History of creation
By the mid-1980s, the Bundeswehr announced the need for a new armored reconnaissance vehicle. This vehicle was to be the successor to the Scout Lynx reconnaissance vehicle and replace it as a reconnaissance vehicle in armored and mechanized infantry battalions. The following basic requirements were put forward for the future car:
- Wheeled versatile vehicle with a low silhouette and a crew of three
- Autonomy up to seven days;
-Large power reserve;
-Fast speed;
-Ability to conduct surveillance at night and in conditions of limited visibility (from the car and dismounting);
-Buoyancy;
-Armament for self-defense against non-armored targets;
-Anti-tank weapons;
-Ballistic protection capable of withstanding a 7.62 caliber sniper rifle shot from a distance of 30 m;
-Protection against weapons of mass destruction by creating overpressure;
-Smoke screensaver;
-Ability to transfer received intelligence information.
The original plans involved the purchase of 1714 cars (well, I like the German punctuality in everything, not 1700, but 1714). In order to save budget funds and reduce design time, it was decided to consider existing vehicles on the market as a base for a new combat reconnaissance vehicle. So, in 1986, the French company Panhard presented the Véhicule Blindé Légère (VBL) car at the Bundesphere technical center in Trier. However, the VBL did not meet all the requirements for the new car. In parallel with the market research, a technical specification was issued for a vehicle intended to replace the Scout. The terms of reference were developed jointly by a consortium of Gesellschaft für Systemtechnik (GST), Daimler Benz (DB), Thyssen-Henschel (THK) and MaK.
As a result of a preliminary analysis of the terms of reference, the consortium came to the conclusion:
-There are various vehicles on the market suitable for a reconnaissance vehicle, but they all need significant adaptation to meet the stated requirements.
-The concept of the reconnaissance vehicle presented by the GST Zobel company best meets the requirements.
The requirements of the military were clarified and the car was additionally installed:
-Built-in navigation system;
-Large caliber machine gun;
-Thermal imager;
-Rangefinder;
-Sensors for detecting min.
According to the new Army 2000 program, the number of reconnaissance vehicles required was reduced to 800, since only armored forces were supposed to be equipped with new vehicles, and the reconnaissance vehicle itself was to be integrated into the Army Intelligence system. The terms of reference were approved on October 10, 1988. The next stage of putting forward military-technical and economic requirements (Military Technical Economical Requirement) was planned for 1989, and the first deliveries - in 1994.
The prototype machine was built by the German company GST (Gesellschaft fur Systemtechnik mbH) in 1989. By the middle of 1989, the Sobol was compared with the Panhard VBL on the market. Sobol was the clear winner. MaK, which worked with Panhard at the time, provided an improved version of the VBL. Despite this, Sobol won with the same result. Comparative evaluations were completed by the end of January 1990. GST's armored reconnaissance vehicle Sobol surpassed the VBL vehicle in almost all respects.
The collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and other political upheavals of 1989-1990 led to a fundamental revision of the armored reconnaissance vehicle program. In 1991, in order to reduce costs, but at the same time maintain German-French cooperation, it was decided to purchase an initial batch of 336 vehicles in the planned period until 2001, with the possibility of purchasing a second batch of 380 vehicles in 2001, and also hold a tender to select an enterprise for the serial production of a car.
As a result of some revision of the Zobel application concept, military-technical and economic requirements (MTWF 7/92) were put forward in relation to possible new vehicle tasks:
- Buoyancy, high maneuverability, air transportability, autonomy up to seven days;
-Ability to conduct surveillance at night and in conditions of limited visibility;
-Ability to fire from light weapons under the cover of armor protection, as well as equipping with a 40-mm grenade launcher and RPG Panzerfaust 3;
-Means of communication allowing the exchange of data between reconnaissance vehicles and the command post, including the ability to transmit and receive data using transmissions over very short periods of time;
-Ballistic protection capable of withstanding a 7.62 caliber sniper rifle shot from a distance of 30 m.
It was assumed that the first 4 test samples will be received in 1993 and 1994. Approximately 18 million Deutsche Marks have been allocated for this purpose. In October 1992, the final decision was made to continue the project based on Zobel. Companies wishing to mass-produce the car were: DAF SP / Wegmann, Industriewerke Saar, Kraus-Maffei / Mercedes, MaK / Panhard and Thyssen-Henschel.
