Rheinmetall APE
Notes: This is
an engineer reconnaissance vehicle that was built for the German Army, based on
a shortened version of the Fuchs.
APE stands for Amphibishche PionErerkundungs, or Amphibious Engineer
Reconnaissance Vehicle. In practice, only a few were built for German service
due to budgetary restraints.
The APE carries
a combat engineer team and its equipment, and is used for route reconnaissance
and carrying engineer teams to clear obstacles.
The APE is basically a smaller version of the TPz-1 Fuchs; it is
essentially a 4x4 version of the 6x6 Fuchs.
The vehicle has large doors in the rear for the team, doors in either
side of the cab, and three hatches in the roof of the passenger compartment.
There is a light mount by one of these hatches for a 20mm long-barreled
autocannon; this cannon can be used for local defense, but is more commonly used
to detonate explosive charges and mines found in its work, and to saw down trees
with a few well-placed shots. There are six smoke grenade launchers on each side
of the front of the vehicle. This autocannon and cupola are on the left front
side; the driver is on the right front. The gunner stands on the seat to fire
the autocannon. Other crew is in the rear, and there is a break in the front
seats to allow a connection between the back and front.
Two vision ports are found on each side.
The APE is a
route reconnaissance vehicle on steroids -- with its equipment and a digital
radio link (on all radios) to higher HQ, the APE can generate enough information
to produce maps of its round and surroundings, and clear some minor
obstructions. To accomplish its work, the roof is studded with sensor and
mapping aerials, from chemical meters to laser rangefinders.
It has a complete NBC overpressure suite and the crew is capable of
missions lasting two weeks or more. Information storage is copious and resistant
to EMP and is of the solid-state digital type; the memory may store 17 TB of
data. (Earlier versions had a
battery of VCRs.) Internal floats in the walls of the vehicle help keep the
vehicle afloat despite punctures of the shell.
The hull has sensors to measure the precise depth of water and water
velocity, including sonar. It can estimate ground conditions and shore slopes
and conditions. Its water bilge bumps can keep the vehicle afloat even after the
vehicle is penetrated by enemy fire. The tires have central tire pressure
regulation, are run-flat, and puncture resistant. Power is provided by a
Mercedes-Benz OM-402A Diesel developing 320 horsepower.
The engine and transmission are identical to that of the Fuchs. Swimming
propulsion is by two waterjets. Versions used today have a GPS and BMS.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$1,896,645 |
D, A |
2.08 tons |
14.5 tons |
4 |
32 |
Passive IR (D), 2x 2nd Gen Image Intensification (Crew), 2nd
Gen Image Intensification (C, G), Thermal Imager (G) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
171/86 |
48/24/6 |
375 |
119 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF6 HS3
HR2 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+1 |
Basic |
20mm Rh-202 |
500x20mm |
Krupp-MAN Leguan Bridgelayer
Notes:
This bridging vehicle is based on a heavy MAN truck chassis.
It is used by about a dozen countries, but built in
The truck
chassis is a MAN OAF 36.422 VFAE.
The crew sits in the cab at the front of the vehicle, behind large ballistic
glass windows and others on each side, of the forward bridgelaying mechanism,
giving them a good view of bridge deployment operations.
Their cab is climate-controlled and has NBC overpressure.
One crewmember is in the left side of the mechanism, with his
bridgelaying equipment. The driver
is in the right sponson. A third
person could be fit in the right cab if necessary. The do not have overhead
hatches, but there are hatches on each side of the cab.
Armament is limited to the crew's personal weapons.
The engine is a MAN D 2866LD/422 turbocharged diesel developing 412
horsepower; the transmission is automatic, but only has two forward gears.
Night vision is limited to NODs, but these are not included in the price.
On each side on the bumpers are a cluster of three smoke grenade launchers.
Suspension is 8x8.
The Leguan
Bridgelayer can also be used to lay ferries, as the bridges are buoyant enough
to float with an MLC-50 load. Up to
42-meter ferries can be assembled.
