A characteristic feature of recent local armed conflicts has been the widespread use of improvised explosive devices, which pose a danger to patrols or troops on the march. To combat such a threat, armies need special equipment and special equipment. Currently, potential buyers are offered the PEROCC multipurpose engineering vehicle, which was originally designed to search for and neutralize various mines.
The history of the British project PEROCC is very interesting and clearly shows what happens to promising technology that does not fully meet current requirements. Work on the creation of a vehicle for military engineers started in 2004 by order of the British military department. Taking into account the experience of recent operations, the military wanted to get a promising engineering vehicle capable of searching for and disarming explosive devices, as well as making passages in minefields. Further, the Department of Defense received several technical proposals, of which Pearson Engineering was considered the most successful.
Engineering vehicle PEROCC in modern configuration. Photo Defense.ru
The promising project was named PEROCC - Pearson Engineering Route Opening and Clearing Capability. The new development is based on curious ideas aimed, first of all, at reducing the cost of the finished sample and simplifying its operation. It should be noted that such tasks were indeed successfully solved, but the price was incomplete compliance with the requirements and, as a result, the impossibility of full-fledged exploitation by the troops.
To simplify development and production, Pearson engineers decided to build the military vehicle based on a commercial articulated front loader. Both loader hulls received light bulletproof armor, as well as a set of lattice screens that can slightly increase the overall level of protection. In this regard, the standard cockpit has undergone certain modifications. At the same time, the car received some new equipment, as well as certain additions to the existing equipment.
The first version of an engineering armored vehicle. Photo Defense.ru
The standard means for installing the dozer blade remained in place, but fasteners for mounting a roller trawl appeared between their beams and the blade. A separate hydraulic system with the possibility of installing a second similar trawl was installed in the stern of the machine. Also at the rear of the second section of the loader, a manipulator boom was placed, suitable for use as a crane, excavator, etc.
The proposed appearance allowed the PEROCC machine to move on roads and carry out mine clearance using roller trawls. If necessary, the crew could perform some excavation work, independently work with explosive devices, etc. The existing booking made it possible not to be afraid of shelling from small arms.
PEROCC during operation. A frame from a commercial
The prototype of the first version of the engineering vehicle was shown to the customer's representatives, and was immediately subjected to harsh criticism. The existing trawling systems and devices for working with the ground could solve the assigned tasks, but too weak booking sharply reduced the practical potential of the machine. As it stands, it was of no interest to the British army. For some time, Pearson Engineering tried to refine and improve its project, but in 2006 it was closed for lack of real prospects.
The failure of the PEROCC engineering machine of the first version showed what features a promising technique of this class, based on original ideas, should have. Apparently, it was the desire to realize new thoughts that later led to the renewal of the project. Towards the end of the last decade, Pearson Engineering had begun development of a deeply redesigned PEROCC, devoid of the shortcomings of its predecessor. It is noteworthy that the basis of the new project should have been based on already known ideas, albeit modified in accordance with the results of previous work.
Machine without special equipment. A frame from a commercial
The updated design continued to use a serial commercial two-link chassis from Caterpillar. At the same time, in order to solve new problems, the chassis had to be subjected to more serious modifications. First of all, on both elements of the chassis, armored hulls of a new design should be installed. In addition, it was required to provide for the use of some new components that increase the machine's resistance to detonation. The power plant and transmission, however, remained the same and were built on the basis of a diesel engine. The two bodies of the engineering machine are connected to each other by means of a special hinge controlled by hydraulic cylinders.
The front section of the PEROCC machine received an armored body of an original and recognizable design, which makes you recall some modern combat helicopters. The main elements of the chassis are covered with a polygonal body with a V-shaped bottom. Above it, on the right, there is a narrow and long platform for installing a crane. The starboard side is given under the cockpit. The latter has a polygonal shape and, due to the tandem arrangement of workplaces, occupies the entire length of the body. The cockpit has an inclined frontal sheet and sides heaped inside. A sloping front roof is also provided. In the aft part of the front hull there is a kind of commander's cupola, on the left side of which there is a bracket for installing a combat module.
Demolition tests
The rear section of the base loader also receives an armored body, but in this case, a less complex design is used. A V-shaped bottom with a wider center element is also used, and the lower part of the sides is installed with a camber outward. The front of the section hull is a small platform for transporting various payloads. Behind it is a larger engine cover. The stern consists of a sloped bottom sheet and a curved rear engine compartment.
According to the developer, both hulls of the engineering vehicle have level 3 ballistic and mine protection according to the STANAG 4569 standard. This means that the vehicle can withstand shelling with 7.62 mm armor-piercing rifle bullets or 8 kg of TNT under the wheel or bottom. The appearance of the machine speaks of the use of its own body armor and overhead elements fixed on bolts. It is argued that in the course of the further development of the project, ballistic and mine protection can be strengthened. Probably, we are talking about replacing the overhead elements with more durable ones.
