TPz Fuchs

Infobox Weapon
name=TPz Fuchs


caption= TPz 1A3 Fuchs NBC reconnaissance vehicle
origin= (then) flagcountry|West Germany
type=Armoured personnel carrier
is_vehicle=yes
service=
used_by=Bundeswehr
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=Thyssen-Henschel
unit_cost=
production_date=1979-present
number=
variants=
weight=18.3 t
length=7.33 m
part_length=
width=2.98 m
height=2.37 m
diameter=
crew=
armour=
primary_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
engine_power=320 hp
transmission=
payload_capacity=6 t
fuel_capacity=
pw_ratio=
suspension=6x6
clearance=
vehicle_range=800 km
speed=105 km/h
10 km/h (in water)
guidance=

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 various different tasks including troop-transport, engineer-transport, bomb disposal, NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) reconnaissance and electronic warfare. By mixing and matching the different models and retrofit kits, today more than 90 different combinations are possible, 32 of which have so far been produced. The TPz Fuchs is thus also referred to as a "retrofit platform".

The vehicles engine is a Mercedes-Benz Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled diesel with an output of 320 hp. It has a max speed of 105 km/h and a range of 800 km. Fuchs is 7.33 m long, 2.98 m wide and 2.37 m high. It weighs 18.3 tons with the capability to carry additional 6 tons in equipment. The 6x6 APC is characterized by high performance over all terrains and low noise. Its rear-mounted propellers and 360° turning range, enable the vehicle to take water obstacles in its stride at up to 10km/h.

Armament

The TPZ Fuchs can be equipped with up to 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 also armed with MILAN anti-tank-guided missiles (in this configuration max. two MG3s can be mounted).

Improvements over the years

The vehicle's ability to withstand high-performance, armour-piercing ammunition fired not only from small arms but also from lightweight carriage-mounted machineguns, as well as shrapnel (e.g. from artillery rounds), and to augment its protection against anti-personnel and antitank mines had to be improved.

Due to the weight and volume restrictions they had to use advanced armour materials to meet the protection specifications. Compared to equally effective steel or aluminium alloy armour, modern armour materials enable weight savings of 50% or more.

The modular armour protection system used in the TPz Fuchs encompasses six harmonized, complementary elements which in part operate in coordinated fashion:

* add-on armour mounted to the exterior of the vehicle housing;
* anti-mine protective plating in the wheel cases;
* reinforced bullet-proof windows;
* reinforced bullet-proof visors for shielding the window exteriors;
* spall-lining of all interior surfaces of the vehicle compartment, and
* a shielded gun mounting (except on the medical vehicles).

Users

Most of the vehicles are in service with the German Army (1,031 - 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.

See also

*Boxer (Armoured Fighting Vehicle)
* KMW Grizzly - Another new armored vehicle of the German Army
* AGF (Light infantry vehicle)
* Rheinmetall YAK
* ATF Dingo
* Mungo ESK

External links