MOWAG Piranha II 10x10 Armored Combat Vehicle

     Notes: This is a longer, 10-wheeled, more heavily armed, tank destroyer variant of the MOWAG Piranha (the base vehicle for the LAV-25 and related vehicles).  The vehicle is built in Switzerland, but the only customer has been the Swedish Navy, who bought 44 of them for coastal defense roles to use against landing craft and hovercraft.  Armor is heavier as well.  The versions for Sweden are equipped with three secure vehicular radios each.  The versions for Sweden are also upgraded, with gun stabilization, thermal imaging, and a computerized land navigation system.

     The ACV is equipped with a 40kW APU for silent watches and to allow the vehicle to be used as a command center. To this end, the ACV is equipped with additional radios and with an extendible radio antenna mast. The ACV is equipped with a 350-horsepower Scania turbocharged diesel engine coupled to a ZF 7-speed automatic transmission. Steering is by the front four wheels and is power-assisted. Drive is normally by the rear three axles on the road, with the front two axles being engaged by a switch in the driver’s compartment for use when driving off-road. The Piranha II 10x10 uses larger tires than the standard Piranha tires. The driver has access to a central tire pressure regulation system. He also can use a hydropneumatic suspension system, with which the driver may select one of three suspension heights. The commander controls an 8-ton-capacity winch in the rear of the vehicle and can be led out to the front or rear. It is primarily for self-recovery, but may also be used to assist other vehicles in distress.  The crew is protected by an automatic fire/explosion suppression system and an NBC Overpressure system.

     The main gun is, unfortunately, stabilized only in one plane and for the most part, the vehicle needs to come to a halt for accurate fire. This is considered acceptable by the Swedish Navy, as the vehicle would be primarily firing at targets in the water or beach from a hull-down position or screened by forest or rocky terrain. The gun is fitted with a semiautomatic loading system, allowing a better rate of fire than normal. The turret holds 12 rounds of main gun ammunition, with the rest being carried in the rear of the vehicle. The commander’s machinegun is externally mounted and can be fired with the commander under armor and the hatch closed.  The commander may aim and fire (but not reload) his weapon while protected by armor. The commander’s machinegun is not stabilized. The TML 105 turret is of French design, but with increased armor protection.  The ACV is equipped with a BMS and a GPS/inertial navigation system. 14 Galix smoke grenade launchers are mounted around the turret; these may also fire illumination and fragmentation grenades.