AOI Fahd

     Notes: The Fahd 4x4 APC was designed to meet the requirements of the Egyptian Army, and replace several older Egyptian APCs and IFVs after Egypt and Israel made peace with other and was able to get Western help for its defense industry.  The Fahd was designed by Thyssen Henschel of Germany under the designation TH 390, and then built in Egypt, replacing the BTR-40, Walid, and to an extent the BMP-1 in Egyptian service.  The Fahd is essentially a Daimler-Benz LAP-1117/32 truck chassis with an armored body.  The Egyptians had an estimated over 1000 or so in service by 1997, plus sales to Kuwait, Oman, Sudan, Bangladesh, Algeria, and the Congo.  Most of the 110 vehicles sold to the Kuwaitis in the 1980s were captured by Iraq during the 1990 invasion, and subsequently destroyed during Desert Storm; almost all of them have since been replaced, and 40 captured by Iraq were also returned to Kuwait after Desert Storm.  The Iraqis themselves bought a quantity of Fahds from Egypt, and virtually were destroyed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.  Bangladeshi Fahds have seen combat service as part of some UN peacekeeping efforts in various places.  Egyptian Fahds saw combat service in Desert Storm. The status of the Sudanese and Congolese Fahds is unknown, and they may have fallen into a state of disrepair and/or destroyed during the violence in those countries.  There are several APC-type versions, as well as some specialized variants of the Fahd.

 

Fahd/Fahd 240/Fahd 280

     The Fahd is basically a large, boxlike structure, similar in appearance to the German Fuchs or US Fox armored cars.  Compared to other vehicles of its type and class, the Fahd is lighter and less well-armored, though some versions are much better-armed. The driver sits at the front of the vehicle on the left, with the commander to the right; they are behind bullet-resistant windshields, with windows on either side of their compartment.  The windshield and the windows can be further protected by a fold down (or slide down, for the side windows) armored shutters with vision slits in them. The driver and commander have doors to enter the cab. The driver and commander can also get to their positions by going through the troop compartment. Above them are hatches; the commander’s hatch is a rotating cupola with vision blocks and with a pintle mount for a weapon.  The pintle mount normally holds a light or medium machinegun, but can hold heavier weapons up to a 20mm autocannon. The driver has a vision block built into his overhead hatch, which can be replaced with a night vision block. The rear troop compartment has its troops sitting down the middle of the compartment, facing outwards; there are four firing ports in each side of the troop compartment, and two in the rear of the compartment. The seats are individual bucket seats which have shock absorbing features for protection against mines and to smooth out the ride somewhat; the commander’s and driver’s seats are similar in construction. The troops enter the compartment through a split rear door; the bottom half has a built-in ladder, as the Fahd’s suspension is a bit high. The interior of the Fahd is air conditioned, but has no provision for NBC warfare.  The Fahd’s interior has a decent amount of stowage for ammunition, troop equipment, and weapons such as grenades and RPG rockets, and is described as being relatively roomy. In the center of the troop compartment are a pair of roof hatches which also have pintle mounts for weapons; a third roof hatch at the rear of the compartment has another pintle mount. On each side of the Fahd, between the cab and troop compartment, is a bank of three smoke grenade launchers, facing forwards and slightly outwards.

     The Fahd and Fahd 240 are powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM-352A turbocharged diesel engine developing 168 horsepower; this is coupled to a manual transmission.  The suspension is a 4x4 cross country suspension with large tires designed for operation in even deep sand and to lower ground pressure for that purpose.  The large tires also allow the Fahd to cross trenches the average 4x4 vehicle cannot negotiate. The suspension, engine, and transmission are specially sealed against sand and dust, and the air filtration system for the engine is also specially designed to this end.  Both pairs of wheels are steerable.  In the front of the Fahd is a winch with a 5-ton capacity and 100 meters of cable; this is primarily meant for self-recovery and to help recover other stuck vehicles. The Fahd is a vehicle designed not only for desert operations, but hot weather operations. Optional equipment (though not used by any country using the Fahd) includes a heater, a vision block and night vision block for the commander, and an NBC overpressure system and/or collective NBC system. Though armor is relatively light, an appliqué armor kit has not yet been devised.

     The Fahd 240 is basically the same vehicle, but built on the newer Mercedes-Benz LAP-1424/32 chassis; engine power got a big boost, with the installation of a Mercedes Benz OM-366 LA turbocharged diesel engine, again coupled to a manual transmission.  A slight increase in armor was also made.  This, along with the new suspension and relatively light weight, gives the Fahd-240 good maneuverability, even in deep sand.

