Bravia Chaimite
Notes:
This Portuguese wheeled armored personnel carrier is also used by
Lebanon, Libya, Peru, and the Philippines; the Filipinos are the second largest
users of the Chaimite. The Libyans
also supplied one to the PLO, and it is believed to still be in service. It was
adopted in the late 1960s by Portugal and by other countries a short time later.
It has seen combat service in Portugal’s colonial wars, and in UN service. It is
a light, four-wheeled APC that comes in many versions. Most are APC or
reconnaissance versions, but there are also command, armor ambulance, and a
number of non-APC versions. Portugal is currently in the process of replacing
the Chaimite.
The hull is
all-welded by lasers, an advanced technique for the time. The driver has a hatch
on left front deck, while the vehicle commander sits on the right of him. The
driver and commander have small bullet resistant windows to the front and sides
of them, and hatches above them.
The driver and commander have firing ports directly in front of them and to the
sides of them, but these are only shutters with armored covers and not sealed
firing ports. There are three
similar firing ports on the left side of the vehicle, four on the right, and two
in the rear. There are two-part clamshell doors on either side of the passenger
compartment, and a door on the right rear of the hull, with one of the firing
ports. The top of the clamshell
doors can be locked open outwards, or locked open inwards to form a window. On
the roof there is usually a small turret (except on the basic V-200 APC and the
command version); these turrets may be armed differently depending on the type
of Chaimite involved. The versions with multiple antiarmor weapons typically
have them one or two on each side of the turret. The roof also has a pair of
large hatches over the troop compartment.
The V-300 Recon
version has an extra long-range and extra medium-range radio, as well as
improved vision equipment and fire control.
Like the APC version, some have antiarmor capability.
The command version generally has two long-range, two medium-range, and
two-long range radios, and a rearranged interior with a map board, map storage,
and office and plotting-type supplies.
The ambulance version has room for two stretcher cases plus four sitting
patients and a medic. It has the
equivalent of one doctor’s medical bag, 10 personal medical kits, an oxygen
administration kit, a defibrillator, and various supplies like splints,
bandages, and other medical supplies.
The Chaimite was
originally powered by a Chrysler gasoline engine, but these were quickly
replaced by a 155-horsepower Cummins diesel engine. Transmission is manual.
Suspension is 4x4 off-road-type, with a spare tire normally mounted at
the front of the vehicle. The front of the hull has a winch with a capacity of
4.53 tons, with 38.1 meters of cable. The Chaimite is amphibious, propelled in
the water by its wheels. Armor is painfully light.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Basic V-200 |
$27,263 |
D, A |
1.2 tons |
7.3 tons |
3+8 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
V-200 Twin 7.62mm Turret |
$49,294 |
D, A |
1 ton |
7.7 tons |
3+8 |
6 |
Passive IR (G) |
Enclosed |
V-200 Twin 7.62mm Turret w/Antiarmor |
$61,494 |
D, A |
900 kg |
8 tons |
3+7 |
7 |
Passive IR (G) |
Enclosed |
V-200 7.62/.50 Turret |
$52,328 |
D, A |
900 kg |
8 tons |
3+8 |
6 |
Passive IR (G) |
Enclosed |
V-200 7.62/.50 Turret w/Antiarmor |
$64,628 |
D, A |
800 kg |
8.3 tons |
3+7 |
7 |
Passive IR (G) |
Enclosed |
V-300 Recon |
$58,210 |
D, A |
900 kg |
8 tons |
3+5 |
7 |
Passive IR (G), Image Intensification (G) |
Enclosed |
V-300 Recon w/Antiarmor |
$70,510 |
D, A |
800 kg |
8.3 tons |
3+5 |
7 |
Passive IR (G), Image Intensification (G) |
Enclosed |
V-500 CPC |
$31,500 |
D, A |
600 kg |
7.7 tons |
3+4 |
7 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
V-500 Ambulance |
$31,353 |
D, A |
600 kg |
7.6 tons |
* |
7 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Basic V-200 |
168/84 |
39/20/4 |
300 |
78 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF3 HS3
HR2 |
V-200 7.62mm Turret |
161/81 |
37/19/4 |
300 |
81 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF3
HS3 HR2 |
V-200 Twin 7.62mm Turret w/Antiarmor/7.62mm & .50 Turret/V-300 Recon |
153/76 |
35/19/4 |
300 |
86 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF3
HS3 HR2 |
V-200 7.62/.50 Turret w/Antiarmor/V-300 Recon w/Antiarmor |
148/74 |
34/18/3 |
300 |
89 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF3
HS3 HR2 |
V-300 Recon |
217/130 |
45/30/5 |
300 |
76 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF3
HS2 HR2 |
V-500 CPC/Ambulance |
161/81 |
37/19/4 |
300 |
81 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF3 HS3
HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Basic V-200/V-500 CPC |
None |
None |
MG-3 (C), M-2HB (C), or M-249 (C) |
7100x7.62mm, 4000x.50, or 9700x5.56mm |
V-200 Twin 7.62mm Turret |
None |
Basic |
2xMG-3 |
9500x7.62mm |
V-200 Twin 7.62mm Turret w/Antiarmor |
None |
Basic |
Twin MG-3s, 4xM-20A1 Bazookas or 2xSS-11 ATGM Launchers or M-40A2
Recoilless Rifle |
9500x7.62mm, 8x89mm or 4xSS-11 ATGM or 6x106mm |
V-200 7.62/.50 Turret |
+1 |
Basic |
MG-3, M-2HB |
4750x7.62mm, 2850x.50 |
V-200 7.62/.50 Turret w/Antiarmor |
+1 |
Basic |
MG-3, M-2HB, 4xM-20A1 Bazookas or 2xSS-11 ATGM Launchers, or M-40A2
Recoilless Rifle |
4750x7.62mm, 2850x.50, 8x89mm or 4xSS-11 ATGM or 6x106mm |
V-300 Recon |
+2 |
Fair |
20mm KAA Autocannon, MG-3 |
400x20mm, 4750x7.62mm |
V-300 Recon w/Antiarmor |
+2 |
Fair |
20mm KAA Autocannon, MG-3, 4xM-20A1 Bazookas or 2xSS-11 ATGM Launchers,
or M-40A2 Recoilless Rifle |
400x20mm, 4750x7.62mm, 8xBazooka Shells, or 4xSS-11 ATGM or 6x106mm |
Bravia Commando Mk III
Notes:
This is an armored car used by the Portuguese National Guard and at least
two other unnamed countries, probably in Africa.
