Combat vehicles / Infantry fighting vehicles / Achzarit
Achzarit
General Facts
- TYPE
Mechanized infantry combat vehicle - ORIGIN
Israel
- NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
Mid 1980's - DESIGNER
NIMDA - PRODUCTION
1988 - ? - PRODUCERS
Israel - NIMDA
- QUANTITY
At least 276 produced. - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
High level of allround and frontal protection
Limited production cost due to use of captured vehicles
Good offroad mobility
Limited firepower
Low power in original production model
Very heavy
Introduction
The Achzarit is a late Cold War era mechanized infantry combat vehicle of Israeli origin. Unlike foreign mechanized infantry combat vehicles the Achzarit emphasizes on armour instead of firepower. The Achzarit is based on the chassis of captured T-54 and T-55 main battle tanks. The Achzarit is supplements and replaces older heavy armored personnel carriers based on the Centurion chassis.
Layout
The Achzarit is based on a T-54 or T-55 tank chassis that was heavily modified. The three man crew is seated at the front. The troop compartment seats seven troops and is located in what used to be the turret ring. The original engine and drivetrain have been replaced by a smaller model located at the rear left. On the right side of the engine there is a crew hatch.
Firepower
The Achzarit is fitted with a Rafael overhead weapon system which is armed with a 7.62mm MAG machine gun or 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun. Additionally two or three 7.62mm MAG machine guns are pintle mounted.
Protection
The original armour package of the T-55 tank chassis remains unchanged, but is supplemented by spaced armour. This provides all round protection against common RPG-7 rocket launcher warheads and autocannon rounds. Reportedly the frontal armour is able to withstand 125mm tank gun rounds. If true, these are likely older types of 125mm rounds.
Mobility
The tracked chassis provides good off road mobility. The original engine was replaced by a smaller Detroit Diesel 650 hp turbocharged diesel engine. The Achzarit was considered underpowered and unable to keep up with Merkava tanks. A Mk 2 model with more powerful 850 hp turbocharged diesel remedies this shortcoming.
Users
The Achzarit was produced for the Israel Defence Forces and has not been exported. It remains in use today, but is to be supplemented and replaced in the near future by the Namer.
Achzarit
Achzarit Mk 1: Original production model, fitted with 650 hp engine.
Achzarit Mk 2: Late production model, fitted with 850 hp engine.
- Specifications:
- Achzarit Mk 1
- Achzarit Mk 2
Type | Mechanized infantry combat vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 + 7 (commander, driver, gunner, 7 troops) |
Length | 6.3 m |
Width | 3.6 m |
Height | 2 m (hull roof) |
Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
Weight | 44 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 1.0 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear, 3.84 m length, 0.58 m width, 2.64 m track |
Turn radius | Skid turns |
Engine | Detroit Diesel 8V-71TA turbocharged diesel, 650 hp |
Power ratio | ? |
---|---|
Transmission | ? |
Speed | 55 km/h on road |
Fuel | ? |
Range | 500 km |
Wall | 0.8 m |
Trench | 2.7 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 40% slope |
Fording | 1.4 m |
Armor | Steel, spaced armour |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | Yes |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 7.62mm MAG machine gun (3x) |
Weapon1 | 7.62mm MAG machine gun in Rafael OWS 4.000 rounds in total, 200 rounds ready to fire powered traverse and elevation |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm MAG machine gun on pintle mount (2x) 4.000 rounds in total, 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type | Mechanized infantry combat vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 + 7 (commander, driver, gunner, 7 troops) |
Length | 6.3 m |
Width | 3.6 m |
Height | 2 m (hull roof) |
Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
Weight | 44 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 1.0 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear, 3.84 m length, 0.58 m width, 2.64 m track |
Turn radius | Skid turns |
Engine | Detroit Diesel 8V-92TA turbocharged diesel, 850 hp |
Power ratio | ? |
---|---|
Transmission | ? |
Speed | 55 km/h on road |
Fuel | ? |
Range | ? |
Wall | 0.8 m |
Trench | 2.7 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 40% slope |
Fording | 1.4 m |
Armor | Steel, spaced armour |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | Yes |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun 7.62mm MAG machine gun (2x) |
Weapon1 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun in Rafael OWS 1.000 rounds in total, 100 rounds ready to fire powered traverse and elevation |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm MAG machine gun on pintle mount (2x) 2.000 rounds in total, 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |