Combat buses … The idea of creating an armored personnel carrier based on a tank is not new. The first such machines were created during the Second World War. Great Britain and Canada created makeshift armored personnel carriers using Sexton self-propelled guns, Ram and Sherman tanks as chassis. In the 1980s, the Israeli military returned to a similar idea, but already at a new technical level. They created their armored personnel carrier with tank armor on the basis of numerous captured T-54 and T-55 tanks, which were captured as trophies from various Arab states.
The idea of creating a heavy tracked armored personnel carrier "Akhzarit"
The Israeli military turned to the idea of creating a heavily armored tracked armored personnel carrier in the early 1980s, largely based on the experience of the 1982 Lebanese war. During the armed conflict, Israel, according to official figures, lost up to 185 armored personnel carriers, which at that time were mainly represented by American M113s. In the course of the conflict, it became obvious that this military equipment did not provide an adequate level of protection for the landing force.
Taking into account the specifics of the region, when the enemy of the Israeli army had a large number of large-caliber small arms - 12, 7 and 14, 5-mm machine guns, hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and anti-tank systems, mainly Soviet-made, it became clear that the military needed a heavy armored personnel carrier with adequate armor. The fact that the Israelis often had to operate in cities and urban agglomerations, where military equipment became even more vulnerable, also played a role.
It was also important that the Merkava tank proved to be excellent in the battles during the Lebanese War. The tank, with its unusual layout, could in some cases be used as an improvised armored personnel carrier. In the rear of the hull of the Israeli tank there was a compartment for placing racks of additional ammunition, or a reserve crew, it was also possible to accommodate up to 6 paratroopers or 4 wounded on a stretcher. In combat, all unnecessary was unloaded from many tanks, and they were used as heavy armored personnel carriers, which proved their good protection in combat conditions.
Summarizing the combat experience gained by the early 1980s, the Israeli military ordered the industry a heavy tracked armored personnel carrier with powerful armor, which could operate in urban areas, and also be used in conjunction with the Israeli main battle tank "Merkava". The Israeli military and designers approached the issue of creating the necessary armored personnel carrier with a fair amount of pragmatism. It was decided to make the armored personnel carrier on the basis of numerous Soviet-made T-54 and T-55 tanks, which were captured by Israel from the Arab states as trophies. Such military equipment was in storage with the Israeli army and was waiting in the wings.
The main emphasis in the creation of new armored vehicles was placed on the maximum protection of the crew and troops. This was consistent with the entire concept of the Israeli army, according to which the life of a soldier is more important than the safety of military equipment. The first prototypes of the future heavy tracked armored personnel carrier were ready by the 1987 year. The machine completely suited the Israeli military and was put into mass production in 1988. In total, from 400 to 500 vehicles were converted into armored personnel carriers from the T-54 and T-55 tanks. At present, it is Israel that is the main operator of heavy armored personnel carriers in the world, including the Namer armored personnel carrier with a combat weight of 60 tons, built on the basis of the Merkava tanks.
Design features of the Akhzarit armored personnel carrier
All Akhzarit armored personnel carriers are built on the chassis and hull of Soviet main battle tanks T-54 and T-55 with a turret dismantled in the process of alteration. The use of a tank corps with anti-cannon armor, which has been additionally reinforced, provides excellent protection for the crew and troops of the combat vehicle. The crew consists of three people, the landing - 7 people.
When converting tanks into armored personnel carriers, the Israelis replaced Soviet engines and transmissions with American-made products. On the first versions of armored personnel carriers, more powerful and compact American 8-cylinder V-shaped diesel engines "Detroit Diesel 8V-71 TTA" with a capacity of 650 hp appeared. The engine is paired with an Allison hydromechanical transmission. At the same time, the power density turned out to be small - less than 15 hp. one tone. In the future, when upgrading to the level of "Akhzarit-2", the engine was replaced with a more powerful "Detroit Diesel 8 B-92TA / DDC III", which developed a power of 850 hp. With a similar engine, the power density increased to 19, 31 hp. per ton, which is practically equal to the specific power of the tanks "Merkava-3". The maximum speed of the Akhzarit armored personnel carrier is 65 km / h, the cruising range is up to 600 kilometers.