It was developed in 1977 at first for the Portuguese National Guard,
primarily for internal security use, and the two other countries which use it
are also known to use it in internal security purposes.
The Commando Mk III was preceded by unsuccessful Mk I and Mk II
prototypes. The Commando Mk III is
based on the SWB version of the Bravia Gazela light truck, fitted with a welded
steel body.
Being basically
an armored truck, the Commando Mk III is truck-like in appearance, with the
engine up front under a hood, a cab with the commander and driver behind that
with a bullet-resistant windshield and bullet-resistant windows to the sides,
with armored shutters which can be dropped or slid over the windows which have
vision slits in them. They have
doors in the sides of their cab. The troops are in the rear, with the very rear
being a low section that holds equipment and has a spare tire atop it on the
exterior. Troop access is on the
rear of the troop compartment via a door; the troops must climb over the rear of
the vehicle and the spare tire if present. On some versions, the troop
compartment is topped by a small turret mounting a pair of machineguns, but on
most versions, the vehicle has a simple ring mount with a machinegun or riot
control grenade launcher. On the
turreted versions, there is a bank of five smoke grenade launchers at the rear;
on versions without turrets, there is a cluster of three smoke grenade launchers
at the front corners of the body of the vehicle over the driver’s and
commander’s positions. There are
four firing ports, one on each side and two in the rear of the troop
compartment. The vehicle does not
have an NBC system, but it does have a forced air system to clear the interior
as much as possible of irritant gas or smoke, since the firing ports are merely
shuttered holes rather than sealed firing ports.
Suspension is
4x4 and of the off-road-type, switchable to 4x2 for road use.
Run-flat tires are optional; run-flat sand tires are also optional, as is
air conditioning. The interior does
not have a fire suppression system beyond fire extinguisher bottles, but the
interior walls are lined with non-flammable PVC foam.
Power may be provided by an 81-horsepower Perkins diesel or a Dodge
150-horsepower gasoline engine; transmission is manual.
Vehicles |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Commando Mk III (Basic, Gas) |
$17,917 |
D, A |
700 kg |
4.2 tons |
3+5 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Commando Mk III (Basic, Diesel) |
$17,657 |
D, A |
700 kg |
4.2 tons |
3+5 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Commando Mk III (Twin MG Turret, Gas) |
$22,077 |
D, A |
600 kg |
4.6 tons |
3+5 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Commando Mk III (Twin MG Turret, Diesel) |
$21,817 |
D, A |
600 kg |
4.6 tons |
3+5 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Commando Mk III (.50/7.62mm Turret, Gas) |
$25,165 |
D, A |
500 kg |
4.9 tons |
3+5 |
4 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Commando Mk III (Basic, Gas) |
248/125 |
57/29 |
160 |
100 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF2 HS2
HR2 |
Commando Mk III (Basic, Diesel) |
143/72 |
33/17 |
160 |
36 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF2 HS2
HR2 |
Commando Mk III (Twin MG Turret, Gas) |
230/116 |
53/27 |
160 |
110 |
CiH |
W(2) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
Commando Mk III (Twin MG Turret, Diesel) |
135/68 |
31/16 |
160 |
39 |
CiH |
W(2) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
Commando Mk III (.50/7.62mm Turret, Gas) |
219/110 |
51/26 |
160 |
114 |
CiH |
W(2) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
Commando Mk III (.50/7.62mm Turret, Diesel) |
130/66 |
30/15 |
160 |
41 |
CiH |
W(2) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF2
HS2 HR2 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Commando Mk III (Basic) |
None |
None |
MAG |
1850x7.62mm |
Commando Mk III (Twin MG Turret) |
None |
Basic |
2xMAG |
1850x7.62mm |
Commando Mk III (.50/7.62mm Turret) |
+1 |
Basic |
M-2HB, MAG |
500x.50, 1000x7.62mm |