Fennek

Infobox Weapon
name= LGS Fennek


caption=German Army Fennek
origin=flagicon|Germany Germany, flagicon|Netherlands Netherlands
type=Armoured car
is_vehicle=yes
length=5.71 m
width=2.49 m
height=1.79 m
weight=9.7 tonnes
suspension=Selectable 4 wheel drive
speed=115 km/h
vehicle_range=860 km
primary_armament= HK GMG 40 mm grenade autocannon or Rheinmetall MG3 (German version), M2HB 12.7 mm machine gun (Dutch versions)
secondary_armament=Not applicable
armour=
engine=Deutz diesel
crew=3
engine_power=179 kW (239 hp)
pw_ratio=18.5 kW/tonne

The Fennek, named after the fennec (a small species of desert fox), or LGS Fennek, with LGS being short for "Leichter Gepanzerter Spähwagen" in German (Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle), is a four wheeled armed reconnaissance vehicle produced by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems. It was developed for both the German Army and Royal Netherlands Army to replace their current vehicles.

History

In April 2000, the prototype vehicle finished field trials and in December 2001 a combined order was placed. 410 were ordered by the Royal Netherlands Army (202 reconnaissance, 130 MRAT (medium range antitank) and 78 general purpose versions) and 212 by the German military (178 reconnaissance, 24 combat engineer, 10 joint fire support teams (JFST)) procured from 2015 on. Germany plans an overall purchase of approximately 300 Fenneks. The first vehicle was delivered to the Netherlands in July 2003 and the first to Germany in December of the same year. Deliveries will continue to take place until 2008.

The Dutch SP Aerospace company, which produced the Fennek for the Dutch military, was declared bankrupt in August 2004. A new company called Dutch Defence Vehicle Systems (DDVS) was created to continue the production of the vehicles for the Royal Netherlands Army.

pecifications

The Fennek has four wheels with selectable two or four wheel drive. It has a Deutz diesel engine producing 179 kW, giving it a top speed of 115 km/h. Tire pressure can be regulated by the driver from inside the vehicle to suit terrain conditions.

Various weapons can be fitted, such as a 12.7 mm machine gun for the Dutch reconnaissance version, a Rafael Spike anti-tank missile on the Dutch MRAT version or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (HK GMG) or Rheinmetall MG3 for the German vehicles. The Royal Netherlands Army also placed an order at the Turkish company Aselsan for 18 Raytheon Stinger surface-to-air missile launchers to be fitted on the Fennek.

The vehicle is protected all-round against 7.62 mm rounds and additional armour can be added if the mission requires. The air conditioning system provides protection against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and the crew compartment is protected against anti-personnel mines.

Operational record

Both Germany and the Netherlands have deployed Fennek reconnaissance vehicles to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. [" [http://www.kmweg.com/gb/spezial.php?id=23 FENNEK Highly protected vehicle family] " Krauss-Maffei Wegmann & Co. KG] On November 3 2007 a Dutch Fennek was hit by an improvised explosive device killing one and wounding two other occupants. The vehicle and its crew were taking part in an offensive operation targeting the Taliban in the province of Uruzgan, Afghanistan. [" [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9c2a6b1f-089c-4001-8db2-b39386c15dd9 First Fennek Lost in IED Attack] " AVIATION WEEK, 11/5/2007] In another incident a German Fennek was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Its hollow charge jet penetrated the vehicle through the right front wheel rim, passed through the vehicle and blew the left door off the hinge. Thanks to the spall liner the crew sustained only negligible injuries.

Gallery

References

ee also

*Armoured fighting vehicle
*List of modern armoured fighting vehicles

External links

* [http://www.cavaleriemuseum.nl Dutch Cavalry Museum] has a prototype of the Fennek in its collection