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The Transportpanzer (TPz) Fuchs (fox) is an armoured personnel carrier developed by Daimler-Benz and built by Thyssen-Henschel (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme) in 1979. It was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to be fielded in the Bundeswehr and has been adopted for a number of tasks including troop transport, engineer transport, bomb disposal, NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) reconnaissance and electronic warfare. In selecting models and retrofit kits, more than 90 combinations are possible; 32 have been produced. The TPz Fuchs is thus referred to as a "retrofit platform". In American service the vehicle is designated M93 Fox.
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| TPz Fuchs | |
|---|---|
 TPz 1A3 Fuchs NBC reconnaissance vehicle | |
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin |  West Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Bundeswehr |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Thyssen-Henschel |
| Produced | 1979-present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 18.3 t |
| Length | 7.33 m |
| Width | 2.98 m |
| Height | 2.37 m |
| Armor | Steel armour (basic version); MEXAS |
Main armament | Up to three Rheinmetall MG3 |
Secondary armament | MILAN anti-tank guided missile, smoke grenade launchers |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled diesel 320 hp |
| Payload capacity | 6 t |
| Suspension | 6x6 |
Operational range | 800 km |
| Maximum speed | 105 km/h 10 km/h (in water) |
Depending on version the TPz Fuchs can be equipped with up to three MG3 general purpose machine guns, . Other variants where developed featuring small turrets
Vehicles used in the Armoured Reconnaissance Battalions, Panzergrenadiers (mechanized infantry), the Franco-German Brigade, the mountain infantry and the Jäger (rangers) of the German Army are armed with Milan ATGM anti-tank-guided missiles (in this configuration a maximum of two MG3s are mounted). Some Fuchs' in the latest configurations deployed in Afghanistan are equipped with a HK GMG or an M3M mounted in a FLW 200 remote weapon station.
The basic Fuchs versions are made of armour steel (RHA). This offers protection against small arms fire. Later some models like the Fuchs 1A7 were fitted with MEXAS applique composite armour. When fitted with MEXAS, the Fuchs' protection is increased to fullfill STANAG 4569 Level 4 - the armour then offers protection against 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm heavy machine gun (HMG) rounds.
The engine is a Mercedes-Benz Model OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled 320 HP diesel. Its top speed is 105 km/h and the range is 800 km. It is 7.33 m long, 2.98 m wide and 2.37 m high. It weighs 18.3 tons with the capability to carry 6 tons in equipment. The 6x6 APC has high performance over many terrains, with low noise. Its rear-mounted propellers with 360° turning range enable it to take water obstacles at 10 km/h.
Improvements concentrated on the ability to withstand high-performance, armour-piercing ammunition fired from small arms and lightweight carriage-mounted machine guns, as well as shrapnel (e.g. from artillery rounds), and anti-personnel and antitank mines.
Due to the weight and volume restrictions, advanced armour materials are used to meet the protection specifications, which compared to equally effective steel or aluminium alloy armour, can reduce weight by 50%.
The modular armour protection system has six harmonized elements which in part operate in coordinated fashion:
- Add-on armour mounted to the exterior of the vehicle housing
- Anti-mine protective plating in the wheel cases
- Reinforced bullet-proof windows
- Reinforced bullet-proof visors for shielding the window exteriors
- Spall-lining of all interior surfaces of the vehicle compartment
- A shielded gun mounting (except on the medical vehicles)
Below is a comparison between some modern APCs including the Fuchs :
 Fahd [1][2] |
 Fuchs [3] |
 VAB [3] |
 LAV-25 [4] |
 Stryker ICV [4] |
 BTR-90 [4] [5] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 10.9 t (12.0 short tons) | 18.3 t (20.2 short tons) | 13.8 t (15.2 short tons) | 12.8 t (14.1 short tons) | 16.47 t (18.16 short tons) | 20.9 t (23.0 short tons) |
| Primary armament | 30 mm (1.18 in) 2A42 automatic cannon | Up to three 7.62 mm (0.300 in) MG3 machine guns | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun | 25 mm (0.98 in) M242 chain gun | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun | 30 mm (1.18 in) 2A42 automatic cannon |
| Secondary armament | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) FN MAG machine gun | - | - | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) M240 machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) M240 machine gun | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) PKT machine gun |
| Missile armament (Range) | AT-5 Spandrel (700-4000 meters) | MILAN (400-2000 meters) | - | - | - | AT-5 Spandrel (700-4000 meters) |
| Road range | 700 km (430 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) | 1,000 km (620 mi) | 660 km (410 mi) | 500 km (310 mi) | 800 km (500 mi) |
| Maximum velocity (on road) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 96 km/h (60 mph) | 110 km/h (68 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Capacity (maximum) | 3 crew + 10 passengers | 2 crew + 10 passengers | 2 crew + 10 passengers | 3 crew + 6 passengers | 2 crew + 9 passengers | 3 crew + 9 passengers |
Most vehicles are in service with the German Army (1,003 - 144 upgraded) the rest are in the armed forces of Saudi Arabia (36), The Netherlands (23), United Kingdom (11), USA (123, as M93 Fox) and Venezuela (10). The Fuchs served in Gulf war and in peace-keeping operations with German KFOR troops in former Yugoslavia and with German ISAF in Afghanistan.
Fuchs with Radar equipment RASIT
In British service
- Boxer (Armoured Fighting Vehicle)
- KMW Grizzly - Another new armored vehicle of the German Army
- AGF (Light infantry vehicle)
- Rheinmetall YAK
- ATF Dingo
- Mungo ESK
- Pindad Panser
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