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Fuchs (APC)
Encyclopedia
TPz Fuchs (fox) is an armoured personnel carrier
developed by Daimler-Benz
and built by Thyssen-Henschel
(now Rheinmetall Landsysteme
) in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr
. It is used for tasks including troop transport, engineer transport, bomb disposal
, NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) reconnaissance and electronic warfare
. In selecting models and retrofit kits, more than 90 combinations are possible; 32 have been produced. The TPz Fuchs is thus referred to as a "retrofit platform".
The engine is a Mercedes-Benz
Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled 320 HP diesel. Its top speed is 105 km/h and the range is 800 km. It is 7.33 m long, 2.98 m wide and 2.37 m high. It weighs 18.3 tons with the capability to carry 6 tons in equipment. The 6x6 APC has high performance over many terrains, with low noise. Its rear-mounted propellers with 360° turning range enable it to take water obstacles at 10 km/h.
general purpose machine guns, one of which is mounted on a manually controlled turret.
Fuchs' of the Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, Panzergrenadiers (mechanized infantry), the Franco-German Brigade
, the mountain infantry and the Jäger (rangers)
of the German Army
are armed with MILAN
anti-tank-guided missiles (in this configuration a maximum of two MG3s are mounted). Fuchs' deployed in Afghanistan were equipped with a HK GMG or an M3M instead of a MG3.
Due to the weight and volume restrictions, advanced armour materials are used to meet the protection specifications, which compared to equally effective steel or aluminium alloy armour, can reduce weight by 50%.
The modular armour protection system has six harmonized elements which in part operate in coordinated fashion:
Below is a comparison between some modern APCs including the Fuchs :
(1,003 - 144 upgraded) the rest are in the armed forces of Saudi Arabia
(36), The Netherlands
(23), United Kingdom
(11), USA (123, as M93 Fox
) and Venezuela
(10). The Fuchs served in Gulf war
and in peace-keeping operations with German KFOR troops in former Yugoslavia
and with German ISAF
in Afghanistan
.
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
developed by Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz
Daimler-Benz AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and internal combustion engines; founded in 1926. An Agreement of Mutual Interest - which was valid until year 2000 - was signed on 1 May 1924 between Karl Benz's Benz & Cie., and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which had...
and built by Thyssen-Henschel
Thyssen-Henschel
Thyssen Henschel was a German industrial firm and defense contractor. Its products include the TAM medium tank for Argentina, the Mexican Henschel APC and the Marder infantry fighting vehicle....
(now Rheinmetall Landsysteme
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...
) in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
. It is used for tasks including troop transport, engineer transport, bomb disposal
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
, NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) reconnaissance and electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
. In selecting models and retrofit kits, more than 90 combinations are possible; 32 have been produced. The TPz Fuchs is thus referred to as a "retrofit platform".
The engine is a Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled 320 HP diesel. Its top speed is 105 km/h and the range is 800 km. It is 7.33 m long, 2.98 m wide and 2.37 m high. It weighs 18.3 tons with the capability to carry 6 tons in equipment. The 6x6 APC has high performance over many terrains, with low noise. Its rear-mounted propellers with 360° turning range enable it to take water obstacles at 10 km/h.
Armament
The TPZ Fuchs can be equipped with three Rheinmetall MG3Rheinmetall MG3
The MG3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The weapon's design is derived from the World War II era MG 42 universal machine gun that fired the 7.92x57mm Mauser round....
general purpose machine guns, one of which is mounted on a manually controlled turret.
Fuchs' of the Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, Panzergrenadiers (mechanized infantry), the Franco-German Brigade
Franco-German Brigade
The Franco-German Brigade is a joint formation consisting of units from both the French Armée de Terre and German Heer armies and is integrated in Eurocorps.-History:...
, the mountain infantry and the Jäger (rangers)
Jäger (military)
Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
of the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
are armed with MILAN
MILAN
MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
anti-tank-guided missiles (in this configuration a maximum of two MG3s are mounted). Fuchs' deployed in Afghanistan were equipped with a HK GMG or an M3M instead of a MG3.
Improvements over the years
Improvements concentrated on the ability to withstand high-performance, armour-piercing ammunition fired from small arms and lightweight carriage-mounted machine guns, as well as shrapnel (e.g. from artillery rounds), and anti-personnel and antitank mines.Due to the weight and volume restrictions, advanced armour materials are used to meet the protection specifications, which compared to equally effective steel or aluminium alloy armour, can reduce weight by 50%.