This vehicle has GPS and a BMS.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$1,396,309 |
D, A |
492 kg |
35.6 tons |
2 |
25 |
Headlights |
Open |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
140/70 |
39/20 |
400 |
150 |
CiH |
W(4) |
TF4 TS4
TR4 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
Notes:
Similar in concept to the French PAA DCAN, this is a German (originally
West German) amphibious ferry and bridging system.
It is also used by about half a dozen
countries, and sold on the open market to civilians.
(One was recently sold on the US TV Show
Pawn Stars.) The prototype was
the M-2A; the M-2B was the first production version, built for Britain and later
(West) Germany. They were later
upgraded to the M-2D variant. The M-2C was designed exclusively for the use of
Singapore, and uses a slightly more powerful and easier to maintain engine
(Identical for game purposes). The M-2D is modified to MLC-70, or MLC-92 when
being used as a ferry. The M-2 can
also be used by lining them up and a trackway placed above them; in this mode,
bridges are limited in length only by the number of vehicles available.
The M-2 is no longer offered for sale; it has been replaced in
construction by the M-3.
To use in water,
several rubber bladders are inflated by engine gases.
When used in this mode, the vehicles form an MLC-70 class trackway is
only one vehicle of that size drives across at once; otherwise, the standard
trackway is MLC-50. Engine for most versions is Deutz Model F 8 L 714a Diesel
developing 180 horsepower; the M-2C has a Deutz Model F 8 l 413 F Diesel engine,
which IRL was less expensive at the time.
Most construction is of high-quality alloys.
Maneuvering in water is done with steerable hydrojets, and there are two
anchors to help keep the M-2 still once it is in position. The M-2 has crew
heating, air conditioning, and NBC overpressure.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$457,946 |
D, A |
528 kg |
22 tons |
4 |
30 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
124/48 |
35/14/4 |
1200 |
63 |
CiH |
W(2) |
TF4 TS4
TR4 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
EWK M-3
Notes: A highly
upgraded version of the M-2 designed to address the shortcomings of the M-2, the
most obvious of which was the weak horsepower-to-weight ratio.
It was first designed at the behest of the German Army, then Britain
jumped on board and participated in the field trials. LRIP began in 1996, and
full production began in 1999. Taiwan placed an order for 22 in 1997, and these
were delivered in 2002. It is still
offered on the international market.
Some features
from the M-2 have been deleted, but most have been upgraded. Like the M-2,
flotation is by inflated rubber flotation bags, though they are larger on the
M-3. The M-3 has a full MLC of 70.
If functioning as ferry, it can operate at MLC 90, but it cannot carry
such a vehicle on land. Deploying the M-3 for full riverine operations takes 20
minutes. The engine is KHD BF 8 L
LC 338-horsepower engine. For
amphibious mobility, there are hydrojets on the front and rear and they can
rotate 360 degrees. Alternatively, eight M-3s may be deployed end to end to
produce one span 100 meters in length. M-3s in NATO service have a BMS and GPS
system. The vehicle has air
conditioning, heating, and NBC Overpressure for the cab.
The crew has a
door on either side of the cab; there is a large windshield made of ballistic
glass. The crew has climate
controls and NBC overpressure. The
transmission can raise and lower as needed, and the M-3 also has central tire
pressure regulation.
Taiwan and
Singapore use an upgraded version known as the M-3G.
This has a more armored cabin, stronger
372-horsepower engine, and a special tropical kit, as well as GPS and a BMS.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M-3 |
$613,094 |
D, A |
418 kg |
25.3 tons |
3 |
21 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
M-3G |
$1,395,217 |
D, A |
520 kg |
25.36 tons |
3 |
21 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M-3 |
150/36 |
42/10/4 |
1200 |
123 |
CiH |
W(2) |
TF4 TS4
TR4 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
M-3G |
156/38 |
43/11/4 |
1200 |
135 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF4 TS4
TR4 HF5
HS4 HR2* |
*
Belly armor for the M-3G is 6Sp.