M-32 Chenca

     Notes: This Mexican version of the M-32B1 Sherman-based Tank Recovery Vehicle differs from chiefly in the engine used and the abilities of its recovery and engineering equipment.  The final drives have brackets added to allow mounting of a dozer blade, and the engine is an earlier version of that mounted on the Stingray tank.  The Chenca is designed for use by both recovery and combat engineer vehicle, with a wide variety of tools and weapons for this purpose.  Primary recovery equipment is a winch in the front hull with a capacity of 27 tons, or double that if block and tackle is used; the cable is lead out of the glacis plate, and the reel is located behind the driver’s seat.  There is also an A-frame crane with a capacity of 9 tons, or 14 tons if the vehicle is stationary and the bogies locked.  The turret is replaced with a circular superstructure.  A large amount of tools are carried containing almost anything a recovery mechanic or combat engineer could need, including basic, tracked vehicle, wheeled vehicle, excavating, power, small arms, and heavy ordinance tools; a jackhammer, a chainsaw, an air compressor, up to 6 fire extinguishers, and a combat engineer’s chest.  The Chenca uses the Detroit Diesel 8V-82-T, a derivative of the M-113A3's engine, developing 300 horsepower. Due to budgetary considerations, the Mexican Army was not able to buy more up-to-date equipment and her plans to get a Leopard 1 ARV version was called off, leaving it with obsolete recovery vehicles and engineer vehicles.  The Chenca was forced to into both the recovery and engineer roles.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$1,066,592

D, G, AvG, A

1.5 tons

29.2 tons

4+2

21

Active/Passive IR (D)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

97/68

27/19

651

85

Stnd

T5

HF27  HS8  HR4

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

M-2HB (C), MG-3 (Bow), M-29 81mm Mortar (FH)

300x.50, 2000x7.62mm, 30x81mm, 20 kg C4, Engineer Demo Chest