Begleitpanzer 57 AIFSV

Last updated
Begleitpanzer 57
AIFSV Side1.png
Begleitpanzer 57 side-view.
Type Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin West Germany
Production history
No. built1
Specifications ( [1] )
Mass33.5 t (36.9 short tons)
Length6.79 m (22 ft 3 in) (hull only)
7.48 m (24 ft 6 in) (gun forward)
Width3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Height2.51 m (8 ft 3 in)
Crew5

Main
armament
Bofors 57 mm SAK L/70 Mk1
Secondary
armament
BGM-71 TOW
Maximum speed 75 km/h (47 mph)
Side view with turret in 9 o'clock position AIFSV Side.png
Side view with turret in 9 o'clock position

The Begleitpanzer 57 (Escort Tank 57) AIFSV (Armored Infantry Fire Support Vehicle) was a project of the companies Thyssen-Henschel and Bofors. Only a single prototype was built. It consists of a modified Marder chassis carrying a Bofors 57 mm Naval Automatic Gun L/70 Mark 1 and a TOW ATGM.

Contents

In the mid-1970s, the two then-existing companies Thyssen-Henschel and Bofors began without government mandate the development of an infantry escort tank, to fill the niche of a light fire support platform. The vehicle was first introduced in November 1977. However, due to lack of interest from potential buyers, the project was not pursued.

Description

The modified hull of the armored personnel carrier Marder was used as chassis. Here all the components of the infantry fighting vehicle, such as bullet covers, rear MG, tailgate and hatchways of the crew compartment had been removed to accommodate the much larger turret and associated equipment.

The asymmetrically shaped turret resembles the Marder turret. On the left of the turret ceiling is the hatch of the commander with angle mirrors and a stabilized round periscope. On the right side of the turret is the gunner's hatch, with access to the exterior TOW launcher. The launcher operated with a telescope with night vision thermal imaging system, a laser rangefinder and tracked control system for the missiles. For the commander, there was a monitor with parallel information.

The turret had a recess in the middle in the longitudinal direction, in which the external, crest-fixed pipe cradle was mounted, holding the Bofors 57 mm Naval Automatic Gun L/70 Mk 1. The cannon had an autoloader and moved in the elevation range from -8° to +45°. The vehicle carried an ammunition supply of 48 cartridges 57 mm ammunition and six anti-tank guided missiles.

The technical data corresponded to those of the Marder, except

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References

  1. Nash, Mark (January 14, 2018). "Begleitpanzer 57". The Online Tank Museum. Tanks Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 31, 2024.

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