Description : The limitation of conveyor of troop armour M113
become apparent as of the end of Sixty year and, in 1967, the American
military authority decide to entrust with firm FMC the setting with point
of two prototype of a new vehicle, the XM765. it must himself act of a
M113 improve equip of a hull with wall incline, of a armament principal
good protect, some loophole allow the employment of weapon individual
since the interior of cockpit back and of a equipment optical for the
adjustment of shooting. The final draft however was refused, US Army being
decided meanwhile in favour of one VCI heavier and more complex which was
to be known under the name of m2 Bradley, and whose production was also
entrusted to the FMC Corporation. The idea of the XM765 was not abandoned
for as much: feeling that the Bradley would be too heavy and too expensive
to conquer the market of the small countries, FMC indeed decided in the
long term to undertake the study with its own funds. The result, baptized
Product Improved M11Á1, never passed the testing stage but it gave rise
to an altered version, Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle or AIFV, which
was going to be an unquestionable success with export, thanks to a series of demonstrations
successful in Europe and in the rest of the world The Netherlands were the
first to become purchasers and, in 1975, they signed a first command of
850 units. They were followed by the Philippines (0unities) then, in 1981,
by Belgium (514 units plus 525 M11Á21 which were manufactured locally
under license. Like that of M113, the hull of the AIFV is out of wrought
aluminium reinforced by laminated steel plates. The pilot sat with before
left, the engine and in front of the head of edge. This last has a small
turret equipped with optical instruments. The turret with movements
assisted is placed on its line. It mounts a Oerlikon tube of 25 mm to
double feeding and a coaxial machine-gun of 7,62 Misters It is equipped
with apparatuses of observations diurnal and night. The seven transported
infantrymen take seat with the back, in a compartment which one reaches by
an assisted slope opening, as for M113, in the part posterior of the hull.
The roof is bored of a trap door and the sides carry five loopholes to
diascopes. A vast range of accessories is available: kit of protection
NBC, heating etc. The principal armament can, in addition to be replaced
by other options. The AIFV is completely amphibious. Its propulsion on
water is ensured by its caterpillars. Its shielding is well a superior
with that of M113, like its fire power (thanks to the adoption of the tube
of 25 mm assembled on turret in the place of the not protected machine-gun
of 12,7 mm) and that its mobility any ground (improved suspension and more
powerful engine)
Armament:
Gun of 25mm, and coaxial machine-gun of 7,62 mm
Crew:
3 + 7 men Shielding:
Weight: 13.867 kg
Country
users:
Belgium, The Philippines, Holland
Speed:
60 km/h Autonomy:
490 km Equipment:
apparatuses of night vision, cannister launchers smoke-producing,
protection system NBC, heating
Types : Aifv
Milan:in the place of the turret one finds a support
for station of shooting MILAN and machine-gun of 12,7 mm AIFV version headquarters: equipped with a support for machine-gun with 12,7 mm and hardware of
communication and more antennas . AIFV TOW: with support for launch missile TOW
