| EE-11 Urutu | |
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EE-11 Urutu |
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| Type | Armored personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | Brazil |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 11,000 kg empty, 14,000 kg combat |
| Length | 6.15 meters |
| Width | 2.65 meters |
| Height | 2.125 meters |
| Crew | 1+12 |
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| Armor | 6-12 mm 2 layer steel plating |
| Engine | Detroit Diesel 6V-53T 6-cylinder water-cooled diesel 260 hp |
| Suspension | 6x6 Engesa Double Axle Boomerand Drive |
| Operational range |
850 km |
| Speed | 105 km/h |
The EE-11 Urutu is a 6x6 armored personnel carrier developed in the seventies by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-9 Cascavel Armoured fighting vehicle. The suspension includes Engesa's Boomerang double-axle rear drive. The Brazilian Marine Corps use a modified amphibious variant with propellers and more powerful engine. "Urutu" is a Brazilian species of snake.
EE-11 Urutu has been used in combat by Libya, Iran and Iraq with excellent results and therefore gaining a good reputation for ENGESA products in the Arab world. In combat, Urutu proved to be equal or superior than its Soviet counterparts, such as the BTR-60 or BTR-70 with a much lower operating cost. Such results prompted ENGESA to push forward the development of its main battle tank EE-T1 Osório.
Urutu production has stopped in 1987 and since then all units still in use by the Brazilian Army have been modernized and upgraded by Army's São Paulo War Arsenal branch as a stopgap until the arrival of the newly designed VBTP-MR in 2012.
It has still been widely used by the Brazilian Army in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.
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The new engine used in the upgrade of Urutu will generates 230 hp, against 158 hp of the old version, a power gain of 72 hp.
As the existing units have been stationed for years in the depot of the Brazilian Army battalions, the armored Engesa EE-11 Urutu are now able to return to active duty. The vehicles are used to transport troops and one of its main feature is the amphibious capability and also is very light weighing at 13 tons. These qualities justified their acquisitions and were largely accepted by the armed forces of several Latin American countries.
Because of these proven qualities, the Brazilian Army has chosen to revive 226 Vipers and more than 600 Rattlesnake (shielded mechanical design similar to Urutu) which were inactive. With the engine being quite outdated, some with manual gearbox while others are with automatic transmission, a gap in the technology exists and therefore, these vehicles will undergo a major overhaul to return to active duty. The up-graded military vehicles will operate for at least another 15 years. This is to ensure companies that are involved in the restoration of armor and they had made a prototype for evaluation of the army.
Mortar Carrier Able to carry an 81mm mortar, for motorised fire support. Transports the shooter and driver and mortar personnel (four officers).
Antitank missile- With a turret for 25mm cannon and a anti-tank missile launcher tube. The crew is made up of drivers, shooters (25mm cannon and missile or missile) and seven armed soldiers.
Fire support Equipped with the same turret of armored 90mm Rattlesnake. Her crew is composed of commander, driver and gunner, six armed soldiers. This vehicle, could fire its 90mm gun even in the water. However, its survivability in an amphibious beach landing is debatable.
Anti-aircraft Version equipped with a turret for 20mm cannons or one 25mm cannon. Besides the standard crew, it has a radar operator.
Recovery Vehicle Usually unarmed version, includes a hydraulic crane and equipment maintenance and wrecking of vehicles on the battlefield. Her crew is composed of two mechanical shooter and driver.
Anti-riot Version equipped with an anti-plank fence and smoke launchers. Carries 12 more military commander and driver.
Ambulance Equipped with four stretchers and medical equipment to provide emergency medical care.
Command Vehicle Designed as Command-Vehicle of large units and sub-operating units. Allows the monitoring of the battlefield by the operational commanders. It takes in two tables attached latreia and places for files, documents and maps, and communication equipment.