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| General
information |
| The
VBL (Véhicule Blindé Léger)
light armoured is a 4x4 wheeled chassis vehicle
designed and manufactured by the French Company
Panhard. It was designed to combine the agility
of the Peugeot VLTT liaison vehicle with adequate
protection against small arms fire, artillery fragments,
mines and NBC weapons. The VBL is fully amphibious
and can swim at 5.4 km/h; it is also air transportable
by C-130, C-160 and A400M. The VBL was developed
during the 1980s and entered operational service
in France in 1990. It has a fuel consumption of
16 litres per 100 km. By December 1995, the French
Army had ordered 922 VBL vehicles, this includes
prototypes, preproduction vehicles and trials vehicles
and includes two long wheelbase models.
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| Variants
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VBL
MILAN: Anti-tank medium range (up to 2000
metres) combat. Uses one MILAN missile fire unit
and six missiles, with a MIRA Thermal camera.
VBL ERYX: Anti-tank short range
(up to 600 metres) combat. Uses one ERYX missile
fire unit and four missiles, as well as MIRABEL
thermal goggles. Its secondary weapon is a ring-mount
fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1400 rounds).
VB2L POSTE DE COMMANDEMENT: Command version.
It operates a VHF system with two PR4G radios, a
HF System with one SSB radio for long range and
a Radio/intercom system for the crew. Its armament
is a ring-mount fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun
(1400 rounds). Specific equipment: A work station
with map board and folding table, additional batteries
to meet the requirements of the radio and auxiliary
services giving up to 8 hours additional endurance,
and a folding seat for 4th crew member.
VBL RECO 12.7: Reconnaissance and
troops engagement. Operates 1 VHF transmitter/receiver
(French version), radio/intercom system and one
M2 machine gun on ring-mount protected by side armour.
Optional equipment : multiple launcher for anti-personnel
grenades FLY-K (PL 127) - Rate of fire : 375 rounds/minute
- muzzle velocity: 244 m/s, Effective range : against
an area: 2200 m; against point target: 1500 m, Fragmentation
effect : 15 m - armour penetration: 50 mm.
VBL AT4CS: Anti-tank very short
range (<250 metres). Operates 1 or 2 VHF transmitter/receivers,
radio/intercom system, and a x 84 mm AT4CS munitions
in ready-use configuration capable of penetrating
550 mm of armour (armoured vehicles without additional
protection) or 1.5 m of concrete. Usable dismounted
or in confined spaces). Secondary weapon: One ring-mount
fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1400 rounds).
ULTRAV M11: NBC (Nuclear Biological
Chemical) reconnaissance version for the US Army
Greek Army VBLVBL TOW: Anti-tank
long range (up to 3750 metres). Radio equipment:
1 or 2 VHF transmitter/receivers. Armament: One
infantry-type single TOW tube: Day/night operation
using integral night sight system (4 missiles).
Secondary weapon: One ring-mount fitted with a 7.62
mm machine gun (2000 rounds).
VBL ALBI-MISTRAL: Air defense (currently
developed). Radio equipment : 2 VHF PR4G transmitter/receivers
(1 for tactical links; 1 for firing system data
transmission). Armament: Twin-round ALBI turret
firing the MISTRAL "fire-and-forget" air
defence missile, 6 missiles including 2 on the fire
unit. Secondary weapon: One semi-circular rail fitted
with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1200 rounds).
VBL (à flancs redressés) CANON:
With an automated 20 mm turret. Radio equipment
: 1 VHF transmitter/receiver. Armament: MK 20 Rh
202 automatic 20 mm cannon (Rate of fire: 1000 rounds/minute,
Elevation range: -10° to +45°, Rounds carried:
260, Munitions loaded: 160 (60 left, 100 right),
Sight: ZEISS PERI-Z-16, Optional equipment associated
with the turret: laser range finder, thermal imager).
VBL TOURELLE FERMEE: With a 12.7
mm remotely controlled turret. Radio equipment:
1 or 2 VHF transmitter/receivers. Armament: 12.7
mm or 7.62 mm machine gun or automatic 40 mm grenade
launcher (Munition capacity: 600 rounds, day/night
camera, laser rangefinder).
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| Armament |
| The
commander has a single-piece circular hatch
cover that opens to the rear, a circucalr
ring is mounted around the hatch. A 7.62
mm machine gun can be fitted to this ring.
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| Protection |
| The
hull of the Panhard VBL is of all-welded
THD steel that varies in thickness from
5 to 11 mm with the engine at the front
and the crew compartment at the rear. A
single door that opens to the front is mounted
to each side of the hull, the uppert part
is equipped with a small bulletproof window.
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| Propulsion |
The
VBL is motorised with Peugeot XD 3T, 4-cylinder
turbocharged diesel developing 105 hp at
4,150 rpm, coupled to ZF automatic transmission
with 3 forward and 1 reverse gears.
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| Accessories |
| Standard
equipment includes an NBC (nuclear, biological,
chemical) protection system and passive
night-vision equipment. All production VBLs
are fitted with a central tyre-pressure
regulation system and power steering, but
there are many options including an NBC
system and air-conditioning system. A tyre-pressure
regulation system is fitted as standard.
This allows the driver to adjust the tyre
pressure to suit the terrain being crossed.
The VBL is fully amphibious after two minutes
of preparation and is propelled in the water
by a single propeller mounted under the
hull rear. Before entering the water a trim
vane is erected manually at the front of
the vehicle.
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| Specifications |
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Armament |
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Basic
version with 7.62 mm or
12.7 mm machine gun |
Country
user |
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Benin,
Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroun,
Djibouti, France, Gabon,
Geece, Indonesia, Kuwait,
Oman, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria,
Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda,
et Togo. |
Designer
Company |
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Panhard
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Accessories |
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Adjustable
tyre pressure, gas dispensers,
searchlight |
Crew |
2
to 3 soldiers |
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Armor |
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STANAG
Level 1 7.62x51 and shell
splinters.
5 to 11.5 mm armour |
Weight |
3,500
to 4,000 kg
a
a
a |
Speed |
100
km/h |
Range |
600
km
a
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Dimensions |
Lenght,
3,80 m; Width, 2,02 m; Height,
1,70 m |
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