IDF Achzarit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| IDF Achzarit Mk1 | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 + 7 passengers |
| Length | 6.20 m |
| Width | 3.60 m |
| Height | >2 m (estimate) |
| Weight | 44 tonnes |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 200 mm |
| Main armament | 3×7.62mm machine gun, 7.62mm MAG Rafael Overhead Weapon Station |
| Secondary armament | |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | diesel 850 hp (630 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion-bar |
| Road speed | km/h |
| Power/weight | 19 hp/tonne |
| Range | |
The Achzarit (אכזרית in Hebrew: "cruel", female inflection) is a heavily armored armored personnel carrier manufactured by the Israeli Defence Forces Corps of Ordnance.
The Achzarit is based on the Soviet-built T-54/T-55 tank, beginning with those captured from Arab armies during the Arab-Israeli wars. The IDF took the old T-55 tank and removed its turret. The chassis was modified for troop carriage by adding a troop compartment and a rear door. The original Soviet-made water-cooled diesel engine was replaced with a more compact and powerful diesel engine, and other internal systems were upgraded. Reactive armor was installed over the original armored tank chassis.
The Achzarit Mk 1 has a 650-hp engine, while the Mk 2 has an 850-hp engine.
It is armed with 7.62 mm machine guns, including one machine gun controlled from within the cabin, developed by the Israeli Armament Development Authority (Rafael).
Because of its heavy armor, the Achzarit is sometimes called a heavy APC (HAPC). Achzarit APCs are in service with the IDF Golani Brigade, which operates near the Lebanese border and in the northern part of the West Bank.
Achzarit APCs took part in Operation Rainbow in Rafah, after a comparatively lightly-armored M-113 APC was destroyed by an RPG round.
[edit] See also
- VIU-55 Munja, similar example
- BTR-T
- BMPT
[edit] External links
 |
This military vehicle article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
