Panhard VBL French 4x4 All-Terrain Vehicle
French Armored Carrier/Tactical Utility Vehicle VBL
Contents
- 1 System
- 2 Specifications
- 3 Protection
- 4 Weapons
- 5 Variants
- 5.1 VBL AT4CS
- 5.2 VBL Eryx
- 5.3 VB2L Poste de Commandement
- 5.4 VBL TOW (Greece)
- 5.5 VBL Milan
- 5.6 VBL Samantha
- 5.7 VBL Anti-Tank
- 5.8 VBL Albi
- 5.9 VBL with PL127 Turret
- 5.10 VBL SOURCE
- 5.11 VBL Information
- 5.12 VAP Deep Penetration Vehicle
- 5.13 ULTRAV M11
- 5.14 Wasp Milan ER
- 5.15 VBL Canon
- 5.16 VBL Ingwe (South Africa)
- 5.17 MPCV (Multi-purpose Combat Vehicle)
- 5.18 VBL Tourelle Fermee
- 5.19 VBR
- 6 Notes
System
Alternative Designation: Vehicule Blinde Leger, Ultrav, M11 Date Of Introduction: 1984 Proliferation: 1948+/at least 17 countries Description: 4 X 4 armored vehicle carrier serves in a variety of roles. Some variants can carry more than the crew.
Specifications
Crew: 3 (driver, commander, gunner) Combat weight (mt): 3.55 Chassis length overall (m): 3.70 Height overall (m): 1.70 Height overall (to top of MG) (m): 2.14 Width overall (m): 2.02 Automotive performance: XD 3T Engine type: Peugeot liquid-cooled, turbo-charged, in-line, 4-cylinder diesel Cruising range (km): 600 Cruising range (max fuel variant) (km): 800 Cruising range (external tanks) (km): 1000 Max road speed (km/h): 95 Max swim speed (km/h): 5.4 Fording depths (m): Amphibious
Protection
Armor, turret front (mm): 5-11.5 Applique armor (mm): No Explosive reactive armor (mm): No NBC protection system: Collective Smoke equipment: Available Survivability equipment: Increased mine protection; Kevlar blankets
Weapons
M2HB
Caliber/length: 12.7-mm (.50 caliber) Ammo: 1200 Rounds: Ball, Tracer, AP, API, API-T, AP Hardcore, Multipurpose, SLAP, SLAPT Maximum Effective Range (Day) (m): 2000 Armor penetration: AP: 11 mm at 30° at 1500 m Ball: 20 mm at 100 m Muzzle velocity (m/s): M33 Ball: 890 SLAPT (Tracer): 1215
Milan (on some variants)
Caliber/length: 115 mm Type: Anti-Tank Missile Ammo: Tandem Heat-SACLOS (6 Rounds on some variants) Maximum Effective Range: Milan: 2000 m (minimum 25 m) Milan ER: 3000 Armor penetration: Milan 3: 1000 mm of ERA or 3 m of reinforced concrete Muzzle velocity (m/s): 200
Variants
VBL AT4CS
Description: A54CS 84-mm ATGM carrier with range only to 250 m with ring-mounted 7.62-mm machine gun.
VBL Eryx
Description: Short-range (600 m) AT carrier with secondary 7.62-mm machine gun.
VB2L Poste de Commandement
Description: Command version with extra radios, map board, & 7.62-mm MG for self-protection.
VBL TOW (Greece)
Description: Single tube with 4 rounds with range to 3,750 m.
VBL Milan
Description: 1 Milan firing unit with 6 missiles with range to 2 km.
VBL Samantha
Description: Griffon surveillance radar to designate SAM missile & AA artillery targets.
VBL Anti-Tank
Description: Equipped with the HOT or TOW turret, but also can be integrated with Kornet or Ingwe missile systems.
VBL Albi
Description: Fires Mistral/Mistral 2 SAMs.
VBL with PL127 Turret
Description: 12.7-mm MG or 40-mm AGL.
VBL SOURCE
Description: Upgraded optics.
VBL Information
Description: Improved target designation.
VAP Deep Penetration Vehicle
Description: Long wheel-base for deep reconnaissance missions.
ULTRAV M11
Description: Stretched for NBC detection.
Wasp Milan ER
Description: Remote weapon station with a 1-tube ATGM launcher & 7.62-mm machine gun.
VBL Canon
Description: 20-mm remote turret.
VBL Ingwe (South Africa)
Description: Armed Long Range Reconnaissance Turret with 4 Ingwe ATGM launchers.
MPCV (Multi-purpose Combat Vehicle)
Description: VBR chassis with 4 rail missile launcher turret with 8 missiles & 12.7-mm machine gun.
VBL Tourelle Fermee
Description: Remote turret that can fire a 12.7-mm MG, 7.62-mm MG, or 40-mm AG.
VBR
Description: Stretch variant can carry 5 soldiers; remote weapon station with M2HB MG & smoke grenade launchers.
Notes
Description: SOME VBLS WILL CARRY A 7.62-MM MACHINE GUN AS A SECONDARY WEAPON. THIS COULD BE COAXIAL MOUNTED ON AN ATGM PLATFORM SYSTEM OR ON A RING MOUNT. LRAC ANTI-TANK LAUNCHERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN OPTION.