     The Fahd 280 is a Fahd-240 equipped with a BTM-208 turret (the same as on some versions of the German Wiesel 1) at the front of the troop compartment, and uses a dedicated gunner.  This version has a somewhat reduced troop-carrying capability.  The commander’s weapon is deleted, as are all the troop compartment pintle-mounted weapons except the rear.

     The Fahd 280-30 version, based on the Fahd 240, places the entire turret of the BMP-2 atop the Fahd 240 chassis.  As such, it has all the armament and equipment of the BMP-2 turret (except NBC protection), as well as the armor levels and an ability to take appliqué armor packages. (Still none for the Fahd’s body, however.)  The Fahd 280-30 carries a ground mount for the AT-5 missile it carries so they can be used away from the vehicle. The Fahd 280-30 has one less firing port on each side, the extra ports being plated over.  Troop complement is drastically reduced to make room for the turret and ammunition.  The turret is one-man. The commander’s pintle mount is deleted, as are the pintle mounts by the overhead hatches on the troop compartment roof except that by the rear hatch.

 

Other APC-Type Versions

     The Fahd 280 Anti-Riot is a police version, equipped for dealing with large riots and for police special reaction teams.  The roof has a turret armed with a water cannon, fed by a tank with either 400 liters, 600 liters, 800 liters or 1000 liters. (The passenger complement below is for a 400-liter tank; remove two passengers for each step upwards in water tank capacity and add $200 and 0.2 tons to the weight, and subtract 0.1 tons from the Load.) The water cannon fires at a rate of 180 liters per minute. The turret is also equipped with a manually-operated grenade launcher which fires only irritant gas or smoke.  At the front of the vehicle is a dozer blade for removing obstacles of pushing people or cars; it is not, for example, strong enough to use against buried mines or to dig fighting positions.  The blade is 50% likely to be hit if the vehicle is fired upon from the front, increasing AV by 2 and making the AV into ad hoc Spaced armor.  The Fahd 280 Anti-Riot also has flashing lights, a siren, a loudspeaker, and an extra-loud horn. Despite the name, the Fahd 280 Anti-Riot does not have the Fahd 280’s turret armament, though the turret is the same.

     The Fahd 280 Command is, as its name befits, fitted out as a command vehicle; it has map boards, stowage for maps, plotting supplies, and office-type supplies, extra radios (two short-range, two medium-range, and two long-range, one of which is data-capable), a ruggedized laptop computer, and a hand-held thermal imager, image intensifier, laser rangefinder, and several pairs of binoculars.  Despite its name, it has only pintle-mounted machineguns as armament; it is based on the Fahd 240.

     The Fahd 280 Ambulance carries two stretcher-borne casualties and up to four seated casualties, as well as a medic in the rear.  It has the equivalent of two doctor’s medical bags and 20 personal medical kits, as well as an assortment of splints, cravats, and various bandages.  It has a small refrigerator for perishable medical supplies, a hot plate, an oxygen administration set, and a defibrillator. It is unarmed, and based on the Fahd 240.

 

Twilight 2000 Notes: All these vehicles were in play in the Twilight 2000 timeline, though in most countries, the base Fahds had been updated to at least the Fahd 240 version by the start of the war.

 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Fahd

$44,052

D, A

2.5 tons

10.9 tons

2+10

8

Passive IR (D)

Enclosed

Fahd 240

$45,301

D, A

3.6 tons

11.6 tons

2+10

8

Passive IR (D)

Enclosed

Fahd 280

$45,484

D, A

3.3 tons

11.8 tons

3+8

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Enclosed

Fahd 280-30

$89,543

D, A

2.9 tons

12.5 tons

3+7

9

Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G)

Enclosed

Fahd 280 Anti-Riot

$74,301

D, A

3.4 tons

12 tons

3+8

6

Passive IR (D, G)

Enclosed

Fahd 280 Command

$269,260

D, A

1.6 tons

12.7 tons

2+5

10

Passive IR (D)

Enclosed

Fahd 280 Ambulance

$52,097

D, A

1.6 tons

12.1 tons

*

9

Passive IR (D)

Enclosed

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Fahd

134/67

31/16

280

85

Stnd

W(3)

HF4  HS2  HR2

Fahd 240

190/95

44/22

280

148

Stnd

W(3)

HF5  HS4  HR2

Fahd 280

187/94

43/22

280

151

CiH

W(3)

TF3  TS3  TR3  HF5  HS4  HR2

Fahd 280-30

176/87

41/20

280

160

Trtd

W(3)

