The
Tanque Argentino Mediano ("Argentine Medium
Tank"), or TAM, is the main battle tank in
service with the Argentine Army. Lacking the experience
and resources to design a tank, the Argentine Ministry
of Defense contracted German company Thyssen-Henschel.
The vehicle was developed by a German and Argentine
team of engineers, and was based on the chassis
of the German Marder infantry fighting vehicle.
The TAM met the Argentine Army's requirement for
a modern light-weight and fast tank with a low silhouette
and sufficient firepower to defeat contemporary
armored threats. Development began in 1974 and resulted
in the construction of three prototypes by early
1977 and full-scale production by 1979. Assembly
took place at the local 9,600 meters squared TAMSE
plant, founded for the purpose by the Argentine
government. Economic difficulties halted to production
in 1983, but manufacturing began anew in 1994 until
the army's order of 200 tanks was fulfilled.
Variants
:
TAM
VCA : ambulance version TAM VCA 155 : self-propelled howitzer
with Palmaria turret 155mm gun TAM VCCDT : Artillery command post TAM VCDA : anti-aircraft armoured
vehicle with 30 mm or 35 mm guns TAM VCLC : rocket launcher system
vehicle TAM VCLM : sol-air missile system
Roland 2 TAM VCLP : bridge layer vehicle TAM VCPC : command post VCTP infantry
armoured vehicle TAM VCRT : armoured recovery vehicle TAM VCTM : mortar carrier TAM VCTP : armoured infantry fighting
vehicle with 20 mm gun.
The
TAM Light Tank is armed with the L7A2 105-mm
Rifled Gun, stabilized in both planes. Gun's
barrel is completed with a very effective
muzzle-brake, thermal sleeve, and ejection
device. This gun fires all 105-mm NATO standards
compatible projectiles. Ammunition load
consists from 50 projectiles. 20 of them
are placed in the turret, while remaining
- in the hull. Additional armament consists
from the MG-3 7.62-mm Machine Gun coaxially
mounted with the main gun. One more similar
machine gun can be mounted over the commander's
turret to defend from air and ground targets.
Smoke grenade launchers are mounted from
the both sides of the turret.
Protection
The
hull and the turret are welded from steel
armor plates. Frontal armor of the hull
and the turret protects from up to 40-mm
armor-piercing projectiles, board armor
- from firearm bullets. Hull's boards
and chassis are covered with a steel anti-cumulative
screens. Furthermore front arranged engine
and transmission serve as additional protection
for the combat compartment.
Propulsion
The
TAM is powered with the MB883 Ka-500 6-cylinder
diesel engine. It is developed by German
"MTU" company and reaches a maximum
power of 70 hp. under 2 400 rpm. It is made
in one block with HSWL-204 hydro-mechanic
transmission, designed by German company
"Renk". Planetary gearbox provides
4 forward and 4 backward gears. Chassis
use individual, torsion suspension. There
are 6 rubbered wheels and 3 supporting rolls
from the each side. The first, second, fifth,
and sixth wheels are completed with hydraulic
absorbers. TAM is completed with tracks,
similar to the "Marder" Infantry
Fighting Vehicle. Tracks feature internal
and external rubber run course. Furthermore
track is fitted with dismountable rubber
pads
Accessories
On
cross-country terrain it manages 60º
slopes, 0.9 meter height vertical step,
2.9 meter wide trenches. Tank fords 1.4
meter depth water obstacles without preparation
and up to 4 meters with an underwater driving
equipment. The TAM is also equipped with
fire control system, sight and optical rangefinder,
ballistic computer. TAM is completed with
air filtering device, fire prevention means,
heater and radio equipment.
Specifications
Armament
One
125 mm gun, one 7,62 mm
anti-aircraft machine gun,
one 7,62 mm coaxial machine
gun.
Country
user
Argentina
Company
Designer
TAMSE
Accessories
fire
control system, sight and
optical rangefinder, ballistic
computer, heater, fire prevention
system
Pakistan
plans to conduct another test of tactical missile Nasr (Hatf IX) in
May 2012 able to carry a nuclear warhead, said Saturday, May 19, 2012,
the television channel Geo TV. According to the channel, the Pakistan
army is fully ready to test.
