Combat vehicles / Reconnaissance / VAMTAC
VAMTAC
General Facts
- TYPE
Reconnaissance vehicle - ORIGIN
Spain - NICKNAMES
Vehiculo de Alta Movilidad Tactico - DESIGNED
1990's - DESIGNER
URO - PRODUCTION
1998 - present - PRODUCERS Spain - URO
- QUANTITY
About 2.100 produced - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good mobility
Well armored
Multipurpose chassis
Limited IED protection
Introduction
The VAMTAC is a reconnaissance and utility vehicle of Spanish origin. The design has been based on the uparmored models of the HMMWV family.
Layout
The VAMTAC has a similar layout as the HMMWV weapons carriers. It has a four door body with sloped rear cargo compartment. As with the HMMWV the VAMTAC is also available as a chassis cab model with two or four doors. This may be fitted with a variety of rear bodies such as weapons platform, shelter and ambulance body.
Firepower
The VAMTAC is usually armed with a pintle mounted 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun. In the anti-tank role a Milan or TOW launcher is fitted. It is also used as platform for the Mistral surface to air missile.
Protection
The armor protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. Since the armament is pintle mounted without gun shield the gunner is fully exposed.
Mobility
The 4x4 chassis provides a good mobility on roads and in the field. A 166 hp or 188 hp diesel engine provides propulsion. The maximum road speed is very high at 135 km/h.
Users
Spain is the major user of the VAMTAC having received about 2.100 of the about 2.300 produced vehicles. The
VAMTAC
The standard model of the VAMTAC is the infantry mobility variant which can be used in a number of roles. It can be fitted with a pintle mounted 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun, Milan launcher or TOW launcher.
VAMTAC I3: Original production model with 166 hp engine. Was previously called VAMTAC T3. About 500 produced.
VAMTAC S3: Improved production model with 188 hp engine. Originally called VAMTAC T5.
| Type | Reconnaissance vehicle |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 + 11 (driver, 11 troops) |
| Length | 4.85 m |
| Width | 2.19 m |
| Height | 1.9 m (roof) |
| Ground clearance | 0.49 m |
| Weight | 3.5 t empty, 5.3 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 3.39 m wheelbase, 1.86 m track |
| Turn radius | 7.6 m |
| Engine | IVECO 4-cylinder turbo diesel, 140 hp |
| Power ratio | 26.4 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 110 km/h on road |
| Fuel | ? |
| Range | 600 km on road |
| Wall | ? |
| Trench | ? |
| Gradient | 70% gradient, 60% slope |
| Fording | 0.8 m unprepared, 1.5 m prepared |
| Armor | Steel |
| NBC equipment | ? |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on vehicle roof 500 rounds, 100 ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
| Type | Reconnaissance vehicle |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 + 11 (driver, 11 troops) |
| Length | 4.85 m |
| Width | 2.19 m |
| Height | 1.9 m (roof) |
| Ground clearance | 0.49 m |
| Weight | 3.5 t empty, 5.3 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 3.39 m wheelbase, 1.86 m track |
| Turn radius | 7.6 m |
| Engine | Steyr M16-TCA 6-cylinder turbo diesel, 190 hp at 3.800 rpm |
| Power ratio | 35.8 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 130 km/h on road |
| Fuel | 110 L |
| Range | 600 km on road |
| Wall | ? |
| Trench | ? |
| Gradient | 70% gradient, 60% slope |
| Fording | 0.8 m unprepared, 1.5 m prepared |
| Armor | Steel |
| NBC equipment | ? |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on vehicle roof 500 rounds, 100 ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
VAMTAC chassis cab
The chassis cab version of the VAMTAC acts as a sort of pickup truck with armored crew compartment and usually unarmored rear compartment. It is available with two door cab, compact four door cab with small rear bench and full size four door model. A variety of models have been produced.
Mistral platform: Two door model with flatbed with Mistral SATCP launcher.
Ambulance: Two door model with large unarmored ambulance body.
Van: Two door model with three door van superstructure.
Shelter: Compact four door cab with shelter, for instance for command role.
Media
12.7mm M2HB
The 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun is the most common armament found on the VAMTAC series.
12.7mm DShK
The 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun is used on the VAMTAC in Romanian service.
TOW missile
The Spanish army uses a version of the VAMTAC with pedestal mounted launcher for TOW anti-tank missiles.
Mistral missile
The chassis cab version of the VAMTAC is used as a platform for the SATCP launcher for the Mistral surface to air missile.