PSZH-IV

FSZH-IV APC (Hungary)

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Turret with no roof hatches over forward part of hull, 14.5mm MG right and 7.62 MG left

• Forward-opening door in each side of hull to rear of first road wheel station

• Trim vane for amphibious operations stowed on glacis plate

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: Configuration: Armament:

Ammunition: Length: Width: Height: Ground clearance: Wheelbase: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:

Maximum road speed: Max[munijvatej^geedj_ Road range: Fuel capacity: Fording: Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour: Armour type: NBC system: Night vision equipment:

3+6 4x4 1 x 14.5mm MG (main), 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial) 500 x 14.5mm, 2,000 7.62mm 5.695m 2.5m 2.308m 0.42m 3.3m 7,600kg 13.15hp/tonne Csepel D.414.44 4-cylinder in-line water-cooled diesel developing lOOhp at 2,300rpm 80km/hr 9km/hr 500km 200 lit Amphibious 0.4m 0.6m (with channels) 60% 30% 14mm (maximum) Steel Yes Yes (infra-red for gunner and driver)

DEVELOPMENT

PSZH-IV APC was developed in Czechoslovakia after the FUG (4x4) armoured amphibious scout car. PSZH-IV used to be called the FUG-66 or FUG-70 as it was originally thought to be a reconnaissance vehicle, not an APC.

Commander and driver sit front with one-man manually operated turret to rear. The 14.5mm KPVT and 7.62mm PKT MGs have manual elevation from -5° to +30°, turret traverse is manual through 360°. Commander and driver can leave via their roof hatches but the only means of entry and exit for troops and gunner is the small two-part door in each side of hull.

Unlike the former Soviet BRDM-2 (4x4) amphibious reconnaissance vehicle, PSZH-IV does not have belly wheels to improve cross-country mobility. It is, however, fully amphibious, propelled by two waterjets mounted to rear of hull. Standard equipment includes central tyre pressure regulation system and NBC system.

VARIANTS

There are at least two command post versions of PSZH-IV, one with turret and one without turret. There is also an ambulance and radiological-chemical reconnaissance vehicle.

The latter is very similar to the former Soviet BRDM-2 vehicle designated the BRDM-2RKhb and is distinguishable by the two rectangular racks positioned one either side of the hull rear that dispense lane marking pennants into the ground.

STATUS

Production complete. In service with Czech Republic (OT-66), Hungary, Iraq and Slovakia.

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MANUFACTURER Hungarian state arsenals.

Above: PSZH-IV

Above right: PSZH-IV

Right: PSZH-IV

with twin 20mm cannon, to provide more stable firing platform, stabilisers lowered to ground before firing. Close-range anti-tank has 106mm M40 recoilless rifle. Long-range anti-tank has Raytheon Systems Company TOW ATGW launcher and two 7.62mm MGs. RAM V-2 AFV has fully enclosed troop compartment for crew of eight or ten, and can be fitted with wide range of weapon stations including 7.62mm and 12.7mm MGs and 40mm grenade launcher.

STATUS

Production as required. RAM and RBY series vehicles are in service with Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guatemala, Israel, Lesotho and Morocco.

MANUFACTURER

RAMTA Structures and Systems, Israel Aircraft Industries, Beer Sheba, Israel.

Above left: RAM V 1 with twin 7.62mm MG Above: RAM TCM-2O AA (antiaircraft)

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