At this stage, Holland became interested in the car and offered to take part in its development and production. As a result of bilateral discussions, it became clear that there are disagreements on the following basic requirements: buoyancy, protection against weapons of mass destruction by creating overpressure and the level of ballistic protection. According to the Dutch side, there was no need for the first two requirements for their vehicle and they are interested in lower ballistic protection. In mid-1993, a compromise was reached, the Netherlands insisted on their requirements for ballistic protection and protection against weapons of mass destruction, Germany, in turn, insisted on maintaining buoyancy. Due to the change in requirements, a new tender was required. It was supposed to be carried out on the basis of the German proposal from 1993, but with the difference that only the first two applicants will submit their applications. By the end of March 1994, DAF / Wegmann and Krauss-Maffei / Mercedes had submitted their proposals. The winner is Wegmann. It is important to note that Kraus-Maffei / Mercedes came up with two vehicle concepts. They were named K2 and K1. The K1 is based on developments from 1993, while the K2 is a completely new development based on the Unimog. Thus, we can assume that the K2 became the prototype for the Dingo car.
Nevertheless, despite the outstanding characteristics, the Sobol remained in a single copy as an experimental car.
Technical features
Zobel has an all-welded steel armored hull that provides protection against small arms fire and shell fragments. The location of the crew members is traditional, the driver is to the left in front, the commander is on his right and the observer is behind them. The windows of the commander and driver are bulletproof. Each has forward-opening doors with bulletproof small windows at the top. In the aft part of the hull there is a large door that opens to the left, also equipped with a bulletproof window and a loophole for firing from light weapons. In addition, there are two hatches in the roof of the vehicle, one for the vehicle commander and the other for the observer.
The Zobel is a 4x4 with four-wheel steering. Thanks to the hydropneumatic suspension, it is possible to independently adjust each wheel and change the ground clearance.
The car is floating and is propelled on the water by two propellers mounted in the front of the hull, one on each side. Control on the water is done by turning these screws. The uniqueness of this car lies in the fact that it moves stern forward on the water!
Standard vehicle equipment includes a full range of communications, protection against weapons of mass destruction, a front-mounted self-recovery winch and a central tire pressure control system that allows the driver to adjust tire pressure on the go. As reconnaissance equipment, it was planned to equip the vehicle with a retractable mast with a television camera, a thermal imager, a radar and a laser rangefinder.
Tactical and technical characteristics:
Model: Zobel (Sable)
Type: Experienced light armored reconnaissance vehicle
Developer: Gesellschaft für Systemtechnik mbH, Essen (GST)
Manufacturer: Industriewerke Saar (IWS)
Year Built: 1989
Maximum length, mm: 4690
Maximum width, mm: 2300
Maximum height, mm: 1830
Curb weight, kg: 5310
Engine: Daimler-Benz OM 603A four-stroke 6-cylinder turbo diesel
Engine displacement, cc: 2996
Diameter per piston stroke, mm: 87na84
Rotation frequency, rpm: 4600
Maximum torque, Nm @ 2400 rpm: 265
Maximum power, hp: 143 (105 kW)
Transmission: ZF 4 HP 22, hydrodynamic planetary permanent four-wheel drive, 4 forward and one reverse gears
Clutch: torque converter with lock-up clutch
Suspension: hydropneumatic, independent
The highest speed on the highway, km / h: 125
The highest speed over rough terrain, km / h: 45 km
Steering: power steering on the front wheels
Turning radius, m: 12 (9.5 with all four wheels)
Brakes: disc, pneumatic
Ground clearance min / max, mm: 250/600
Tires: Michelin 12.5 R 20 XL or Conti 305/55 R 675
Fuel tank volume, l: 125
Fuel consumption on the highway, l / 100 km: 15.6
Cruising on the highway, km: 800
Gradient overcome,%: 100
The height of the obstacle to be overcome, mm: 400
Travel speed on water, km / h: 10
Crew: 3
Ballistic protection: the ability to withstand a shot from a 7.62 sniper rifle from a distance of 30 m
Main armament: heavy machine gun, 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, RPG
Additional armament: at the request of the customer
Number of produced: 1
