[3e] Panhard VBL Scout Car

[Phaelen Bleux]

Panhard VBL Scout Car (TL7)
The Panhard Vehicule Blinde Leger was developed in the late 1980's as a new light reconnaissance/antitank vehicle. It was first delivered to the French army in 1990. There are two basic versions: a combat/antitank model with a crew of three and a single 7.62mm machine gun, and a intelligence/scout model with a crew of two and a 7.62mm MG plus a second 12.7mm MG mounted on a open mount to the rear of the vehicle. An extended version is also available, adding 10" to the wheelbase and increasing internal volume.
The VBL is fully amphibious, with a small propeller located in the rear of the vehicle. It features run-flat tires that can have their internal pressure adjusted for varying terrain conditions. It is exported in over 20 variants to several countries. Over 1,000 units have been built as of 1995.
The VBL burns 2.5 gallons of fuel per hour at routine usage. A full tank of fuel costs $38.40. Ammunition for the machine gun costs $154.

Subassemblies: Body +3, Open Mount -2 [Body:T], 4 Off-Road wheels +0.
Powertrain: 71-kW improved all-wheeled drivetrain with 71-kW improved turbocharged diesel engine, 71-kW light screw propeller, 2,000-kWs lead acid battery.
Fuel: 32 gallons diesel in standard tank (Fire 9).
Occupancy: 1 NCS, 2 NPS.
Cargo: 56.6 cf.

Armor
All: 4/30

Weaponry:
7.62mm Machine Gun [OM:F] (1,400 rounds).

Equipment:
Body: Medium range radio with scrambler (30-mile), military GPS, light amplification, 3-man NBC kit. OM: Full stabilization.

Statistics:
Size: 12'x6.5'x5.5' Payload: 1 ton Lwt.: 3.95 tons
Volume: 180 cf. Maint.: 75 hours Price: $71,622

HT: 12. HPs: 287 Body, 49 each Wheel, 9 OM.

gSpeed: 63 gAccel: 3.5 gDecel: 10 gMR: 0.75 gSR: 4
Ground Pressure High. ¼ Off-Road speed.
wSpeed: 3.5 wAccel: 2 wDecel: 25(26) wMR: 0.25 wSR: 4
Flotation: 11,250 lbs. Draft: 1.3'.

Design Notes:
Body is 180 cf; wheels are 36 cf, open mount is 0.61 cf. Structure is Medium, Standard. The vehicle is Sealed and has Run-Flat Tires. Armor is cheap metal. Mechanical controls. Empty weight is 5,898 lbs. Design loaded weight was 8,920 lbs., this was reduced 11% to the historical. Design gSpeed was 68 mph, design wSpeed was 8 mph. Historical values were substituted for loaded weight and speeds.

Variants:
The VBL MILAN mounts a MILAN (125mm SACLOS ATGM) with six missiles on a second open mount to the rear of the vehicle. It is also equipped with a thermal camera.
The VBL ERYX mounts the ERYX missile system with one missile and thermal goggles.
The VB2L Poste de Commandement adds a long range radio, a map board and folding table, a fourth folding seat, and additional batteries for 8 hours of radio endurance.
The VBL RECO 12.7 adds an M2 machine gun on a rear open mount and occasionally a grenade launcher.
The VBL AT4CS adds a second radio and a 84mm anti-tank missile launcher.
The ULTRAV M11 NBC is a recon version used by the U.S. Army.
The VBL TOW adds a single TOW tube with 4 missiles. MG ammo is increased to 2,000 rounds. Used by Greece.
The VBL ALBI-MISTRAL adds a second radio, and the 90mm IRH-AAM with six missiles. MG ammo is reduced to 1,200 rounds.
The VBL CANON adds an automated 20mm Rh202 autocannon with 260 rounds.
The VBL TOURELLE FERME fits a 12.7mm MG in a remotely controlled open mount with 600 rounds. It adds a laser rangefinder and sometimes a second radio.
Some later models increase the powerplant to 78-kW.