4 minute read
Henschel Condor
Henschel Wehrtechnik Condor APC (Germany)
KEY RECOGNITION
Advertisement
FEATURES
• Box-type hull with driver's position far front left side, distinctive windows to front and sides, nose slopes back under hull and glacis slopes up to horizontal hull roof that extends right to rear, all four corners of hull angled
• Two large road wheels each side with forward-opening door in each side and another door in rear
• Hull sides slope inwards top and bottom with external wheel arches
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: Configuration: Armament:
Ammunition: Length:__ Width: Height: Ground clearance: Wheelbase: Weight, combat: Weight, empty: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:
Maximum road speed: Maximum water speed; Maximum road range: Fuel capacity: Fordm£:__ Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour: Armour type: NBC system: Night vision equipment: 2+12 4x4 1 x 20mm, 1 x 7.62mm MG (coaxial), 2 x 3 smoke grenade dischargers 220 x 20mm, 500 x 7.62mm 6.13m 2.47m 2.79m (turret top), 2.18m (hull top) 0.475m 3.275m JA40pj<a__ 9,200kg 13.54hp/tonne
Daimler-Benz OM 352A 6-cylinder supercharged water-cooled diesel developing 168hp lOOkm/hr lOKm/hr 900km 280 lit Amphibious 0.55m
Not applicable 60% 30%
Classified
Steel
Optional
Optional
DEVELOPMENT
Condor was developed by Henschel Wehrtechnik as a private venture, first prototype completed in 1978. Wherever possible standard commercial components have been used in the design to keep procurement and life-cycle costs to a minimum. Largest order for Condor was placed by Malaysia in 1981 and consisted of 459 vehicles including ambulance, APC with twin 7.62mm MG, fitter's vehicle with crane, command post vehicle and APC with FVT900 one-man turret with 20mm cannon, 7.62mm MG coaxial with main armament and smoke grenade dischargers each side.
Driver sits front left, engine compartment to his right and troop compartment extending right to rear. Condor is fully amphibious, propelled by a propeller mounted under hull rear. Before entering the water a trim vane is erected at front of hull. Optional equipment includes heater and winch. The latter has 50m of cable and can be used to the front or rear of the vehicle.
VARIANTS
Henschel Wehrtechnik offers wide range of armament including Thyssen turret with twin 7.62mm MGs, pintle-mounted 7.62mm and 12.7mm MGs and ATGWs such as HOT, MILAN and TOW.
STATUS
Production complete. In service with Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Portugal, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay and other countries.
MANUFACTURER
Henschel Wehrtechnik, Kassel, Germany.
260
Above: Condor (4x4) with 20mm turret Above right: Condor (4x4) with 2Omm turret (Richard Stickland) Right: Condor (4x4) with MG turret (Richard Stickland)
261
FUG Amphibious Scout Car (Hungary)
KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES
• Glacis plate slopes up to crew compartment which has sloping front and sides, roof hatches are only means of entry
• Engine compartment rear, roof almost parallel to crew compartment, exhaust pipe on right side
• Twin belly wheels each side which are raised when travelling on roads
262
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: Configuration: Armament: Ammunition: Length: Width: Height: turret top) Ground clearance: Wheelbase: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:
2+4 4x4 1 x 7.62mm MG 1250 x 7.62mm 5.79m 2.5m 1.91m (hull top), 2.25m (OT-65A
0.34m 3.3m 15.87hp/tonne Csepel D.414.44 4-cylinder in-line water-cooled diesel developing 100hp at 2,300rpm 87km/hr 9km/hr 600km 200 lit Amphibious 0.4m 1.2m 60o/o 3QQ/0 13mm (maximum) Steel Yes (driver only, infra-red)
DEVELOPMENT
FUG (Felderito Uszo Gepkosci) entered service with the Hungarian Army in 1964 and fulfils a similar role to the Russian BRDM-1 (4x4) amphibious scout car. Major differences are that FUG has engine rear and is propelled by two water jets at rear (BRDM-1 has one). Before entering water bilge pumps are switched on and trim vane, stowed under nose when not required, is erected. A 7.62mm SGMG MG is pintle-mounted on forward part of roof.
When travelling across rough country, two powered belly wheels are lowered each side to improve mobility. All FUGs have central tyre pressure regulation system.
VARIANTS
Ambulance, but probably limited to walking wounded only as sole means of entry and exit is via roof hatches. Radiological-chemical reconnaissance vehicle; mounted on each side of hull rear is a rack that dispenses lane marking poles. OT-65A is a Czechoslovak modification, a basic FUG fitted with OT-62B turret (full tracked ARC armed with 7.62mm M59T machine gun). 82mm T-21 Tarasnice recoilless rifle on right side of turret. PSZH-IV ARC, there is a separate entry in the wheeled Armoured personnel carriers section for the PSZH-IV (4x4) vehicle which has been called the FG-66 and FUG-70 in the l>;tst.
STATUS
Production complete. In service with Czech Republic, Hungary (basic FUG is OT-65) and Slovakia.
MANUFACTURER
Hungarian state arsenals.
Top: FUG 14x4) without armament
Above: FUG (4x4) without armament Above right: FUG (4x4) radiological-chemical reconnaissance vehicle with trim vane erected
