Armored car IVECO "Puma" is a light armored personnel carrier with a 4x4 wheel arrangement. This car, like all cars of the family to which it belongs, was created on the initiative of Consorzio Iveco / Oto Melara. According to the plans of the command of the Italian army, the launched heavy armored vehicles "Centauro", available on the equipment of highly mobile brigades, were to be supplemented by lighter armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheel arrangement. Iveco / Oto Melara specialists have developed the Puma armored car in accordance with the requirements of the armed forces. The first prototype of the IVECO "Puma" armored car was built in the first half of the 88th year, the second - at the beginning of the 89th. These cars were designed to test the chassis, as well as to check the comfort of the crew. The next three cars, which were built in 1990, were fully booked. By 1997, six IVECO "Puma" were built.
The layout of the IVECO "Puma" and the 6634 prototype are similar; by the way, the first pair of experienced IVECO "Puma" had the corporate designation 6634 G, which only emphasizes the continuity of the design. High-strength steel is used to manufacture the integral monocoque body. An interesting feature of the machine is that the slopes of the sides of the hull are formed not by separate armor plates installed at an angle, but by a flexible one sheet. As a result, the number of armor plates that form the hull is minimized: frontal, stern, two side, bottom and roof. In the sides of the car, one door is made that opens forward, another door is made in the aft armor plate. All doors are equipped with observation devices and have embrasures for firing from personal weapons. The four-cylinder diesel engine is installed in the front of the armored car. The engine is slightly offset to the right of the machine axis. The first two IVECOs "Puma" were powered by a liquid-cooled Fiat 8141.47 (125 hp) automotive diesel engine. The subsequent ones were fitted with a 180-horsepower 8042.45 diesel engine. The automatic transmission has six speeds (five forward and one reverse). Wheel suspension is independent. On IVECO "Puma", in contrast to the armored car 6634 having a spring suspension, hydropneumatic shock absorbers were installed. All wheels are leading, 11.00x16 Michelin tires are used.
The driver's seat is located behind the engine, to the left of the vehicle axis, to the right of it there is space for one paratrooper. The commander's seat is located under the commander's cupola mounted on the roof in the center of the fighting compartment. A couple more seats for the paratroopers are located on the sides of the commander and a couple near the aft armor plate. Paratroopers and crew members are placed facing forward. One of the features of the IVECO "Puma" armored car is that the commander and driver have no windows with bulletproof glass, which is a very rare occurrence for vehicles of this class. The driver has three fixed periscope observation devices. The driver's seat is adjustable in height, and outside of a combat situation, he can control the machine by sticking his head out into the open hatch. The commander's cupola has five periscopic observation devices, which provide a total all-round view. On the bracket near the commander's cupola, it is possible to install a 12.7 mm M2NV machine gun or a 7.62 mm MG 42/59 machine gun. Three smoke grenade launchers from each side are installed in the rear of the hull.
Due to various reasons, the development and testing of the IVECO "Puma" armored car was greatly delayed. The first vehicles entered service with the Italian army only in 1998. Over the years, the tactical concept of using armored vehicles has changed. As expected, "neither an armored personnel carrier, nor a jeep" will be used as infantry transporters designed to escort the "Centaurs". The designers were forced to develop an enlarged IVECO "Puma" having a 6x6 wheel arrangement and a combat weight of 7.5 thousand kg, capable of carrying up to nine people, including the driver. It was assumed that on the basis of the IVECO "Puma" 4x4 armored car, a whole range of vehicles for various purposes would be developed, from command and staff to carriers of 81-mm mortars. Now all specials. variants of the armored car will be made on the basis of IVECO "Puma", having a 6x6 wheel arrangement. Until the 97th year, four experienced IVECO "Puma" 6x6 armored vehicles were built.
The performance characteristics of IVECO "Puma"
Crew - 1 person + 6 landing people;
Wheel formula - 4x4;
Combat weight - 5500 kg;
Length - 4.65 m;
Width - 2.08 m;
Height on the roof of the building - 1.67 m;
Wheelbase - 2.75 m;
Track width - 1.75 m;
Ground clearance - 0, 39 m;
The maximum speed on the highway is 105 km / h;
In store down the highway - 800 km;
Fuel tank capacity - 150 liters;
Armament:
Main gun caliber - 7.62 mm;
Auxiliary gun caliber - 12.7 mm;
Mistral missile installation possible
Installation of the MBDA Milan rocket is possible.