The body of the combat vehicle has undergone significant changes. The rework was associated with a change in the layout and the addition of a full-fledged troop compartment. In front of the hull there is a compartment for the crew members, they all sit facing in the direction of the combat vehicle. On the left side is the place of the mechanic drive, in the center - the commander of the armored personnel carrier, on the right - the arrow. Each of them has its own hatch to get out of the armored personnel carrier. Also in the roof of the hull there are two hatches for a possible landing. Initially, there were seven of them, according to the number of infantrymen transported, but later the number of hatches was reduced to two, since each additional hatch reduced the level of armor of the hull roof.
The paratroopers' seats are located directly behind the crew's seats in the middle of the armored personnel carrier. Three infantrymen are placed on a bench located on the left side of the compartment, three more on the folding seats on the right side and one also on the folding seat in the center of the aft section of the compartment. In the stern of the armored personnel carrier, the designers installed the power plant. Due to its compact size and transverse location, it was possible to save space for a through passage from the fighting compartment to the right side of the hull stern. Thanks to this, the landing is carried out through the aft reclining ramp in the most safe way for motorized riflemen. At the same time, a unique technical solution was used in the design of the aft door of the armored personnel carrier. To facilitate and speed up the process of disembarking motorized riflemen, a part of the roof above the exit is lifted by a hydraulic drive, increasing the height of the opening.
When creating a heavy tracked armored personnel carrier, the Israelis paid special attention to the issue of the safety of the crew and the landing force, which was protected from all sides: the sides of the hull, stern, roof and bottom were well armored, and the frontal armor of the hull reached 200 mm. It is worth noting that the designers have significantly strengthened the existing Soviet booking. Without a turret, the tank weighed about 27 tons, but the combat weight of the resulting armored personnel carrier is 44 tons. Almost all of the "excess weight" gained in the course of the work falls on the reservation additionally placed by the Israelis.
The largest amount of additional booking is concentrated around the fighting compartment and protects personnel. At the same time, the principle of protecting more important units of a combat vehicle by less important ones was used in the design of the armored personnel carrier. On the sides of the fighting compartment, the designers placed fuel tanks, which play the role of additional protection for the crew and troops. The aft part of the armored personnel carrier is also covered with perforated armor plates made of high-strength steel. The vehicle was equipped with reactive armor kits and a modern automatic fire extinguishing system. Additional protection is provided by the low silhouette of the combat vehicle - the height of the armored personnel carrier is about 2000 mm. This makes it easy to hide in the folds of the terrain and behind bushes.
The main armament of the heavy Israeli armored personnel carrier is the usual 7, 62-mm FN MAG machine gun aka M-240, located on the OWS (Overhead Weapon System) turret, for the development of which the Raphael company was responsible. The turret machine gun mount has a remote control, which significantly reduces the risk of injury to the crew when using it. On some machines, as part of the modernization, the Israelis installed remote-controlled Samson installations with a large-caliber 12, 7-mm machine gun. On the armored personnel carrier also placed special thermal smoke equipment, which creates a smoke screen by injecting fuel into the exhaust manifold. The possibility of installing standard blocks of smoke grenade launchers is also provided.
Project evaluation
Experts rightly consider the Israeli Ahzarit tracked armored personnel carrier to be one of the most protected in its class. None of the armored personnel carriers of other countries can boast of such a level of armor protection. It is worth noting that, according to various estimates, from 14 to 17 tons of armored personnel carrier weight falls exclusively on additional booking, including the use of composite armor. The Israeli military claims that the armored personnel carrier is able to survive not only hits from RPGs, various cumulative ammunition, but also armor-piercing shells. According to them, "Akhzarit" can withstand several hits of 125-mm armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber projectiles when they hit the frontal projection. No other armored personnel carrier in the world can boast of such a level of protection.
Due to the high level of security, the Akhzarit armored personnel carrier can be used on the battlefield in conjunction with main battle tanks, acting practically in their order. Also, this technique feels good in urban areas and can be used for assault actions.
Some experts refer to the disadvantages of the armored personnel carrier as a large combat mass - 44 tons, but this is an objective necessity due to the technical assignment and the requirements of the military. Also, sometimes the drawbacks include the part of the roof raised during the landing, which can tell the enemy that the landing is preparing or is already leaving the combat vehicle.
In general, it should be admitted that "Akhzarit" is a unique modern armored personnel carrier, which is distinguished by very good protection of the crew and troops. The creation of this armored vehicle is dictated by the rich combat experience of the Israel Defense Forces and demonstrates the pragmatism of the approach of the Israeli military, who turned hundreds of obsolete captured tanks into a vehicle adequate to the combat missions that is still in service.
