MOWAG Piranha

MOWAG Piranha APC (Switzerland)

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Pointed hull front with lower part sloping back to first road wheel station and upper part sloping up to horizontal hull top that extends to rear. Trim vane normally folded up under nose.

• Driver sits front left with engine compartment to right, troop compartment extends right to rear with troops entering via two doors in rear. Hull sides slope inward top and bottom just above road wheels

• MOWAG Piranha produced in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 versions but all have similar layout. In 6x6 rear two road wheels are close together, in 8x8 road wheels are equally spaced

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SPECIFICATIONS

Model: Crew: (max) Lenqth: Width: Height (hull top): Weight, combat: Weight, empty: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine type:(all diesel) hp/rpm: Maximum road speed: Maximum water speed: Maximum road range: Fuel capacity: (lit) Fording: Vertical obstacle: Gradient: Side slope: Armour (maximum): NBC system: Night vision equipment:

4x4 6x6 10 14 5.32m 5.97m 2.5m 2.5m 1.85m 1.85m 7,800kg 10,500kg 6,700kg 8,000kg 25hp/t 28.6hp/t 6BTA 5.9 6V-53T 195/2800 300/2800 lOOkm/hr lOOkm/hr 9.5km/hr 10.5km/hr 700km 600km 200 200 All fully amphibious 0.5m 0.5m 70% 70% 35% 35% 10mm 10mm Standard on all vehicles Optional on all vehicles

8x8 15 6.365m 2.5m 1.85m 12,300kg 8,800kG 24.4hp/t 6V-53T 300/2800 100km/hr 10.5km/hr 780km 300

0.5m 70% 35% 10mm

DEVELOPMENT

In the early 1970s MOWAG started development of a range of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 armoured vehicles which have many common components and a wide range of roles. The family was subsequently called Piranha, first prototype completed in 1972 and first production vehicles in 1976.

In addition to being manufactured by MOWAG in Switzerland the Piranha family is also manufactured under licence in Canada (Diesel Division, General Motors of Canada), Chile (FAMAE), and the UK (Alvis Vehicles). In the latter case they are all for export (Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia).

There are separate entries for the Canadian (6x6), Canadian (8x8) LAV-25 and Bison (8x8) APCs.

All Piranhas have similar layout with driver front left, Detroit Diesel right, rear taken by troop compartment which has roof hatches and twin doors in rear. Troop compartment can have firing ports and vision devices and a wide range of weapon systems can be installed on roof.

Piranha is fully amphibious, propelled by two propellers under hull at rear. Before entering water a trim vane is erected at front and bilge pumps switched on.

Vehicle can be used for wide range of roles including ambulance, anti-tank armed with ATGWs, cargo, command, internal security, mortar carrier, recovery, reconnaissance and radar carrier.

Standard equipment includes NBC and air-conditioning system, optional equipment includes winch and night vision equipment.

VARIANTS

4x4 can have various weapon stations up to turret-mounted 20mm cannon. 6x6 can have various turrets up to two-man turret armed with 90mm gun. Swiss Army has ordered 310 in anti-tank role with Norwegian Kvaerner-Eureka turret and twin TOW ATGW in ready-to-launch position. 8x8 version can have wide range of turrets and weapon systems including Euromissile Mephisto launcher with four HOT ATGWs, 90mm turret, 105mm turret with low recoil force gun, and multiple rocket launchers.

In 1994 the prototype of a MOWAG 10x10 Piranha was built

and fitted with a 105mm gun. In 1996 the MOWAG Piranha Generation III of 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 vehicles was launched with increased armour and mobility.

STATUS

In production. Australia (8x8), Canada (6x6 and 8x8), Chile (6x6), Denmark (8x8), Ghana (4x4, 6x6 and 8x8), Liberia (4x4), Nigeria (6x6 and 8x8), Oman (8x8), Qatar (8x8), Saudi Arabia (8x8), Sierre Leone, Sweden (10x10), Switzerland (6x6 and 8x8), and USA (8x8). Unconfirmed reports indicate Taiwan ordered 50 MOWAG Piranhas (6x6) in 1984.

MANUFACTURER

MOWAG Motorwagenfabrik AG, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland (but see text).

Right: MOWAG

Piranha (8x8) APC of the Swiss Army

Left: MOWAG Piranha (8x8) Generation III with 25mm turret

Below: MOWAG Piranha (6x6) fitted with 12.7 mm MG