StarDrive 1/1
During the Second World War the German army made the first extensive use of armored cars. (Yes, I know they were used in Spain, Ethiopia and elsewhere prior to WWII but not in anywhere near the German numbers.) The German armored columns used light armored recon vehicles in advance of the blitz to provide their field commanders with fast-hand information of the battlefield.
Of course, as the war moved into 1944-45 the German army was less able to punch through the opposing infantry screen, and the Germans added heavier weapons to their armored cars. One of the fast additions was a 50 mm cannon. Success led to the final heavy weapon, a 75 mm AT gun, which gave the car the ability to defeat most armor carried on enemy tanks and armored fighting vehicles.
On the Allied side, the U.S. and Great Britain also had their own armored recon vehicles. One of the most important was the M8 recon car, which carried a37 mm cannon. Armored cars have improved since the war, improving on the concept of a light reconnaissance vehicle. We will be covering five armored cars this month, all of which were put into production after WWII, using the knowledge gained from this and other wars.
The British placed the first order for a new recon vehicle of this type in 1948. They stated that the vehicle must have a cannon that could defeat most armor, and the vehicle must be able to negotiate rough off-road terrain with a minimum of trouble. The Saladin was placed into production in 1958, (little slow in the prototype selection phase) and this production continued until 1972. The Saladin was perhaps the first recon vehicle designed after the war to incorporate the lessons learned by the Germans.
Record sheet: Alvis Saladin
The Soviet Union also learned from their WWII experience, and have created numerous light armored recon vehicles. The BRDM-l is an amphibious armored car which is equipped with a variety of weapons, depending on which version you look at. Most are now equipped with an AT missile system and are capable of defending themselves on the move. (Our stats are based on the BRDM-l Sagger.)
Record Sheet: BRDM-1
The Panhard is the first French version of the heavily armed recon vehicle. It seems that the French remembered well the lesson learned from the blitz and have put a counter implementation plan into effect. The Panhard is fast, has good cross-country performance, and is able to be equipped with either a 60 mm mortar gun or a 90 mm cannon, in addition to machineguns. The South Africans and Rhodesians proved the Panhard's ability to defend itself against heavier vehicles by defeating a number of tanks, including the Soviet built T -72. (No, the Panhard is not a match for the T -72 in head-to-head combat, but it can hold its own in the brush.)
Record Sheet: Panhard ALM
This unusual-looking armored car shows just what the 'state of the art' in light fighting vehicles is. The V-600 is equipped with the just released low-force recoil 105 mm gun. This gun is mounted in a turret which is also used on the Cadillac Gage Stingray light tank. Like most modern MBTs, the V.600 is equipped with laser rangefinders, thermal sights, gun stabilizers, and everything else it needs to play with the big boys.
Record Sheet: Cadillac Gage V-600
This vehicle was designed for the export market and is currently being used by France and Oman. (It seems that the French government liked it too.) This modern heavy recon vehicle is equipped with laser rangefinder, gun stabilizer, night vision equipment and very low recoil 90 mm gun. This vehicle is able to move at high road speeds for long distances. The 90 mm main gun is able to defeat the main armor of all MBTs in existence.
Record Sheet: Renault VBC-90
return to TRO: StarDate
return to LosTech Cache