TF6  TS3  TR3  HF5  HS4  HR2

Fahd 280 Anti-Riot

181/91

43/22

280

156

CiH

W(3)

TF3  TS3  TR3  HF5  HS4  HR2

Fahd 280 Command

173/87

40/20

280

162

Stnd

W(3)

HF5  HS4  HR2

Fahd 280 Ambulance

182/91

42/21

280

154

Stnd

W(3)

HF5  HS4  HR2

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Fahd/Fahd 240/Fahd 280 Command

None

None

4xPK (C, Right/Left Side, Rear)

2000x7.62mm

Fahd 280

+1

Basic

M-2HB, PKT, PKT (Rear)

1500x.50, 1500x7.62mm

Fahd 280-30

+2

Fair

30mm 2A42 Autocannon, PKT, PKT (Rear)

500x30mm, 2000x7.62mm, 5xAT-5 ATGM

Fahd 280 Anti-Riot

+1

Basic

25mm Water Cannon, 38mm Grenade Launcher

Water (See Above), 250x38mm Irritant Gas or Smoke Grenades

*See Notes for Crew and passenger figure.

 

Kader G-320

     Notes: The Kader G-320 is a German Mercedes-Benz MB-320G SUV that one might say has been fitted with a “full metal jacket” – it has been given a body of light steel armor.  Atop this armored body is a small, manually-operated turret with a machinegun in it, and in each side are one or two firing ports.  One firing port is in the rear door.  There is a door in each side of the cab, and the driver and commander have bullet resistant windshields and windows on their side doors.  The rear door also has a window; side windows are optional.  For all windows, armored shutters can be raised or lowered to help further protect the vehicle.  The suspension is beefed up to accept the extra weight of armor and weapons, and the fuel tank is also armored.  Run-flat tires are fitted, as are ABS brakes (which automatically switch off if differential locks are engaged). The G-320 has a fully automatic transmission, and can be switched from 4x2 to 4x4 drive on the fly, even at full speed or in very rough terrain.  The engine is a Mercedes-Benz 210-horsepower gasoline engine. On either side of the front bumper are mounted three smoke grenade launchers. The G-320 also has some items not normally present on a military vehicle, such as cruise control and front and side-curtain airbags, as well as door locks.  Unfortunately, this requires a key (which could be easily lost in a Twilight 2000 game), to open the vehicle as well as start it.  The G-320 can be outfitted as a basic military-type carrier or a VIP transport vehicle with rows of seats (the most common use); in such a case, additional side doors will be present.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: During the Twilight War, G-320s were equipped with extra radios and used as scout vehicles.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$15,769

G, A

700 kg

3.8 tons

3+5

2

Headlights

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

405/116

93/15

110

146

CiH

W(3)

TF2  TS2  TR2  HF2  HS2  HR2

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

Basic

PKT

1100x7.62mm

 

Kader Walid

     Notes:  The Walid (also spelled in some sources “Waleed”) is a very basic APC designed by Kader in 1960, and which first saw combat service in the 1967 War.  The Walid was used by Egypt, but has been almost totally replaced in that country by newer vehicles, the other major user was Sudan, and the disposition of their Walids is unknown. Other users include Burundi and Yemen, and Israel once employed 10 captured Walids. It is basically an armored version of a German Magirus Deutz Unimog truck, of a type manufactured under license in Egypt at the time.  The armoring is very basic and rather thin, and neither the troop compartment nor the cab has any overhead protection other than a canvas cover.  There are three firing ports in the sides and two in the rear, but these are simple shutters covering holes in the body and not more complex APC/IFV-type firing ports.  The troops enter and exit by climbing over the sides or rear; the cab has doors on each side.  The rear face has a spare tire mounted on it. The driver and commander sit behind a bullet-resistant windshield; an armored shutter with vision slits in it can be lowered over the windshield to increase protection.  The side cab doors open outwards at the top to give the commander and driver more vision, but do not have windows.  The tires have a central pressure regulation, but are not run-flat.  The commander has a pintle mount for a weapon; additional pintle mounts around the troop compartment are optional. Suspension is a 4x4 off-road-type, and the engine is a 168-horsepower diesel.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Walids were still in heavy use by Egypt in the Twilight 2000 timeline, primarily as reconnaissance vehicles.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$12,737

D, A

2.8 tons

9.2 tons

2+8

6

Headlights

Open

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

150/75

34/18

260

85

Stnd

W(3)

HF3  HS3  HR2

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

PKT (C)

1000x7.62mm