TAM VC

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Tanque Argentino Mediano (Argentine Medium Tank) : Light Tank


Statistics

Main gun: 105mm FM K.4 Modelo 1L
Ammunition Stowage: 20 ready/30 stowed
Default Ammunition “A”: 11/20 CMC105 APFSDS-T, 7/10 DM12 HEAT-T, 1/0L35A3 HESH-T, 1/0 M416 WP-T (Smoke)


Coaxial machine gun: 7.62mm FN MAG 60-20 (M240G)
Ammunition Stowage: 200 ready/1000 stowed
Default Ammunition: 200/1000 7.62mm NATO


AAMG: 7.62mm FN MAG 60-20 (M240G)
Ammunition Stowage: 200 ready/400 stowed
Default Ammunition: 200/400 7.62mm NATO


Grenade Dischargers: Grenades
Ammunition Stowage: 2 ready/6 stowed
Default Ammunition: 2/6 Smoke


Armour protection:
Frontal Turret Armour: Thin, Steel. Protected versus 40mm AP
Frontal Hull Armour: Thin, Steel. Protected versus 40mm AP


Combat Weight: 30.5 tonnes
Length: 6.77m (Hull)
Width: 3.29m
Height: 2.43m
Engine Power: 720 hp MTU-MB 833 Ka-500 6-cylinder diesel
Top Speed: 75kph

General

Based on the German Marder infantry fighting vehicle, the Tanque Argentino Mediano (TAM) is the light tank in service with the Argentine Army. The result of a series of requirements drawn up by the Argentine Ministry of Defense in 1973, the German company Thyssen-Henschel collaborated with the Argentinian government in the vehicle's design and production. Formal production began in 1979 by the government founded company Tanque Argentino Mediano Sociedad del Estado (TAMSE) with a total of 200 units manufactured.

Basic armament consists of a stabilized 105mm FM K.4 Modelo 1L (Rheinmetall Rh-105-30 w/o the muzzle brake) rifled tank gun backed by a coaxial 7.62mm FN MAG 60-20 (M240G) machine-gun, and a second MAG at the commander's station. Fire-control is of German design including a FLER-HG ballistic computer and Nd:YAG [Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet] laser rangefinder. The commander is equipped with a dual magnification (2x/8x) Zeiss PERI-R/TA panoramic periscope, but lacks the hunter-killer capability found on contemporary German tanks.

Motive power is provided by a 720hp MTU MB-833 Ka 500 diesel engine coupled with a Renk HSWL-204 automatic transmission offering an excellent power-to-weight ratio and a maximum on road speed of 75kph. As the TAM's design descends for the Marder, the vehicle's engine is at the front right with the driver to its left. Its range is 500km with internal fuel tanks, extended to 900 kilometers if equipped with two 200-liter external fuel drums. Although not amphibious, the TAM may ford water obstacles up to 1.4m deep, or up to 4 meters after moderate preparation.

Armor for the TAM is light, a maximum of 50mm of steel on both hull and turret, but well sloped to provide frontal protection against 35mm to 40mm projectiles and all around protection versus small arms fire.

Despite several attempts to export the TAM to other nations, Argentina remains the sole operator.

Thermal Signature

TAM VC TIS image, front-right TAM VC TIS image, rear-left


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