| TPz Fuchs | |
|---|---|
TPz 1A3 Fuchs NBC reconnaissance vehicle |
|
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | West Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Bundeswehr |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Thyssen-Henschel |
| Produced | 1979-present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 18.3 t |
| Length | 7.33 m |
| Width | 2.98 m |
| Height | 2.37 m |
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| Main armament |
Up to three Rheinmetall MG3 |
| Secondary armament |
MILAN anti-tank guided missile, smoke grenade launchers |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled diesel 320 hp |
| Payload capacity | 6 t |
| Suspension | 6x6 |
| Operational range |
800 km |
| Speed | 105 km/h 10 km/h (in water) |
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TPz (Transportpanzer) Fuchs (fox) is an armoured personnel carrier developed by Daimler-Benz and built by Thyssen-Henschel (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme) in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr. It is used for tasks including troop transport, engineer transport, bomb disposal, NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) reconnaissance and electronic warfare. In selecting models and retrofit kits, more than 90 combinations are possible; 32 have been produced. The TPz Fuchs is thus referred to as a "retrofit platform".
The engine is a Mercedes-Benz Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled 320 HP diesel. Its top speed is 105 km/h and the range is 800 km. It is 7.33 m long, 2.98 m wide and 2.37 m high. It weighs 18.3 tons with the capability to carry 6 tons in equipment. The 6x6 APC has high performance over many terrains, with low noise. Its rear-mounted propellers with 360° turning range enable it to take water obstacles at 10 km/h.
Contents |
The TPZ Fuchs can be equipped with three Rheinmetall MG3 general purpose machine guns, one of which is mounted on a manually controlled turret. Fuchs' of the Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, Panzergrenadiers (mechanized infantry), the Franco-German Brigade, the mountain infantry and the Jäger (rangers) of the German Army are armed with MILAN anti-tank-guided missiles (in this configuration a maximum of two MG3s are mounted). Fuchs' deployed in Afghanistan were equipped with a HK GMG or an M3M instead of a MG3.
Improvements concentrated on the ability to withstand high-performance, armour-piercing ammunition fired from small arms and lightweight carriage-mounted machine guns, as well as shrapnel (e.g. from artillery rounds), and anti-personnel and antitank mines.
Due to the weight and volume restrictions, advanced armour materials are used to meet the protection specifications, which compared to equally effective steel or aluminium alloy armour, can reduce weight by 50%.
The modular armour protection system has six harmonized elements which in part operate in coordinated fashion:
Below is a comparison between some modern APCs including the Fuchs :
| Fahd [1][2] | Fuchs [3] | VAB [3] | LAV-25 [4] | Stryker ICV [4] | BTR-90 [4] [5] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 10.9 t (12.0 short tons) | 18.3 t (20.2 short tons) | 13.8 t (15.2 short tons) | 12.8 t (14.1 short tons) | 16.47 t (18.16 short tons) | 20.9 t (23.0 short tons) |
| Primary armament | 30 mm (1.18 in) 2A42 automatic cannon | Up to three 7.62 mm (0.300 in) MG3 machine guns | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun | 25 mm (0.98 in) M242 chain gun | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun | 30 mm (1.18 in) 2A42 automatic cannon |
| Secondary armament | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) FN MAG machine gun | - | - | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) M240 machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) M240 machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) PKT machine gun |
| Missile armament (Range) | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4000 meters) | MILAN (400-2000 meters) | - | - | - | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4000 meters) |
| Road range | 700 km (430 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) | 1,000 km (620 mi) | 660 km (410 mi) | 500 km (310 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) |
| Maximum velocity (on road) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 96 km/h (60 mph) | 110 km/h (68 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Capacity (maximum) | 3 crew + 10 passengers | 2 crew + 10 passengers | 2 crew + 10 passengers | 3 crew + 6 passengers | 2 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 9 passengers |
Most vehicles are in service with the German Army (1,003 - 144 upgraded) the rest are in the armed forces of Saudi Arabia (36), The Netherlands (23), United Kingdom (11), USA (123, as M93 Fox) and Venezuela (10). The Fuchs served in Gulf war and in peace-keeping operations with German KFOR troops in former Yugoslavia and with German ISAF in Afghanistan.