The modular armour protection system has six harmonized elements which in part operate in coordinated fashion:
- Add-on armour mounted to the exterior of the vehicle housing
- Anti-mine protective plating in the wheel cases
- Reinforced bullet-proof windows
- Reinforced bullet-proof visors for shielding the window exteriors
- Spall-lining of all interior surfaces of the vehicle compartment
- A shielded gun mounting (except on the medical vehicles)
Below is a comparison between some modern APCs including the Fuchs :
 Fahd |
 Fuchs |
 VABVéhicule de l'Avant Blindé The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB is an armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976; around 5,000 were produced.- Design :The VAB was designed as a wheeled troop transporter, complementing the... |
 LAV-25 |
 Stryker ICVStryker The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled, 4-wheel-drive , armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army. The vehicle is named for two American servicemen who posthumously received the Medal of Honor:... |
 BTR-90BTR-90 BTR-90 is an 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a larger version of the BTR-80 vehicle, fitted with a BMP-2 turret... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 10.9 MT (12 ST) | 18.3 MT (20.2 ST) | 13.8 MT (15.2 ST) | 12.8 MT (14.1 ST) | 16.47 MT (18.2 ST) | 20.9 MT (23 ST) |
| Primary armament | 30 mm (1.18 in) 2A42 automatic cannon 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42 The 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42, also known as the Shipunov 2A42, is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm automatic cannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company.-Design:... |
Up to three 7.62 mm (0.3 in) MG3 machine guns Rheinmetall MG3 The MG3 is a German general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The weapon's design is derived from the World War II era MG 42 universal machine gun that fired the 7.92x57mm Mauser round.... |
0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun | 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) M242 chain gun M242 Bushmaster The M242 Bushmaster is a 25 mm chain-fed autocannon. It is used extensively by the US armed forces, as well as by NATO's and some other nations' forces in ground combat vehicles and watercraft... |
0.5 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun | 30 mm (1.18 in) 2A42 automatic cannon 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42 The 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42, also known as the Shipunov 2A42, is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm automatic cannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company.-Design:... |
| Secondary armament | 7.62 mm (0.3 in) FN MAG FN MAG The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the... machine gun |
- | - | 7.62 mm (0.3 in) M240 M240 The M240, officially Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M240, is the US military designation for the FN MAG , a family of belt-fed, gas-operated medium machine guns firing the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge.The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the mid-1980s... machine gun |
7.62 mm (0.3 in) M240 M240 The M240, officially Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M240, is the US military designation for the FN MAG , a family of belt-fed, gas-operated medium machine guns firing the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge.The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the mid-1980s... machine gun |
7.62 mm (0.3 in) PKT machine gun |
| Missile armament (Range) | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4000 meters) | MILAN MILAN MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the... (400-2000 meters) |
- | - | - | AT-5 Spandrel (70-4000 meters) |
| Road range | 700 km (435 mi) | 800 km (497.1 mi) | 1000 km (621.4 mi) | 660 km (410.1 mi) | 500 km (310.7 mi) | 800 km (497.1 mi) |
| Maximum velocity (on road) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 96 km/h (59.7 mph) | 110 km/h (68.4 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) | 100 km/h (62.1 mph) |
| Capacity (maximum) | 3 crew + 10 passengers | 2 crew + 10 passengers | 2 crew + 10 passengers | 3 crew + 6 passengers | 2 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 9 passengers |
Users
Most vehicles are in service with the German ArmyGerman Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
(1,003 - 144 upgraded) the rest are in the armed forces of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
(36), The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(23), United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(11), USA (123, as M93 Fox
M93 Fox
The Fox vehicle is a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear reconnaissance vehicle. This vehicle is a variant of the German TPz1 Fuchs manufactured by Rheinmetall to survive and provide reconnaissance on a CBRN-affected battlefield...
) and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
(10). The Fuchs served in Gulf war
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and in peace-keeping operations with German KFOR troops in former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and with German ISAF
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
See also
- Boxer (Armoured Fighting Vehicle)
- KMW GrizzlyKMW GrizzlyThe KMW Grizzly is a medium weight highly protected vehicle, developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann , designed for operation with the German Army based on the 6x6 Trakker chassis from IVECO adapted to meet the needs of the German Army. It is being developed under the direction of the German Ministry of...
- Another new armored vehicle of the German ArmyGerman ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force... - AGF (Light infantry vehicle)AGF (Light infantry vehicle)The Rheinmetall LandSysteme Light Infantry Vehicle for Special Operations, or LIV , is a German light armoured utility vehicle developed from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. It is also known by the names Serval, Wolf and AGF. As the name implies, the LIV is designed specifically for use by special...
- Rheinmetall YAKRheinmetall YAKThe YAK is a heavily armored and mine-protected transport vehicle produced by the German company Rheinmetall Landsysteme AG based on the DURO IIIP chassis from the Swiss company MOWAG GmbH. DURO stands for DUrable and RObust....
- ATF DingoATF DingoThe ATF Dingo is a German heavily armored military infantry mobility vehicle based on a Unimog chassis with a V-hull design, produced by the company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann . It is designed to withstand land mines, rifle fire, artillery fragments and NBC-threats. ATF stands for...
- Mungo ESKMungo ESKThe Mungo ESK is an air-transportable, armoured multirole transport vehicle of the German Army for its Airmobile Operations Division and Division Special Operations....
- Pindad PanserPindad PanserThe Anoa is a 6x6 armoured personnel carrier developed by PT Pindad of Indonesia. The vehicle is named after the Anoa, which is a type of buffalo indigenous to Indonesia...