Fennek

     Notes: This Dutch/German vehicle was designed to replace the Lynx in Dutch service and the Luchs in German service. In 2000, the prototypes finished field trials, and in 2001, the Germans and Dutch placed a combined order for 632 – 419 for the Dutch and 222 for the Germans, with the Germans going on to buy 78 more in 2015. Most are reconnaissance vehicles with a sensor package and a weapon, but 130 Dutch vehicles are MRAT (Medium-Range Antitank) vehicles with mounts for ATGMs, and 78 Dutch vehicles are general purpose, armored utility vehicles; a further 18, produced for the Dutch by Turkey, and are SWP (Stinger Weapons Platform) vehicles. 24 of the German order were transport vehicles for combat engineer teams, and 20 are JFST (Joint Fire Support Team) vehicles, with laser rangefinders and advanced optics. (Artillery Observer vehicles are almost the same, differing in the fire support hardware and software.)  Turkey also produces the Fennek under license from the Dutch, though this production is primarily for Germany and the Netherlands. In addition the recent Qatari order is primarily being fulfilled by Turkish production. (Qatari Fenneks are either JFST or FAO vehicles.)

     The Fennek is a 4x4 vehicle with power provided by a Deutz Diesel engine producing 239 horsepower and with central tire pressure regulation system. The engine is insulated and is much quieter than the same engine installed in another vehicle, and also has the equivalent of IR Suppression 1. Sensors are mounted on an extendible 1.5-meter mast, which is slaved to a ruggedized laptop computer mounted in the hull.  The sensor head can also be put on a tripod and remotely situated up to 37 meters away. The software of the computer controls the sensors and the mast extension and retraction; the computer is also connected to a data-capable computer for transmission to headquarters elements.  The Fennek normally also has inertial navigation gear and GPS. The vehicle has an air conditioning system which also functions as an NBC Overpressure system. Sensors on the mast include a thermal imager, a laser rangefinder, a day TV camera and a shotgun microphone.  The TV camera and thermal imager are linked to a video recorder inside the vehicle. Weapons are mounted on an RWS or remote mount and are aimed and fired by remote controls mounted inside the vehicle or a touchscreen on the commander’s position. JFST vehicles also have a laser designator/rangefinder on the mast and an image intensifier.

     Most mount a light RWS; Dutch versions are armed with an M2HB, while German examples are typically armed with an MG3 or HK GMG. The Dutch MRAT version is armed with a twin launcher for Israeli-designed, but European-produced, Spike-MR ATGM. SWP vehicles have four launchers for Stinger SAMs. The Fennek has counter-IED jamming equipment, which has a 75% likelihood of jamming IED remote comms, and a 50% chance of jamming IED and mine fuzes. RWSs carry six smoke grenade launchers; Fenneks without RWSs have six smoke grenade launchers at the rear of the vehicle (three on each side at the roof). The front of the vehicle has a 5-ton-capacity winch with 70 meters of cable.

     Many, but not all. scout variants of the Fennek are equipped with an Aladin miniature UAV. The Netherlands has pledged an unknown number of Fenneks to Ukraine, but they have not seen combat service as of August 2024; the Ukrainians received an unknown number of recon variants. I have not been able to find out enough about the Fennek AD MR 81mm mortar transporter, AD VCP mobile command post, or Fennek 2 variants to stat them out, and they would not appear in the Twilight 2000 timeline in any case.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle was just beginning to be produced at the war's outset, and is rare.  They were used in Poland almost from the beginning by German forces, and later by Dutch forces against the French. The scout variant with a UAV is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

MOWAG Eagle

     Notes: The Eagle line of armored trucks is a set of vehicles that are related, though some are only related by name and subsystems. They have remote turrets, and the armor consists of an inner layer of ballistic ceramic and an outer layer of aluminum. This provides protection against most small arms, but does not stop heavier weapons.  The windows are also bullet resistant. Armament generally consi9sts of a medium machinegun and the weapon can be aimed and fired from inside the vehicle, and has night vision. The engines generally have more horsepower than their baseline chassis to cope with the additional weight of armor, weapons, and turrets.