The crew takes their places. A frame from a commercial
Some changes have been made to the design of the undercarriage to increase the level of protection to a certain extent. So, the design of all four driving wheels is designed to collapse when blown up. Due to this, the shock wave can disrupt the wheel from the mountings, but the hub and axle remain in place, allowing for relatively quick and easy repairs.
The PEROCC must be operated by a crew of three: the driver, the operator of the detection systems and the commander. All of them are located in the cockpit one after another and have developed workplaces and "mine" energy-absorbing chairs. Entry into the car is done through its own hatches in the roof. Workplaces have glazing in frontal and side plates. Protected glass is used. In the places of the crew there are various consoles and devices for controlling special equipment. Some of them can be removed from their place and used outside the protected area. The habitable compartment is equipped with an air conditioning system that maintains a comfortable working environment.
View from the driver's seat. A frame from a commercial
In front of the armored cab there is a driver who has all the necessary controls at his disposal. With their help, the driver controls the movement and also controls the trawls. Behind the driver is the operator, whose task is to work with the surveillance systems. All information from the detection systems is displayed on two LCD monitors. The aft workplace, raised above the others, is intended for the commander. He can observe the situation both with the help of the glazing of the cockpit, and using a set of television cameras. In the place of the commander, there are controls for special equipment and a combat module.
In the front and rear of the armored vehicle, there are original means of attaching special equipment. All compatible devices are axle mounted and controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. To speed up the replacement of equipment, the axles are made retractable inside the housing. Due to this, all the necessary work takes no more than 5 minutes.
The simplest option for equipping the PEROCC is a conventional dozer blade. Its support beams are put on the axis of the body, and the control is carried out using the front hydraulic cylinder.
Remotely controlled combat module. A frame from a commercial
Pearson Engineering has developed ingenious tools for trawling. A U-shaped support is installed directly on the axes of the body, in the center of which there is a hinge for the longitudinal beam. The latter is equipped with a wide cross beam with two mounts for two rollers. Also, in its central part, an additional boom with equipment for searching for mines can be mounted. The design of this roller trawl allows testing of two large strips of soil. With the help of a hydraulic cylinder, the crew can change the position of the trawl, as well as regulate the pressure of the rollers on the ground. The maximum load on the rollers is 550 kg. The drives allow not only raising and lowering the trawl, but also changing its position relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine.
A similar system should be mounted on the stern of the engineering vehicle, which has attachments for only one roller cage. At the same time, there is a hydraulic drive that allows you to change the position of the trawl in the vertical plane, as well as adjust the pressure on the ground. It is also possible to move the trawl in a horizontal plane. With three trawls, the PEROCC is capable of a 4 m continuous pass.
The company "Pearson" has created an original design of the cage with rollers, which allows solving the assigned tasks, but at the same time being able to facilitate the operation of the equipment. It is proposed to fix seven small-diameter rollers on a single clip. The clip itself is equipped with a unified lock, with which it can be installed on any trawl of the machine. In case of damage to the rollers during trawling, the project provides for the transportation of three spare clips. Two are placed on the platform of the rear section of the hull, the third - at the stern of the engine compartment.
PEROCC with two trawls and radar. A frame from a commercial
The front trawl can be used in conjunction with a search radar. The latter has a wide antenna mounted on a special outrigger boom. The design of the boom and its drives ensure that the antenna is positioned in the required position, and also allows it to be raised and lowered for rounding the terrain. In the transport position, the antenna is retracted and positioned above the trawl. The signal from the radar goes to the operator's console, which can monitor the state of the ground and find potentially dangerous objects in a timely manner.
On the starboard side of the front section of the PEROCC armored vehicle, a slewing support for a multifunctional boom is installed. The two-piece boom is hydraulically powered, allowing it to swing in any direction and operate at a variety of lift angles. The telescopic design of one of the sections allows you to increase the radius of work. The boom is equipped with several video cameras to monitor the work and actions of the working body. There is a possibility of carrying the working body 7, 5 m from the machine. The maximum lifting capacity is 4 tons, with the maximum outreach this parameter is reduced to 1.5 tons.
Various working bodies can be installed on the universal boom mounts. For excavation work, an excavator-type bucket is offered, divided into two halves and suitable for use as a grab grab. It is also proposed to use a ripper-opener, with the help of which it is possible to extract found objects from the soil. Directly on the boom there are controlled means for securing any payload when operating in crane mode.
