NM-116

     Notes: The NM-116 is a modification of the WW2-vintage M-24 Chaffee light tank.  The Norwegians were generally happy with the Chaffee; however, it was obvious by the mid-1960s that the Chaffee was no longer able to handle conditions on the modern battlefield, nor could its 75mm main gun reliably destroy modern main battle tanks and even some APCs and lighter armored vehicles. The NM-116 was unveiled in 1973, with the primary change being the modern 90mm main gun, which could handle Soviet MBTs from the sides and rear and other armored vehicles from the front.  In addition, a plethora of internal and external components were added or upgraded.

     A 6V-53T 260-horsepower diesel engine has replaced the gasoline engine; this engine also has increased torque, important on Norway’s rough terrain.  The NM-116 was also given an upgraded transmission. Four heat exchangers cool the oil. The fuel tank size has also been increased. Upgraded treads from Diehl in Germany were put on the sides; this made an upgrade of the sprocket necessary. The amount of shock absorbers was decreased, but they were replaced with a pair of more effective shock absorbers. The main gun was replaced with a French 90mm D-921 gun as armed the Panhard AML-90, which offered a dramatic increase in power while being a low-pressure design that would not overload the NM-116’s light chassis; in addition, the concentric recoil system of the Chaffee was retained to save space. The muzzle brake of the D-921, however, was replaced with a T-shaped brake similar to that used on the M48 Patton, taken from the guns of Norwegian M48s whose 90mm guns were being upgraded at that time. A Simrad LV3 laser rangefinder has been added. The coaxial M1919A4 machinegun was replaced by an AN/M3 taken from retiring F-86 Sabre fighter aircraft. The bow machinegun has been removed to allow for additional ammunition storage and reduce the crew. Night vision was installed for the driver, gunner and commander. Four smoke grenade dischargers were added to each side of the turret in banks; all loaded grenades may be fired at once or one at a time. On the right rear fender, a telephone allowing infantry outside of the NM-116 to communicate with the tank crew was added. Varied and sundry equipment boxes and racks were also installed.

     The NM-116 was built by Norway and used by that country and Taiwan.