AIL Rhino
Notes:
This Israeli-made armored car was sold to several countries that were
never disclosed, but examples have been seen in Central America, Africa, the
Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Israel uses them for internal security purposes, especially in police raids
against Palestinian rebels. It is
based on the M-462 Abir light truck, with a fully enclosed armored body.
The Rhino looks
like an armored SUV. The driver and
commander have a Bullet-resistant windshield to their front, and
bullet-resistant windows to their sides.
Further (rather small) bullet-resistant windows are found three per side
and two in the rear. Below each is
a firing port, but this is merely a hinged cover for a hole in the vehicle and
not a sealed firing port. The
driver and commander also have firing ports in their doors.
The front end contains the engine and transmission. The troops enter and
exit through doors in the sides behind the cab or through a small door in the
rear (to which a spare tire is normally attached).
The troops have individual seats with integral seat belts and shock
absorption to help protect against mines. Police versions typically have an
unarmed cupola in the roof and equipment like loudspeakers, sirens, flashing
lights, and sometimes an irritant gas dispenser with a 100-liter tank in the
vehicle (included in the stats below), but military versions have a cupola with
a machinegun, a ramming bumper, and armored shutters for the windshield and
windows. The suspension is
optimized for road use, and has limited off-road capability, though it is a 4x4
suspension with run-flat tires. The
power is provided by a 165-horsepower diesel engine; as the armor and the
vehicle are relatively light, this low power is not a big problem.
There is no NBC system, but on the roof is a forced air system which can
clear out smoke and irritant gas to an extent.
VIP transport
versions also exist; these normally have more luxury accommodations inside and
carry less passengers. They will
not be discussed here, as they can take many forms, but can be inferred.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological* |
Rhino (Police) |
$25,944 |
D, A |
750 kg |
5.8 tons |
2+6 |
2 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Rhino (Military) |
$20,314 |
D, A |
950 kg |
5.8 tons |
3+9 |
2 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Rhino |
252/62 |
58/14 |
140 |
83 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS3
HR2** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Rhino |
None |
None |
Irritant Gas Dispenser |
100L irritant gas |
Rhino (Military) |
None |
None |
MAG |
2500.50 |
*Note the minimal interior clearing system noted above.
**Floor AV is 3.
Ramta RAM
Notes:
The RAM family of armored cars was built for long-range scouting
missions, for use by paratroopers, and by special operations units which needed
a fast-moving vehicle and for whom armor was a secondary consideration.
They were later picked up for use by security forces. They are updated
versions of the earlier RBY Mk 1 armored car.
Improvements over the RBY Mk 1 include higher ground clearance, a diesel
instead of a gasoline engine, an automatic transmission to reduce driver
fatigue, and a beefier suspension to reduce the fatigue of the rest of the crew.
Known users include
Israel, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Guatemala, Honduras, Lesotho, and
Morocco.
There are four
basic APC-type variants: the open topped V-1S (short wheelbase) and V-1L (long
wheelbase), and the closed topped V-2S and V2L.
Each of these versions have 4 further variants: the infantry fighting
vehicle carries 3 machineguns (or grenade launchers) and a B-300 rocket
launcher; the infantry combat vehicle carries 3 machineguns (or grenade
launchers), a 52mm mortar (hand-fired), and two M-72 LAW rockets or one RPG-7;
the close-range antitank vehicle carries an M-40 recoilless rifle; and the
long-range antitank vehicle carries a TOW II ATGM launcher and two machineguns
(or grenade launchers). In all
cases, the weapons may be easily dismounted and fired from outside the vehicle
if necessary. These variants are
all V-1 versions; the V-2 has no place for all these weapons, and is defended
only by troops firing from the open hatches. The RAM in its basic configuration
has slightly-sloped sides and a jeep-like front end which usually carries a
spare tire. Most are festooned with
brackets and tie-down points for extra gear and troop equipment.
There are no doors on the vehicle in the V-1; troops and crew climb in
over the sides of the troop compartment.
