Pegaso BMR

The Pegaso 3560 BMR is a 6x6 wheeled armoured personnel carrier produced in Spain by Enasa since 1979.

It has a Pegaso 9157/8 306hp diesel engine, automatic gearbox, torque converter, independent suspension in all six wheels and it was able to go into water and be airbone. It received different kind of weapons and there is also a field ambulance version. It can be fully amphibious, as two hydrojets for displacement in water were an optional equipment.

Pegaso BMRs are used by Spanish, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian, Moroccan, and Mexican Armies.

The Spanish Army BMRs (or BMR-600) have been instrumental in the performance of Spanish forces in international interventions in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon. In the last years all of them had their original Pegaso engines replaced by a new 310hp Scania DS9 61A 24S engine, as part of the "BMR 2" programme. Furthermore the vehicles were fitted with additional passive armour and an air conditioning unit. They are now known as BMR M1.

Variants

* BMR 3560.50 (BMR-PP) ("Porta Personal") - Basic APC. Can be armed with machine guns .50cal M2HB, 7.62mm MG1A1 or an automatic grenade launcher 40mm LAG-40.
** BMR EDEX ("Equipo de Desactivación de Explosivos") - Version for EOD teams with higher roofline and equipped with special boxes to transport explosives.
** BMR C/C MILAN - Tank hunter with MILAN ATGM.
** BMR C/C TOW - Tank hunter with TOW ATGM.
** BMR VCZ ("Véhiculo de Combate Zapadores) - Combat engineer vehicle with light dozer blade and winch.
** BMR VRAC-NBQ ("Vehículo de Reconocimiento de Áreas Contaminadas") - NBC reconnaissance vehicle.
** BMR GEL ("Guerra Electrónica") - Version fitted with specialised equipment for electronic warfare.
* BMR 3560.51 (BMR-PC) ("Puesto de Control") - Command post vehicle.
* BMR 3560.53E (BMR-PM-81) ("Portamortero") - Mortar platform with 81mm mortar LN M-86 and 100 rounds.
* BMR 3560.54 (BMR AMB) ("Ambulancias blindadas ") - Ambulance.
* BMR 3560.55 (BMR-Recup) ("Recuperación") - Light repair vehicle with crane, winch and tow bars.
* BMR 3560.56 - Signals vehicle.
* BMR 3560.57 - Tank hunter with HOT ATGM. Prototype.
* BMR 3560.59E (BMR-PM-120) ("Portamortero") - Mortar carrier with 120mm mortar L-65.
* VMA ("Vehículo Mecanizado Anfibio") - With improved amphibious capabilities. Prototype.

Operators

*: 682
*: 260
*: 20 (Marines)
*: 200 with the Saudi Marines
*: 100
*: 40

See also

* Pegaso VEC BMR 3562.03

External references

* [http://www.armyrecognition.com/europe/Espagne/vehicules_a_roues/BMR_600/BMR_600_Espagne_description.htm Army Recognition page on Pegaso BMR (in French)]
* [http://www.portierramaryaire.com/foro/viewtopic.php?p=1242&sid=c563bfe3b7a587391cac0fec3c3e14c5 BMR data (in Spanish)]
* [http://www.gdsbs.com/web/frame.asp?lng=eng Santa Barbara's website]