle's dynamics in the water.
In the cockpit, the driver can clearly see the angle of the propeller as well as the position of the accelerator pedals, which undoubtedly enhances the driver's sense of control over the vehicle. Once the vehicle is in the water, the driver can easily prop up the front wave plate by simply using the hydraulic system to reduce water resistance. At the same time, three dewatering pumps were put into operation, discharging up to 540 liters per minute, allowing the vehicle to be propelled in the water.
In addition, the driver can independently control the wheels and propellers, allowing the vehicle to reach a speed of up to 10 in the water5 km/h. When the vehicle needs to return to shore from the water, the driver can adjust the above two control systems to keep the adhesion of the wheels and the thrust of the propeller balanced, so that the vehicle can go ashore smoothly.
*Configuration is one of the core elements of the vehicle, and depending on the mission requirements, we need to choose different **. For example, when it is necessary to combat lightly armored targets and living forces, we can install an MG3 762 mm machine gun. This machine gun has a very wide pitch range, from -15 degrees to +40 degrees, and can rotate 360 degrees, so we can quickly respond to the enemy no matter which direction it is coming from.
In addition, we can install a RH202 20mm cannon on the E-6 ring mount of the Keller and Knapih companies. This powerful cannon can not only rotate 360 degrees, but also have an elevation angle of 75 degrees. Although limited by the hull profile in terms of depression angles, in real combat, the range and accuracy of this machine gun were sufficient to deal with most threats. It also has 150 rounds on standby, providing strong fire support for protracted operations.
In addition to this, the vehicle is equipped with 6 smoke grenade launchers on the left side of the hull. These launchers can fire smoke grenades when infantry disembarks or unloads, creating a smoke screen barrier. This barrier not only provides cover for infantry, but also confuses the enemy at critical moments, making it impossible to accurately judge our movements.
To sum up, the ** configuration of this combat vehicle is very comprehensive, whether it is a long-range strike or a close-range grappling, it can exert a strong combat effectiveness. And, by flexibly adapting the configuration, it can also cope with a variety of different battlefield environments and mission requirements. This undoubtedly makes it a high-performance and adaptable combat vehicle.
This power unit, from Mercedes-Benz OMA 402 8V 90° angle water-cooled turbo diesel engine, can be described as the soul of machinery. It has a maximum power of 235 kW (320 hp) and a unit power of 1384 kW (18.)82 hp) per ton. Imagine that the device can easily cope with all kinds of complex road conditions and make driving pleasure for the driver with powerful power.
The inlet and outlet louvers of this diesel engine are designed at the top of the body, while the exhaust pipe is strategically located on the left side of the body. Such a design not only makes the power plant more compact, but also greatly improves the maneuverability of the vehicle.
In the power compartment, two self-closing fuel tanks stand side by side with a total oil storage capacity of up to 430 liters. This means that the car has enough range to meet the needs of long-term, long-distance driving.
It is worth mentioning that the power transmission of this model is designed to be very user-friendly. It only takes 10 minutes to quickly lift it out of the car, which greatly improves the efficiency of repair and maintenance.
The suspension is a coil spring design with double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers to ensure a wheel travel of 290 mm. This configuration not only enhances the stability of the vehicle, but also provides the driver with a more comfortable driving experience.
In addition, the model is available with a choice of standard 14 20 radial tires or low-pressure off-road tires, which are mounted on removable aluminum rims for easy tyre replacement and maintenance.
This model has a unique design with steering on the front four wheels. The hydraulically assisted recirculating ball steering has a maximum latching angle of 42°, which means that the car can demonstrate a high degree of manoeuvrability in complex driving environments. The steering radius is only 169 meters, making it easy to turn even in tight spaces. The steering force is transmitted through a servo-mechanical system that precisely controls the steering force and ensures precise control of the vehicle.
In terms of hydraulics, the car is equipped with an electric auxiliary pump. When the main hydraulic pump is out of service, the electric auxiliary pump automatically provides the oil pressure required by the steering gear, ensuring that the driver can continue to control the direction of the vehicle. In addition, it provides oil pressure for propeller manoeuvring, allowing the vehicle to maintain stable handling even in the water.
In terms of braking performance, all six wheels of this model are capable of braking, which undoubtedly enhances its safety in all driving conditions. The main brake uses an air-assisted, dual-line hydraulic system to provide strong and stable stopping power. The secondary braking system consists of a manual joystick through which the driver controls the spring-loaded parking brake on the transmission output shaft. What's even more amazing is that the driver can use the engine as a brake by simply pressing the brake pedal, further improving the agility and reliability of braking.
In terms of electrical system, the car uses a voltage of 24 volts DC and is equipped with a 662 kW (9 hp) starter motor and a 5 kW generator. There is also a battery with a total capacity of 200 Bah. If a larger current is required, two more batteries can be installed to increase the battery capacity to 300 Angh. To meet the greater power demand, a 5 kW auxiliary generator was also installed next to the left rear door. This configuration enables the car to ensure stable power under various driving conditions**, ensuring the normal operation of various functions of the vehicle.
The car has also developed a variety of evolutionary models.
1. Reconnaissance vehicle with RASIT battlefield search radar.
The vehicle is equipped with a RASIT battlefield search radar produced by the French company LMT, and has radar, target tracking and positioning, and radio station and other devices. The radar is mounted in the front of the car, and the maximum height of the roof when working is 18 meters. There are 30 meters of wires inside the car, which can be operated from a distance. The Federal Republic of Germany also called the car para.
2. Command communication vehicle.
The car is installed with 4 antennas. The vehicle is equipped with communication equipment, a map board, two folding tables, three folding chairs, and a 5-kilowatt generator located on the left wing of the rear door. The Federal Republic of Germany also called the car fufu.
3. Three-proof detection vehicle.
The car is equipped with radioactive and chemical substance detection equipment, etc. The Federal Republic of Germany also called the car ABC-ERKDGRP.
4. Combat engineering vehicles.
The vehicle has mines, dismantling equipment and other special equipment.
5. Electronic combat vehicles.
The car installs EK33 jamming equipment, etc. There is only one hatch in the roof and one 15 kW generator in the car. There is no ability to travel on water.
6. Ambulance and logistics ** vehicle.
The ambulance has 4 stretchers or 2 stretchers and 4 seats.
7. Infantry fighting vehicles.
Install a 20 mm turret or a 25 mm turret, optional 7 behind the roof of the crew compartment1 62 mm remote-controlled machine gun.
8. Self-propelled mortars.
Install 81-mm mortars or tow 120-mm mortars.
9. Missile launch vehicle.
The turret can be mounted with Tao, Milan or Hult anti-tank missiles.