Looking for info and pics on specific APC

[Lysander]

Does anyone know the name and have more information as well as pictures of the Isreali APC that is pictured below?

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040520/capt.jrl10205201014.mideast_israel_palestinians_jrl102.jpg

picture from: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15302

[MolliG]

Achzarit 'Cruel Woman/Lady'

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/armored_personnel_carriers/achzarit/achzaritb.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/armored_personnel_carriers/achzarit/achzarit2.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/armored_personnel_carriers/achzarit/achzarit_4u.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/armored_personnel_carriers/achzarit/Achzarit.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/achzarit.htm

:)

[Brzeczyszczykiewicz]

Achzarit woot woot woot

[Lysander]

Thanks for the reply. Mean looking thing and it weights more than the tank that it is based on! Are there any pictures or drwaings of the interior? I am curious to see the layout of the troops and the "tunnel".

[Obergefreiter]

From the first link given:


The chassis of the Achzarit is based on heavily modified Russian T-54/T-55 MBT chassis which have been rebuilt in significant numbers by the Israel Defence Force for some years. The chassis has been stripped down and completely rebuilt, with the crew and infantry compartment at the front and the new power pack at the rear. An additional layer of Israeli-developed passive armour is mounted on the chassis, which makes the vehicle the best protected infantry vehicle of its type in the world.

A total of 10 men are carried, with the driver being seated at the front left with the vehicle commander and 7.62 mm machine gunner to his right. The driver is provided with four day periscopes with an additional six being provided in the rear troop compartment, two on the left side and four on the right.

The machine gunner operates the RAFAEL Overhead Weapon Station which is armed with a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun. This can be aimed and fired from within the vehicle in complete safety. Both day and night [image intensification] sights are provided. There are an additional three 7.62 mm pintle-mounted machine guns, one on the commander's hatch and two over the rear troop compartment. Mounted at either side of the front of the hull is a bank of six IMI CL-3030 instantaneous self-screening system for combat vehicles which were originally installed on Israeli MBTs. This can launch various types of grenade over the frontal arc of the vehicle.

The seven infantrymen are seated to the rear, three on a bench seat on the left side of the compartment, three on individual folding seats on the right and one in the centre of the rear part of the compartment. The driver, commander and machine gunner are each provided with a hatch, with that of the commander capable of being half raised for observation purposes. An additional two hatches are provided to the rear, one over the centre of the crew compartment and the other to its left rear. The infantry can enter and leave the Achzarit via the hatches in the roof or via the hydraulically operated clamshell door located in the rear of the vehicle on the right side. The lower part folds down to form a ramp while the upper part opens upwards.

The original Russian engine and transmission have been removed and a NIMDA-designed power pack has been installed at the vehicle's rear. This unusual power pack is extremely compact and has allowed the installation of the passageway at the rear of the vehicle on the right side which allows the infantry to dismount through the rear clamshell door. This has been achieved without modifying the hull.

The power pack of the Achzarit Mk 1 consists of the transversely mounted Detroit Diesel 8V-71 TTA water-cooled, two-stroke V-8 diesel developing 650hp coupled to an Allison XTG-411-4 hydrokinetic automatic transmission. The Achzarit Mk 2 power pack consists of a Detroit Diesel 8V-92 TA diesel developing 850hp coupled to an Allison XTG-411-5 automatic transmission. These engines can draw in air from either the crew compartment or the engine compartment through a precleaner with a blower to eject the dust and a paper filter.

While the five roadwheels, drive sprocket and idler of the T-54/T-55 MBT have been retained, the wheels are now sprung by new torsion bars which allow a greater wheel travel, with the first and last wheel stations being fitted with an hydraulic bump stop produced by Israel Aircraft Industries. This suspension upgrade provides the vehicle with better cross-country mobility and allows it to operate with MBTs.

The vehicle has a combat loaded weight of 44 tons compared to the 36 tons of a T-54/T-55 MBT and while the T-55 turret has been removed from the Achzarit, most of the difference in weight between the present Achzarit 44 tons and the 27 tons of the T-55 hull is accounted for by the additional armour protection for improved battlefield survivability.

Standard equipment for the Achzarit includes a fire detection and suppression system, individual NBC system and the vehicle can also lay a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust outlet on the left side of the hull.

There is known to be a command post variant which lacks the roof-mounted machine guns and is fitted with additional communications equipment for its specialised role.



Crew 3+7
Armament 4x7.62mm
Ammunition storage 4000x7.62mm
Weight 44 tons
Engine Mk 1 650 hp
Mk 2 850 hp