AUT - Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi (lehký ženijní tank)

Development

light engineer tank Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi was launched in 1976. For service in the engineer units of the austrian army is ranked since 1988. The austrian army has in service with engineer units 19 units of this vehicle. According to some sources, were made of 2 pieces to order for the tunisian army. Production Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi already made.

Destination

The vehicle is intended to perform engineer work in the assembly of combat units of the austrian army, the removal of roadblocks and the consequences of natural disasters, to the removal of roadblocks, the release of roads, the maintenance of paths in the space of the action units and the implementation of the earthworks.

Description

The vehicle was constructed on the chassis of the tank destroyer SK 105 Kürassier and the superstructure is of a substantial part taken from the type Bergepanzer 4KH7FA-SB 20 GREIF (light engineer a recovery tank).
The difference between vehicles is in the construction of a two-part boom, which is the type of Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi primarily designed for earthmoving and dredging, although an emergency can be operated spoon replaced by a hook for lifting loads. Another difference between the vehicles is the size and design of the dozerové blade, which is the type of Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi is wider and has more volume. Furthermore, in a special equipment of the vehicle Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi was added to the set of natural drill with a diameter of 350 mm and was reduced tractive force of a winch from 20 t to 8 t. These adjustments make the drive Pionierpanzer 4KH7FA-Pi purely engineering means, unlike type Bergepanzer 4KH7FA-SB 20 GREIF, which by the nature of their equipment can perform the tasks of the technical and repair security.

The chassis of the vehicle consists of five road wheels on each side of the hull, supplemented by a drive around the back and around the stretcher in the front. The first and the last pair of road wheels is equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. The chassis is further equipped with supporting rollers, three on each side of the hull.
In the front part of the hull is installed hydraulically operated dozerová blade, designed for the removal of roadblocks, the release of roads, natural dust and the anchorage of the vehicle when releasing the jammed equipment, removing obstacles from the pathways and the entrainment of debris of buildings using an excavator or winch.
The hull is welded from steel plates, and provides its crew protection against bullets of caliber 7.62 mm and fragments from hand grenades. The original tower with a cannon caliber of 105 mm was replaced by a sturdy welded superstructure with work space for four crew. The space crew is accessible through two doors on the left hand side of the hull and two hatches on the ceiling of the hull.

The engine compartment is located in the rear of the hull. The vehicle drives a 6-cylinder water-cooled four-stroke diesel engine Steyr 7FA turbocharged petrol engine performance 240 kW (320 pcs). Above the engine compartment there is a special platform with the boxes for tools, spare parts and special equipment.
In the right front of the hull is placed a rotatable platform of a two-part arms of the excavator. The arm of the excavator in the folded state occupies the entire right outer part of the superstructure. Has a working range of 234 degrees and is equipped with shovel spoon with a maximum working depth of 2.2 m. it Is designed to edit the field, entrainment of debris of buildings and the handling of bulk materials. Temporarily can shovel a spoon to replace the jeřábovým hook.
The main winch of the traction force of 8 tons is located in the lower part of the front glacis. It is designed for clearing obstacles from the paths, fallen trees, removing debris and rescue the lighter pieces of automotive technology.

The vehicle is armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun M2HB, lafetovaným on the hatch of the commander, designated for self-protection of the vehicle before the live force of the opponent and low-flying targets. To create a smoke curtain is a vehicle equipped with four hurlers dýmových shells. Vezený firing an average of 1,500 pieces of 12.7 mm rounds into the machine gun.

The space crew is equipped with the ventilation device and the heating. The engine compartment is equipped with a fire alarm system, which can be started automatically or manually. The vehicle is not equipped with filtroventilačním system against WMD.

Special vehicle equipment:

- two-piece arm of the excavator with shovel spoon, the maximum working depth of 2.2 m and a working range of 234 degrees,
- winch on the traction force 80 kN (8 tons), with a rope length of 60 m and diameter of rope 16 mm,
- hydraulic dozerová blade on the performance of 190 m3/h, width of 3 000 mm and height 900 mm,
- the set of natural drill with a diameter of 350 mm,
- kit of engineers náloživa to conduct blasting small-scale, stored in the mailbox on a special platform above the engine compartment,
- the kit for welding and cutting electric arc,
- 2 pieces of tow bars,
- the set of pulleys to the winch

Source:
Ing. Milos Soukup Modern military technology Tanks 5th. part, issued a Military System Line ltd. as the first edition in 1999, ISBN 80-902669-1-6.
www.armyrecognition.com.