Country of origin |
Brazil |
Entered service |
- |
Crew |
2 men |
Personnel |
9 men |
Dimensions and weight |
Weight |
18 t |
Length |
6.43 m |
Width |
3.26
m |
Height |
1.95 m |
Armament |
Machine guns |
1 x 12.7 mm |
Mobility |
Engine |
SAAB-Scania DSI-11 diesel |
Engine power |
394 hp |
Maximum road speed |
70 km/h |
Amphibious speed on water |
8 km/h |
Range |
500 km |
Maneuverability |
Gradient |
60% |
Side slope |
40% |
Vertical step |
0.75 m |
Trench |
2 m |
Fording |
Amphibious |
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The Charrua is a tracked amphibious armored personnel carrier, developed
in Brazil by Moto Pecas company. It is named after a native South American tribe.
It is also referred as XMP-1. In the early 1980s Brazilian armed
forces had a requirement to replace the ageing fleet of 500 American
M59 tracked armored personnel carriers, that were delivered in the
early 1950s. Brazilian MoD was looking for a vehicle similar to
American M113.
The project was initiated in 1983. A first
prototype was built in 1985. A number of prototypes have been
produced. The Charrua in large part used Brazilian technology. However the whole program was cancelled. Eventually
Brazilian Army and Marine Corps adopted the American M113 and just
over 600 of these APCs have been ordered.
The Charrua
is an M113-like machine. The first
prototype had a box-shaped hull with vertical sides. The second
prototype had sloped hull sides at the area of the personnel
compartment. Both versions have large internal volume.
Armor of
this vehicle provides all-round protection against small 7.62 mm
rounds and artillery shell splinters. Add-on ceramic armor was
available for all-round protection against 12.7 mm rounds. With
add-on armor the front arc could withstand hits from 20 mm guns.
The baseline
armored personnel carrier is armed with a shielded 12.7 mm machine
gun. This weapon is operated by the vehicle commander. The first
prototype had a small turret, armed with a 12.7-mm machine gun. Also
there were proposed versions armed with 20-
or 25 mm cannons.
The Charrua
has a crew of two and accommodates an infantry squad of 9
fully-equipped troops. Soldiers enter and leave the vehicle via rear
doors. Also there are roof hatches for observation, firing and
emergency exit. There were some firing ports for the personnel to
fire their individual weapons.
Initially it
was planned to power the new APC by Brazilian diesel engine. However
this armored personnel carrier was powered by a SAAB-Scania DSI-11
diesel engine, developing 394 hp. Another engine, a Detroit Diesel
6V92TA, developing 450 hp, was proposed. Engine is located at the
front of the hull. It was mated to an Allison automatic
transmission. Autonomy on roads with
two 270 liter fuel tanks is 500 km.
This armored
personnel carrier is amphibious. On water it is propelled by two
hydrojets. Amphibious speed on water is 8 km/h. It could cross
rivers and lakes that are common in Brazil.
Originally
the Charrua was intended to be produced in a whole host of variants.
Some prototypes were produced before the whole program was cancelled.
Variants
Command post
vehicle.
Armored
ambulance.
Signals
vehicle with radio communications equipment.
Armored
recovery vehicle with a rear-mounted crane.
Armored
engineer vehicle with rear-mounted dozer blade and a crane.
120 mm mortar
carrier.
Air defense
vehicle with a quad turret.
Air defense
vehicle with Bofors 40 mm turret.
Anti-aircraft missile carrier.
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