MOWAG Eagle I

     This vehicle is an armored version of the HMMWV M1042. The vehicle is only slightly larger in size (10 centimeters wider) than the standard HMMWV and can be transported inside the same sorts of aircraft; it is also light enough to be sling-loaded by medium and heavy lift helicopters. The commander has a hatch in the roof above his seat. To the left and rear of the commander's hatch is a cupola with a weapon mount; this cupola is a sort of RWS and generally armed with a medium or heavy machinegun, as well as six smoke grenade launchers. On the front of the vehicle is a winch with a 5.4-ton capacity. The Eagle I is NBC-tight, though it does not have an actual NBC Overpressure system and the crew is dependent upon their own NBC gear. The vehicle has NBC-Resistant air conditioner. There are four upholstered seats in the vehicle. There are stowage compartments for various weapons, small arms, and equipment; the exact composition of these compartments depends upon the crew, unit requirements, and mission requirements. The rear cargo bed also has tie-down points for cargo that does not fit into the stowage compartments. The Eagle I has two doors on either side and a largo door in the rear of the vehicle. The Eagle I is powered by a 159-horsepower GM LNA Turbodiesel engine and has a 4x4 suspension. It is not amphibious, but can ford up to 0.76 meters.

MOWAG Eagle II & III

     This is similar to the Eagle I, but is based on the HMMWV M1113 ECV (Extended Capacity Vehicle). The Eagle I was updated to take into account the changes the Swiss wanted in the Eagle platform, discovered in use by the Swiss, Germans, and Danish.  The engine is replaced by one of 190 horsepower, and the Eagle II has the M1113’s TAK-4 independent 4-wheel suspension.  The interior and layout of the Eagle II is similar to that of the Eagle I, and most other details are as the Eagle I.

     The Eagle III is the Eagle II turned into a FIST/FALO platform, with a different-shaped cabin and windows to give observers a better view of their surroundings and a mast-mounted sighting system with advanced optics and a laser designator/rangefinder. It has slightly different dimensions than the Eagle II, but is otherwise very similar to the Eagle II.

MOWAG Eagle IV

     The Mowag Eagle IV is a 4x4 light armored reconnaissance vehicle developed by the Swiss company Mowag, now part of General Dynamics European Land Systems. Introduced in 2003, it is based on the Mowag Duro IIIP chassis. The Eagle IV offers enhanced payload capacity, improved armor, and superior mine resistance compared to its predecessors. It features STANAG 4569 Level III ballistic protection and Level IIa mine protection. The vehicle is used by the Danish and German armies, providing high mobility and protection for various military operations.  It is an Eagle only in name, being part of the same product line but based on a different vehicle’s chassis (the MOWAG DURO II) and having a markedly different protection level, particularly in its enhanced antimine protection. The Eagle IV has a V-hull and is mine-resistant (see the rules I have devised on this page). It uses a Cummins ISBe 250 250-horsepower Turbodiesel. The suspension is 4x4 with run-flat tires, and while not amphibious, can ford to a depth of 1 meter.  Danish vehicles are equipped with the Pilar Mk IIw Integrated Gunshot Detection system, integrated with the Lemur OHWS and a BMS; the Pilar system detects the direction and distance of the shot and slews the OHWS’s weapon to the shot location, if set on automatic. The front bumper has a 12-ton capacity winch with 50 meters of cable.

MOWAG Eagle V

     Used by Germany, Denmark and Switzerland, the Eagle V is based on the DURO II chassis and is designed to accept various RWSs and mission sets. Available in 4x4 and 6x6 configurations, it offers high mobility and protection against mines, IEDs, and ballistic threats. The Eagle V features a Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, and De-Dion suspension for excellent off-road performance. It supports various mission roles, including reconnaissance, command, and patrol. The Eagle V has an air conditioning system and NBC sealing (though it does not have a true NBC Overpressure system). The Eagle C is powered by a 245-horsepower Cummins Turbodiesel engine that possesses considerable torque. The Eagle V has antilock air disc brakes and run-flat tires, along with a locking differential. The Eagle V has an electrical bus sufficient to allow the mounting of several RWSs and APSs, as well as electronic equipment and communications gear. The front bumper has a 12-ton capacity winch with 50 meters of cable. The engine compartment and the vehicle cabin have separate fire detection and suppression systems. The Eagle V has a double-V hull and a mine mitigation package. The Eagle V has 70-80% parts commonality with the Eagle IV, a requirement of the German Army. Finally, the Eagle V can mount applique armor plates made of ballistic ceramic under steel, similar to the Eagle’s base armor but with steel instead of aluminum.

     The Eagle V 6x6 is, of course, the same truck chassis extended out to three axles.  It is more of an armored truck or an APC than a light combat vehicle, but is included here for completeness’ sake. The 6x6 Eagle V is also used as the basis for several specialist vehicles, such as ATGM or SAM carriers or command post and medical vehicles.

*Belly AV for these vehicles are 5Sp, in addition to V-hull benefits