The front and sides of the cab have bullet-resistant windshields. In the
V-2, there are three hatches on either side of the top of the troop compartment,
which troops squeeze into. These
hatches may be locked open. The
engine in all cases is at the rear of the vehicle, as are the fuel tanks.
The armor, though not heavy, is sufficient to withstand most small arms
fire and the suspension is high and the floor armor reinforced.
Some examples have an automatic fire detection and suppression system.
The engine is a Deutz BT-6L 912S 132-horsepower diesel. Suspension is 4x4 and
off-road. At the front of the vehicle is a winch with a capacity of 3629 kg.
The RAM-2000 is
the newest version of the RAM. It
is essentially a LWB RAM given additional armor protection (though advances in
armor design and composition), a more fortified floor, and a cupola atop the
commander’s position with a weapon mount.
It is a closed-roof design, with doors in either side of the vehicle.
The suspension is raised further, with the bottom of the vehicle being
nearly 0.8 meters from the ground.
Engine power has been increased to 166 horsepower.
The vehicle has been lengthened by 29 centimeters. The suspension is 4x4,
switchable to 4x2 for road use. A reconnaissance version exists, which has an
extendible mast with various day and night imaging devices as well as a radio
detector and listener (four bands, range 20 km) and shotgun microphone.
The rear of this version is taken up largely by the electronics to
control this array and transmit the information to higher headquarters,
including two long-range radios (one data-capable), and a short-range radio. The
RAM-2000 is sometimes referred to as the RAM V-3.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
V-1S (IFV) |
$40,283 |
D, A |
700 kg |
5.4 tons |
2+4 |
2 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1S (ICV) |
$47,666 |
D, A |
700 kg |
5.4 tons |
2+4 |
3 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1S (CRAT) |
$87,002 |
D, A |
700 kg |
5.4 tons |
4 |
3 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1S (LRAT) |
$87,871 |
D, A |
700 kg |
5.4 tons |
4 |
3 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1L (IFV) |
$40,783 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
5.6 tons |
2+7 |
2 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1L (ICV) |
$47,866 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
5.6 tons |
2+7 |
2 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1L (CRAT) |
$87,202 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
5.6 tons |
4+2 |
3 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-1L (LRAT) |
$88,073 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
5.6 tons |
4+2 |
3 |
Headlights |
Open |
V-2S |
$40,811 |
D, A |
700 kg |
5.7 tons |
2+4 |
3 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
V-2L |
$46,001 |
D, A |
1.3 tons |
6 tons |
2+7 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
RAM-2000 |
$39,028 |
D, A |
1.2 tons |
6 tons |
2+8 |
2 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
RAM-2000 Recon |
$75,709 |
D, A |
600 kg |
6.1 tons |
4 |
4 |
Image Intensification (Mast), Thermal Imaging (Mast) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
V-1S |
181/91 |
42/21 |
120 |
65 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS3
HR2* |
V-1L |
176/89 |
41/20 |
160 |
67 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS3
HR2* |
V-2S |
172/86 |
40/20 |
120 |
69 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS3
HR2** |
V-2L |
163/82 |
38/19 |
160 |
72 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS3
HR2** |
RAM-2000 |
203/102 |
47/24 |
160 |
84 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF5 HS5
HR3*** |
RAM-2000 Recon |
199/100 |
46/24 |
160 |
86 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF5 HS5
HR3*** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
RAM V-1 (IFV) |
None |
None |
3xMAG, B-300 |
5000x7.62mm, 6x89mm Rockets |
RAM V-1 (ICV) |
None |
None |
3xMAG, IMI 52mm Mortar, 2xM-72A2 Rockets or 1xRPG-7 |
5000x7.62mm, 36x52mm Mortar Rounds (+4xRPG-7 Rockets if so equipped) |
RAM V-1 (CRAT) |
None |
None |
M-40A2 Recoilless Rifle, 2xMAG |
18x106mm Rockets, 2500x7.62mm |
RAM V-1 (LRAT) |
None |
None |
TOW II Launcher, 2xMAG |
16xTOW II ATGM, 2500x7.62mm |
RAM-2000 |
None |
None |
MAG or M-2HB (C) |
4000x7.62mm or 2400x.50 |
*Floor AV is 4. There is no Roof armor.
