ROMARM TAB-77 PCOMA
Notes:
This is both a FISTV designed for use in motorized infantry and scout
units and reflects an earlier design than the TABC-79A, though it too has been
updated over the years. So far,
only the Romanians use the TAB-77 PCMOA.
The TAB-77 PCMOA first appeared in the late 1970s, soon after the TAB-77
APC, and is still in use in its updated form.
For the most
part, the TAB-77 PCMOA appears externally similar to the TAB-77 APC.
However, the turret has been replaced with a different small turret; this
is larger and rounder, and mounts primarily an enhanced vision suite including
day and night vision gear, and a laser rangefinder.
The turret itself is unarmed; above the turret, in front of the
“gunner’s” hatch, is a pintle-mounted machinegun.
At the center of the vehicle is a large hatch, which opens to the rear.
This allows the PCOMA’s crew to utilize hand-held instruments.
Internally, the TAB-77 PCMOA has two data-capable radios, a medium-range radio,
a radio teletype, a short-range radio, a gyrocompass-based land-navigation
system with a small amount of inertial navigation capability, and a large but
relatively weak computer which can generate fire coordinates, but not solutions,
and transmit them to two batteries at once.
The mid-1980s
brought improvements to the computers, radios, and night vision gear, as well as
a more powerful day telescope. The
computers were also improved, primarily in the area of miniaturization, but also
in power; the computer could now generate fire solutions for up to two batteries
at once. This update also brought
true inertial navigation to the TAB-77 PCMOA. Crew was also reduced.
The radio teletype was retained, though by then it had become for the
most part obsolete. A laser designator was added to the turret.
The late 1990s
brought more improvements. Crew was
further reduced. The radio teletype
was removed, replaced by improvements in computer technology that allowed the
operator of the TAB-77 PCMOA’s fire control suite to directly feed target
information to battery computers (if so equipped).
The day and night vision are fully integrated with the computer. The
TAB-77 PCMOA retained the inertial navigation capability, but only as a backup;
the primary navigation method is by GLONASS and later, GPS.
As a variant of
the TAB-77, the TAB-77 PCMOA as some features in common with the TAB-77.
The TAB-77 PCMOA is powered by
a pair of 132-horsepower
Savia 797-05M1 diesel engines. The
manual rotation of the TAB-77’s turret is replaced by electric rotation. The
TAB-77 PCMOA retains the “suicide hatches” of the TAB-71M; not being an infantry
carrier, these are not used in combat except in emergencies.
The crew in the rear still use the pair of roof hatches, and the “suicide
hatches” are used for equipment loading more than anything else. The driver and
commander are in the front of the vehicle, with the driver on the right and
commander on the left; they have bullet-resistant windshields to the front with
armored shutters which may be lowered and have vision slits in them.
To their sides are small windows over which armor plates may be slid.
The commander has a hatch over his position; the driver does not have a
hatch, but the roof does have an opening for a night vision block.
The gunner’s position is more a FIST member and not really a gunner.
Suspension is 8x8 off-road-type; the front four wheels are the steerable wheels.
The TAB-77 is still difficult to drive due to the manual transmission and
twin engines. The driver has a
central tire pressure regulation system. The crew has a collective NBC system.
Armor is all-welded steel, but is relatively light. The vehicle is amphibious,
with a trim vane requiring erection from inside the driver’s compartment and
bilge pumps turned on, as well as a waterjet once the vehicle is floating.
The crew is protected by an automatic fire detection and suppression
system. The same front-mounted
winch as on the TAB-71 is on the TAB-77 PCMOA, with a capacity of 5.5 tons and
60 meters of cable.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
TAB-77 PCMOA |
$168,856 |
D, A |
800 kg |
13.5 tons |
6 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensifier (G) |
Shielded |
TAB-77 PCMOA 1st Upgrade |
$335,061 |
D, A |
800 kg |
13.5 tons |
5 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensifier (G), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
TAB-77 PCMOA 2nd Upgrade |
$405,061 |
D, A |
800 kg |
13.5 tons |
4 |
10 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensifier (G), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
TAB-77 PCMOA |
147/74 |
33/17/4 |
290 |
141 |
CiH |
W(4) |
TF4
TS4 TR3
HF4 HS3
HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
TAB-77 |
None |
None |
PK (C) |
2500x7.62mm |
ROMARM TABC-79A PCMOA
Notes: Based on
the TABC-79 light APC, the
TABC-79A PCMOA is a FIST vehicle with enhanced observation and rangefinding
equipment in its turret, and an extra laser rangefinder as well as a laser
designator. Its turret is wider but
lower in profile, and is armed only with a PKT machinegun.
The commander’s cupola has an artillery plotting circle inscribed on it.
Inside, the rear area is largely taken up by extra communications gear
and fire solution computers, as well as the equipment necessary to directly
transmit their findings to artillery, MRL, or mortar batteries.
The computer is limited in scope, designed only to perform its duties in
fire control. The PCMOA has a
long-range data-capable radio, an extra-long-range data-capable radio, one
medium-range radio, and one short-range radio.
The enhanced observation gear includes day telescopic sights as well as
an image intensifier and a thermal imager; these are mounted in the turret, but
accessible by the commander. The
PCMOA originally had a radio teletype, but this was replaced in the mid-1990s by
a ruggedized laptop computer. The
PCMOA originally had inertial navigation, but this was supplemented in the 1990s
by GLONASS and later GPS.
Being a variant
of the TABC-79, the basic facts about the TABC-79 also apply to the PCMOA. The
driver is at the front left of the vehicle with a windshield to the front and
supplemental vision blocks for when the tactical situation dictates that the
windshield be covered by its armored shutter.
The commander’s position is still there, though it is normally unoccupied
or used to store equipment; both positions have a hatch above them; the
commander’s position has been shifted to the turret.
The side hatches are retained, as is the rear door and the roof hatch.
The firing ports are plated over.
The PCMOA has a collective NBC system for the crew and troops. Protection
also includes an automatic fire detection and suppression system. The passengers
have firing ports, two to a side and two in the rear.
The PCMOA has a 5.5-ton winch on the front with 50 meters of cable. The
PCMOA is powered by a single Savia 798.05N2 turbocharged diesel engine, with an
automatic transmission. The driver
has conventional controls. The
engine is relatively compact, allowing for that small hatch in the rear, though
it is mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The PCMOA is amphibious without
preparation, requiring only that a waterjet be switched on when the vehicle
begins floating. Suspension is 4x4
and of the off-road-type.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
TABC-79A PCMOA |
$165,822 |
D, A |
350 kg |
9.5 tons |
4 |
8 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
TABC-79A PCMOA (Upgraded) |
$295,822 |
D, A |
350 kg |
9.5 tons |
4 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
TABC-79A PCMOA |
124/62 |
28/15/3 |
200 |
82 |
CiH |
W(4) |
TF4
TS4 TR3
HF5 HS3
HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
TABC-79A PCMOA |
+2 |
Fair |
PKT |
2500x7.62mm |