Peugeot P4
Encyclopedia
The P4 is an unarmoured off-road vehicle
used by the military of France
. It was manufactured by Peugeot
but is now manufactured by Panhard
. It is to be replaced with the PVP
by Panhard. The P4 is a militarised Mercedes Geländewagen
marketed by Peugeot for the French military
. Peugeot did not have a licence to export the vehicle anywhere else than to the African countries bound to France by defence agreements.
under the designation of "Véhicule léger tout-terrain" ("Light all-terrain vehicle"). It is based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class
and equipped with Peugeot
engine and equipment.
needed to be replaced. The replacement vehicle would carry four men with radio equipment and would be small enough to be parachuted and transported by plane.
After many technical issues, the new vehicle was designed in the 1970s. An agreement was settled between Peugeot and Mercedes to co-produce the vehicle by a proportion of 50% each. Peugeot mounted the engine of the Peugeot 504
and the transmission
of the Peugeot 604
on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class
; it also installed the electrical systems, welded the exterior and painted the car. The rest was done by Mercedes. The plant in Sochaux
did the final assembly. The first prototype was tested in 1978, beginning a long series of tests and trials, notably a rally in south Algeria
with a petrol and a diesel P4.
The French Army
ordered 15,000 P4s, both petrol and diesel versions; in 1981, order downgraded to 13,500 units with the downsize of the Army. From 1985, production was transferred to Panhard
in Marolles-en-Hurepoix
, where 6,000 vehicles were produced.
A civilian version was made, but encountered little success because of a high price and a poor power-to-weight ratio.
This version has been evaluated by the French Army and commissioned by the Navy for the Protection of sensitive sites. Five different versions were produced.
The dimensions of 2400-2850 and 3120 matched the length of the chassis. Some P4 armor CBH have been manufactured for use in Lebanon
. An operation Manufacturer and the GIGN was conducted in November 1988 for testing rolling over 24 hours. The P4 Shielded CBH AKIS blue police carried out the range of 1000 km to the average of 134.5 km per hour and the total distance of 3180 km in 24 hours is an average of 132.5 km / hour with 4 men on board. The engine was a 2.5-litre turbo exchanger amended by CBH, which had an output of 150 hp. This record was not approved at the request of the Gendarmerie
.
whose 1er RPIMa. They are equipped to have a great fire power and a high degree of autonomy:
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
used by the military of France
Military of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
. It was manufactured by Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
but is now manufactured by Panhard
Panhard
Panhard is currently a French manufacturer of light tactical and military vehicles. Its current incarnation was formed by the acquisition of Panhard by Auverland in 2005. Panhard had been under Citroën ownership, then PSA , for 40 years...
. It is to be replaced with the PVP
Petit Véhicule Protégé
The Petit Véhicule Protégé is a light, general-purpose armoured 4-wheel drive vehicle used by the French Army. It is also designated as Auverland A4 AVL . Built by Auverland, it is the successor to the Peugeot P4...
by Panhard. The P4 is a militarised Mercedes Geländewagen
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
marketed by Peugeot for the French military
Military of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
. Peugeot did not have a licence to export the vehicle anywhere else than to the African countries bound to France by defence agreements.
Description
The Peugeot P4 is a light, unarmoured, four-wheel-drive vehicle manufactured by Peugeot, and used by the Military of FranceMilitary of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
under the designation of "Véhicule léger tout-terrain" ("Light all-terrain vehicle"). It is based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
and equipped with Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
engine and equipment.
History
In the late 1960s, the French army decided that its 10,000 JeepsWillys MB
The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...
needed to be replaced. The replacement vehicle would carry four men with radio equipment and would be small enough to be parachuted and transported by plane.
After many technical issues, the new vehicle was designed in the 1970s. An agreement was settled between Peugeot and Mercedes to co-produce the vehicle by a proportion of 50% each. Peugeot mounted the engine of the Peugeot 504
Peugeot 504
The Peugeot 504 is a large family car manufactured by French automaker Peugeot between 1968 and 1983, with licensed production continuing until 2006.-1968 — introduction:...
and the transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
of the Peugeot 604
Peugeot 604
The Peugeot 604 is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1975 to 1985. 153,252 examples of the 604 were sold during its 10-year production life. It was made in France and also by Kia in Korea....
on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
; it also installed the electrical systems, welded the exterior and painted the car. The rest was done by Mercedes. The plant in Sochaux
Sochaux
Sochaux is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:Inhabitants are known as Sochaliens.-Economy:...
did the final assembly. The first prototype was tested in 1978, beginning a long series of tests and trials, notably a rally in south Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
with a petrol and a diesel P4.
The French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
ordered 15,000 P4s, both petrol and diesel versions; in 1981, order downgraded to 13,500 units with the downsize of the Army. From 1985, production was transferred to Panhard
Panhard
Panhard is currently a French manufacturer of light tactical and military vehicles. Its current incarnation was formed by the acquisition of Panhard by Auverland in 2005. Panhard had been under Citroën ownership, then PSA , for 40 years...
in Marolles-en-Hurepoix
Marolles-en-Hurepoix
Marolles-en-Hurepoix is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.Inhabitants of Marolles-en-Hurepoix are known as Marollais.-References:** -External links:* *...
, where 6,000 vehicles were produced.
A civilian version was made, but encountered little success because of a high price and a poor power-to-weight ratio.
P4D
In 1992, the Army converted the petrol P4 to diesel P4D (P4 Diesel). Conversion was made by Panhard (1300 VLTT) and the Établissements régionaux du matériel. The engine, Peugeot 2.5L, is the same as the original diesel P4.P4P
The P4 P (P4 Protégé, "protected P4") is an armoured version, with 80 units built in the 1990s. A Armored version was made at the request of Peugeot by CBH Institutions (Constructions Blindées of Hardricourt).This version has been evaluated by the French Army and commissioned by the Navy for the Protection of sensitive sites. Five different versions were produced.
- P4 CBH AKIS 2400 P4 CBH AKIS 2400
- P4 CBH SUPER AKIS 2850 P4 CBH SUPER AKIS 2850
- P4 CBH 3120 P4 CBH 3120
The dimensions of 2400-2850 and 3120 matched the length of the chassis. Some P4 armor CBH have been manufactured for use in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. An operation Manufacturer and the GIGN was conducted in November 1988 for testing rolling over 24 hours. The P4 Shielded CBH AKIS blue police carried out the range of 1000 km to the average of 134.5 km per hour and the total distance of 3180 km in 24 hours is an average of 132.5 km / hour with 4 men on board. The engine was a 2.5-litre turbo exchanger amended by CBH, which had an output of 150 hp. This record was not approved at the request of the Gendarmerie
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
.
La P4 SAS
Version of the P4 for the Special ForcesSpecial forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
whose 1er RPIMa. They are equipped to have a great fire power and a high degree of autonomy:
- A machine gun MIT50 (calibre 12.7 mm) coaxial
- A machine gun-type ANF1 (7.62 mm calibre)
- River crossing equipment