Monday, August 27, 2012

Lynx (scout car) (Luchs)

The scout car 2 (JPZ 2) Lynx is a achträdriger, amphibious scout car from German production.

Spähpanzer 2 lynx
*
Crew
4 men
Long
7,34 m
Width
2,98 m
Height
2,50 m
Mass
19,6 t
Plating
SmK -safe
Main armament
1 × 20-mm- MK
Secondary armament
1 × 7,62-mm- Mg3
Drive
Daimler-Benz 10-cylinder multi-fuel engine with 390 hp
Suspension
Coil springs with shock absorbers
Top speed
90 km / h (road)
Power / weight
20 hp / t
Range
800 km (road)

History

There were already in the German Wehrmacht one Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf L (Sd.Kfz. 123) "Lynx". With this, today's "Lynx" tanks has only the name in common. The Lynx scout car of Bundeswehr contrast, is a wheeled tank and based on the concept of the armored Sd.Kfz. 234 or its predecessor armored Sd.Kfz. 231 , of which he has retained the 8-wheel steering and an additional crew member to reverse driver. In addition, the lynx is buoyant (he will ride in water driven by two located in the rear thrusters), barely audible and equipped with bullet-resistant tires. Also the crew is the same model: driver,commander , gunner and driver reverse (radio operator).

Development and use

The vehicle was developed in 1968-1974 Porsche (as a commissioned work for Daimler Benz ), endgefertigt in 1975 byThyssen-Henschel in Kassel . Series production began in May 1975, the introduction to the Force from September 1975. By 1977, a total of 408 copies were shipped. The lynx replaced the French Hotchkiss SPz short 11-2, which at that time could look back on a 20-year service life in the armed forces. Was also the APC Fuchs developed with which it shares many components.

The hull of the lynx consists of welded steel. The drive unit consisting of engine, automatic transmission and various air and oil filters, is "classic" in the rear of the vehicle and can be replaced in a block. This makes the Lynx to a maintenance friendly weapon system. Another special feature is the fuel supply to the engine is running This represents a whole range of fuels - including diesel and gasoline. Fueled by diesel developed in the ten-cylinder engine around 285 kW at 2500 rpm. It all eight wheels are driven, the controller acts to either the four front wheels, the four rear wheels, or to all eight wheels. The eight-volume low-pressure tires have run-flat, for speeds up to 30 km / h all four axles are steered. This makes the Lynx to an agile and highly mobile vehicle, even though the vehicle length and height dimensions in a battle tank Leopard 1A5 surpass.Reaching the top speed is theoretically possible even when reversing, but it is not practiced under normal circumstances.

The multi-fuel engine is also at close practically inaudible, so that the operational safety precautions must be taken: If JPZ lynx are on maneuvers, may be slept only in predetermined areas on the floor. Otherwise there is a risk that people are overwhelmed.

In connection with a need to repair vehicles in the period 1980-1983 with a double belt feeder (DGZ) for optional blasting fire and hard-core ammunition retrofitted (LYNX A1). From 1985, the vehicles received a thermal imaging device (version JPZ 2), the IR / white light headlight aim was omitted. Due to the increased weight was lost buoyancy. The vehicle has an integrated NBC protective ventilation system.

The lynx is not intended for combat operations - rather it is to spy out undetected enemy positions and movements. The JPZ 2 "Lynx" A2 was used as part of IFOR in Croatia and Bosnia and KFOR in Kosovo as a convoy escort. He also served with SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of peacekeeping. Part of the vehicles used there, as well as some of the stationed in Macedonia and Kosovo, was increased combat capability.

Armament and Equipment


  • Board machine gun Rh 202 Cal 20 mm of Rheinmetall , rate of fire: 800-1000 rounds / min, combat range up to 2000 meters, the main combat range 800 m, Doppelgurtzuführung (Version A1)
  • MG3 Cal 7.62 mm on swivel mount
  • Integrated ABC -protection and ventilation system
  • Since the mid-1980s combat efficiency with installation of a thermal imaging target and monitoring device (version A2), (since by increased weight loss of independent buoyancy)
  • Combat efficiency of some models by installing a GPS navigation system, a gyroscope and an additional data radio antenna
  • PMR SEM 25 , HF shortwave unit XK 405

Use and outlook


The lynx was last still in the brigades of the stabilizing forces of the army used. There he was - in addition to the scout car fennec - in from the armored reconnaissance battalions emerged in 2008, newly established army reconnaissance troop . In addition, he was in the EUFOR (former IFOR then SFOR) in Croatia and Bosnia and KFOR in Kosovo used as a convoy escort. The last piece of this Spähpanzer 68 (June 2008) [2] were asked in January 2009 out of service.

Specifications

Spähpanzer Luchs
Year of introduction:1975
Crew:Commander, gunner, driver, radio operator (= reverse driver)
Long:7340 mm, Width: 2980 mm Height: 2500 mm
Battle ground:19,6 t
Tower weight:2,15 t
Front axle load:2 x 4,8 t
Rear:2 x 5,0 t
Ground clearance:440 mm
Engine performance:286 kW (390 hp) at 2500 1/min
Specif. Drive power:14,6 kW/t
Driving range (road) :ca. 800 km
Steering:All-wheel drive with four-wheel steering, propeller drive in the water
Speed:90 km / h on roads (100 km / h, early version) , 11 km / h in water
forward and backward driveable
Climbing ability:ca. 0.6 m
Grave-border capacity:ca. 1.90 m
Turning circle:12,05 m
Primary Weapon:Machine cannon 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202
Rate of Fire:800-1000 rounds / min
Combat range:up to 2000 m.
Secondary Weapon:MG 3 7,62 mm
A smoke system:2 x 4 cups
AP-T, HE-T
Main weapon ammo:500 pieces including reserves in brackets behind the turret
Fire control:mechanically
Leveler:electrohydraulic
Stabilization:no
Gunner:Thermal imager
Commander:WBG via light-pipe
Nachtsehgeräte drivers:Intensifier
Bilge pumps:3 pieces
Fire extinguishing system:the machine room