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Pandur APC - Diverse Roles In Combat

Rugged Armored Personnel Carrier Performs Multiple Roles In Battle


Pandur APC - Diverse Roles In Combat

The Pandur is an armored personnel carrier that serves multiple roles in combat.

Ambulance to Mortar Carrier

The Pandur is an armored personnel carrier (APC) that was developed in the 1980s for combat over rugged terrain. The Pandur was originally designed by an Austrian company called Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge. However, production of the vehicle is currently handled by a European division of General Dynamics Corp. The U.S. Army has acquired a total of 50 Pandur APCs over the past 25 years.

The Pandur is a heavily armored vehicle that weighs almost 14 tonnes and can withstand 12.7 millimeter bullet rounds. The Pandur is used by the U.S. military for a wide range of missions, including the transportation of troops, reconnaissance activities, as an ambulance, and to carry mortars. The six wheeled Pandur is also effective at battling tanks and other armored personnel carriers.

Amphibious Vehicle

In addition to its multiple roles as a ground vehicle, a "Model B" version of the Pandur can be used as an amphibious vehicle – meaning it can operate in water when propelled by two rear jets. Some militaries also use the Pandur as a command post vehicle in combat zones. The Pandur can travel at a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour and has an operational range of about 400 miles. The vehicle can hold a total of eight fully equipped soldiers, including two crewmen.

Several countries actively use the Pandur APC in addition to the United States. Other countries that deploy the Pandur are Austria, Belgium, Kuwait and Slovenia. A newer version of the vehicle, called the Pandur II, has been developed by General Dynamics and comes in six wheel and eight wheel versions. As of 2010, the Portuguese Army was the only military using the Pandur II vehicle.

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