**Floor AV is 4.
***Floor AV is 4Sp.
RAMTA RBY Mk 1
Notes:
The RBY Mk 1 is a 4x4 light reconnaissance vehicle, sort of an earlier
version of the RAM V-1. It entered
service with the Israelis in 1975. Aside from the Israelis (who no longer use
them except for five kept for internal security), the other users of the RBY Mk
1 are Guatemala, (who has modified theirs in several ways), Honduras, and
Lesotho. Most of these vehicles are
straightforward reconnaissance cars/light APCs, but an antitank variant was in
service with the Israelis.
The RBY Mk 1 has
basically the same layout as the RAM, with a front end like a jeep and with a
spare tire on it. A cab is behind the front end for the commander and driver,
with a bullet-resistant windshield to the front and windows to the sides.
Thw windows and windshield have armored shutters with vision slits in
them for use in heavy firepower environments. The center of the vehicle has the
troop compartment, which is rather cramped.
The rear has the engine. The
armor is rather thin, but the RBY Mk 1 has a high ground clearance, wide
wheelbase, and reinforced floor to help against mines and IEDs. (The floor, in
fact, has the thickest armor on the vehicle.) The hull is made in a unitary
fashion, to further increase structural integrity; it has no doors or hatches
for this reason. Like the RAM, the
RBY Mk 1 has run-flat tires. The
RBY Mk 1 has a 4x4 off-road suspension and is powered by a Chrysler 225-2
120-horsepower gasoline engine with a manual transmission.
The troop
compartment of the RBY Mk 1 is interesting – the troops have three
outward-facing seats on each side, high enough so that they can see over the
sides of the vehicle. (They can be
raised and lowered, however.) The
troops and the crew enter and leave by going over the sides of the troop
compartment, and there are several steps to help them.
The exterior of the vehicle is replete with tie-down places and brackets
for crew equipment, extra gear and fuel, and extra ammunition.
Up to five machineguns are mounted, one on each side of the troop
compartment, and one above the commander’s position.
Ammunition stowage, like on the RAM, is basically everywhere, helping to
lead to a cramped troop compartment.
The antitank
version is simply a standard RBY Mk 1 with a recoilless rifle mounted in it, and
stowage boxes for ammunition replacing most of the troop space.
The Guatemalans
have modified their RBY Mk 1s in several ways.
They have replaced the engine with a 145-horsepower diesel engine,
coupled to an automatic transmission.
The troop compartment has a solid piece of Kevlar over it to cover the
space, and the troop seats have been lowered.
All the machinegun mounts have been removed, and instead a ring mount for
a heavy machinegun is found atop the Kevlar slab covering the vehicle.
Doors have been cut in the sides of the vehicle since the troops and crew
can no longer enter and exit over the sides of the vehicle.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
RBY Mk 1 |
$39,840 |
G, A |
500 kg |
3.6 tons |
2+6 |
2 |
Headlights |
Open |
RBY Mk 1 AT |
$86,667 |
G, A |
500 kg |
3.6 tons |
4 |
3 |
Headlights |
Open |
Guatemalan RBY Mk 1 |
$30,949 |
D, A |
400 kg |
3.9 tons |
3+5 |
2 |
Headlights |
Open |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
RBY Mk 1/AT |
228/114 |
53/26 |
140 |
77 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS2
HR2* |
Guatemalan RBY Mk 1 |
254/128 |
59/30 |
140 |
83 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF3 HS2
HR2** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
RBY Mk 1 |
None |
None |
5xMAG (Front, Rear, Left, Right, C) |
5000x7.62mm |
RBY Mk 1 AT |
None |
None |
M-40A2 Recoilless Rifle, 2xMAG |
18x106mm Rockets, 2500x7.62mm |
Guatemalan RBY Mk 1 |
None |
None |
M-2HB |
2400x.50 |
*Floor AV is 4. There is no Roof AV.
**Floor AV is 4.