Otakar

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Conventional layout, with armour-plated engine compartment front with horizontal louvres in centre, bonnet slopes slightly upwards to windscreen which slopes to rear

• Front of roof has sloping front with searchlight on top, . hull top horizontal and rear hull vertical. Machinegun mount on roof with spare wheel to rear. Forward-opening door in each side has bulletproof window in upper part. Three small firing ports with window above in either side of troop compartment.

• Two wheels each side with extended wheel arches above. Lower hull sides are vertical, upper part slopes slightly inwards.

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: Configuration: Armament: grenade launchers Ammunition: Length: Width: Height: Weight, combat: Weight, empty: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:

Maximum road speed: Maximum range: Fuel capacity: Fording: Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour: Armour type: NBC system: Night vision equipment: 2 + 6 4 x 4 1 x 7.62mm MG, 1 x 6 smoke

1000 x 7.62mm 4.155m 1.81m 2.26m (hull top) 2.75m with MG 3600kg 3000kg 37hp/t Land Rover V-8 3.5 litre petrol developing 134hp at SOOOrpm or Rover 300 Tdi 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel developing 111 hp at 4000rpm 125km/hr 500km 85!

0.6m 0.315m n/a 70% 400/o classified Steel No No

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DEVELOPMENT

The Otakar APC was developed for the Turkish army with first prototypes completed in 1993 and production vehicles in 1994. In many respects it is similar to the Shorland 555 (qv). It consists of a modified Land Rover Defender 4 x 4 chassis, fitted with a fully-armoured body that provides protection from small arms fire. The engine is at the front as in a normal Land Rover, with the commander and driver behind it, each provided with a forward-opening side door with window. The six troops are seated three to either side, facing each other. They enter and exit via door doors in the hull rear. Firing ports and vision devices are provided in the sides and rear of the troop compartment, and a 7.62mm machinegun mount is fitted on the forward part of the roof. The mount can be traversed through 360° and elevated from -12" to +65°.

VARIANTS

None, although the vehicle can be adapted for a variety of roles. The similar Otakar Akrep (Scorpion) light reconnaissance vehicle, also based on the Land Rover Defender, has a crew of three and has a remotely-controlled 7.62mm machinegun on the roof.

STATUS

In production. In service with Turkey and other undisclosed countries.

MANUFACTURER

Otakar Otobus Karoseri Sanayi AS, Istanbul, Turkey

Right; Otakar APC with 7.62mm MG

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