Iveco Puma

ivJLCO/OTOBREDA Puma APC (Italy)

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Lower part of hull is vertical, well sloped glacis plate that leads up to horizontal roof, vertical hull rear with lower part sloping inwards. Upper sides of hull slope inwards. Headlamps are recessed into front of hull

• Driver's hatch front left of roof with commander's cupola in centre and small rectangular roof hatch at rear. Large door in hull rear

• Two large road wheels either side with large door in centre that opens forwards, all doors have firing port and associated vision block above

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SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: Configuration: Armament:

Length: Width: Height hull top: Ground clearance: Weight, combat: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:

Maximum road speed: Range: Fuel capacity: Fording: Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour: Armour_ty£ej__ NBC system: Night vision equipment: 1+6 4x4 1 x 7.62mm or 12.7mm MG, 2 x3 smoke grenade dischargers 4.65m 2.085m 1.67m 0.392m 5,700kg 31.57hp/tonne IVECO Type 8042 TCA 4-cylinder diesel developing 180hp at 3,000rpm 105km/hr 800km 1 50 lit Not available Not available Not available 60% 30% Classified Steel Yes Yes (passive)

DEVELOPMENT

IVECO/OTOBREDA has considerable experience in the design, development and production of wheeled armoured vehicles and the Puma family has been developed to meet the requirements of the Italian Army for a vehicle to operate with the IVECO/OTOBREDA Centauro (8x8) tank destroyer/armoured car (qv).

The first prototype of the Puma was completed in 1988 and by 1990 a total of five vehicles had been built. The Italian Army subsequently awarded the company a contract to build six specialised versions of the Puma, one each for the MILAN and TOW ATGl/V system, one for the Mistral SAM system, one 81mm mortar carrier, one ambulance and one command post vehicle. In 1966 the Italian Army placed an order for 150 Puma in 4x4 configuration.

The engine is at the front of the vehicle with the driver being seated towards the front on the left side and the troop compartment at the rear. Doors are provided in the sides and rear and on the roof is the commander's cupola that can be fitted with a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun.

Standard equipment includes an integrated air conditioning system, fire detection and suppression system, power-operated winch, powered steering and run-flat tyres.

VARIANTS

The 4x4 version of the Puma can be adopted for a wide range of roles in addition to those ordered by the Italian Army, for example NBC reconnaissance and internal security. More recently a 6x6 version of the Puma has been developed, this has the same automotive components as the Puma 4x4 including engine, automatic transmission and suspension and has a combat weight of 7,500kg. This version can carry eight men plus the driver and can be fitted with a wider range of armament stations. Its fuel capacity has been increased to 270 litres.

STATUS

In production for Italian Army.

MANUFACTURER

IVECO/OTOBREDA, Bolzano, Italy.

Above: Puma (4x4) APC Top right: Puma (4x4) APC with TOW

Right: Puma (6x6) APC

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