The antenna bends around the obstacle. A frame from a commercial
It is assumed that with the help of a bucket or a hook, an engineering machine will be able to solve a wide range of tasks related to the extraction and disposal of hazardous objects. At the same time, the crew remains under the protection of the armored hull and is exposed to minimal risks. The functions of the crane can be used both for delivering explosive charges and for performing repair work. Pearson Engineering emphasizes that the PEROCC car, having received one or another damage, can be repaired by the crew. For example, it takes no more than an hour to replace damaged wheels and other field repairs. In such a repair, the front and rear trawls can be used as jacks, and wheel mounting is facilitated by the presence of a hand tool.
In the event of a collision with the enemy, the engineering vehicle has self-defense equipment. On the left side of the cockpit is the Konsberg CROWS remotely controlled weapon station. This product, at the request of the customer, can be equipped with machine guns of caliber from 5, 56 to 12, 7 mm or a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher. The combat module is equipped with a set of optical-electronic means, with the help of which the vehicle commander can observe or direct the weapon in any weather and at any time of the day.
Due to the use of special equipment and measures aimed at increasing the resistance to explosions, the PEROCC multipurpose engineering vehicle is rather large. The total length of the vehicle with the front and rear trawls reaches 12.2 m. The height, taking into account the combat module, is 4.1 m. The ground clearance is 350 mm. Combat weight reaches 30 tons, but the exact value of this parameter depends on the set of special equipment used. In addition, an increase in the level of protection can lead to a corresponding increase in mass.
Despite the relatively large dimensions, the "disarmed" engineering armored vehicle can be transported in various ways. With the trawls removed, its dimensions correspond to the capabilities of the C-17 and C-5 military transport aircraft. Transportation by rail on standard platforms is also possible.
Driving on the highway, the PEROCC car is capable of speeds up to 40 km / h. The speed during trawling is much lower and depends on a number of factors. The fully loaded turning radius has been reduced to 18 m by the use of an articulated design and swing trawls. This allows for maneuvering and trawling in a variety of conditions, including on difficult roads.
Retrieving the detected object. A frame from a commercial
A prototype of the promising engineering machine Pearson Engineering PEROC, demonstrating all the capabilities of the original project, was built, tested and presented to potential customers in 2012. In advertising its new product, the development company drew attention to a wide range of tasks to be solved and the possibility of using technology in a variety of situations. As part of the promotion of military equipment on the market, a significant number of promotional photos, videos, etc. were published. In addition, several times the prototype was sent to exhibitions of weapons and equipment. Thus, an interesting project had every chance to attract the attention of potential customers in the face of the British army or the armed forces of third countries.
The new version of the Pearson Engineering Route Opening and Clearing Capability / PEROCC engineering machine was first presented five years ago, but has not yet become the subject of orders for the supply of serial equipment. Indeed, the unusual specialized armored vehicle managed to attract the attention of specialists and amateurs of military equipment, as well as become a topic of discussion and controversy. However, the military of any countries did not want to conclude supply contracts. The exact reasons for this lack of interest are unknown. Probably, potential customers were scared off by certain features of the proposed sample.
PEROCC as an excavator. A frame from a commercial
Considering the original development of the Pearson company and knowing its fate, you can try to draw some conclusions. It is easy to see that the PEROCC car had both pros and cons. A positive feature of the project can be considered the use of a ready-made commercial chassis, which made it possible to obtain acceptable mobility characteristics, as well as reduce the cost of serial equipment. The declared characteristics of ballistic and mine protection are also a plus. Another advantage can be considered the ability to solve a wide variety of tasks using a variety of compatible equipment. For example, with the help of a crane boom, the machine can help in the repair of other equipment, provide construction work, etc.
Probably one of the main disadvantages of the PEROCC project is the relatively weak rollers of the trawls. There is reason to believe that they can only be effective against antipersonnel mines or other explosive devices with a low mass charge. More serious weapons are guaranteed to destroy the rollers, as well as damage the clip and, possibly, the structure of the trawl. Such features of an engineering vehicle can become a problem in the context of combating improvised explosive devices, most often used for sabotage in hot spots.
A prototype at the exhibition. Photo Warwheels.net
Also, the disadvantage of the project may be the very proposal to build a separate machine capable of dealing with mines. Tank trawls are widespread, suitable for use by armored combat vehicles, and therefore do not require a separate specialized carrier. Clearing passages and demining roads with a separate special purpose vehicle can be economically and operationally disadvantageous.
Like other models of military equipment of various kinds, the PEROCC engineering vehicle has both advantages and disadvantages. However, in this case, the latter outweighed, and the original development could not become the subject of a contract with the armed forces of Great Britain or other countries. However, Pearson Engineering continues to offer its engineering machine and look forward to getting orders. The events of recent years suggest that the PEROCC project will be able to advance beyond the testing of the prototype, but its creators still do not lose hope.
