18 January 2001

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann developed the all-protected carrier vehicle (APCV). The Germany Army is the first customer for the APCV. It has ordered 56 vehicles for delivery from August this year through to late 2000.

The APCV, which is also called the Dingo, is essentially a standard commercial Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG 4 x 4 truck chassis type U100L or U1550L, fitted with an armoured body that protects the occupants from small arms fire, shell splinters and mines.

It is available in several configurations to meet different operational requirements; the German Army selected the APCV-2 version, which has a wheelbase of 3.25m.

Standard equipment includes a central tyre-pressure regulation system, air-conditioning system, Anti-Skid Braking System, parking heating, reversing camera, power steering and an external-communications system. Optional equipment includes various roof-mounted weapons including 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns or a 40mm grenade launcher, an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system and a command, control and intelligence system.

Specifications

Crew: 1 + 4

Configuration: 4 x 4

Armament: 1x 7.62mm machine gun (typical)

Combat weight: 8,800kg

Power-to-weight ratio: 26.93hp/t

Power pack: Mercedes-Benz diesel developing 237hp coupled to an automatic transmission

Length: 5.23m

Width: 2.31m

Height: 2.38m

Max speed: 120km/h

Range: 700km

Airportable: C-130 Hercules

Status

In production for the German Army (56).

Variants

The APCV can also be used as a reconnaissance vehicle, command and control vehicle, ambulance, weapon carrier, forward air control and cargo vehicle to name but a few.

Manufacturer

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG, Munich, Germany

All-Protected Carrier Vehicle (APCV) (Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann)