Panhard Buffalo

Notes: This vehicle replaced the M3 in production, and has also been manufactured in large numbers for France and for export, usually to the same customers as the M-3. It is basically an improved M3 with heavier armor, a more powerful engine, night vision equipment, better suspension, and a roomier interior. It usually lacks the gun shield of the M3, as commanders found it got in the way of quick traverse of the weapon.

Notes: The Panhard VCR (Véhicule de Combat a Roues or Wheeled Combat Vehicle) is a private venture, 6x6 APC developed by the Panhard Company for the export market. Other variants on the basic hull exist, including a mortar carrier, a Milan ATGM carrier, and a light support vehicle mounting a 20mm autocannon in an open (unturreted) mount. The vehicle is fully amphibious. In many respects, it is a larger version of the Panhard M3.

Two versions require some more elaboration. The VCR/IS is an ambulance version of the VCR. In this role, the VCR is unarmed, and has a raised roofline. Firing ports are deleted and the vehicle is equipped with medical gear, such as a small refrigerator, respirator, defibrillator, the equivalent of a doctor's medical bag, and other items such as bandages, syringes, medicines, blood products, and splints. The VCR/PC is a command post carrier version of the VCR that is also used as the chassis of an electronic warfare vehicle. In the command post vehicle, the PC is equipped with no less than three radios, a PC with wireless LAN, GPS, a map board, and drawers for various office supplies and a folding table and three chairs. In the EW role, the vehicle is equipped with at least four high-power radios in various transmitting wavelengths, a signal processor, a radio jammer that is effective within 5 km, and a radar jammer that is also effective within 5 km. All use of these devices within 5 km of the vehicle is two levels harder.

Notes: This smaller version of the VCR has 85% parts commonality with the standard VCR. The vehicle necessarily has a different hatch arrangement, especially on the roof, with either a hatch on the hull roof, a cupola, or a hatch on whatever turret is placed there. Another hatch is to the rear of the roof, with a rail mount for a light or medium machinegun. Argentina is the only known user of this vehicle.

Notes: This version of the VCR was developed specifically for the Algerian Army. The hull is similar, but a bit larger than, the VCR; however, the automotive components share more in common with the ERC-90 F4 Sagaie 2. The armament normally a pintle-mounted heavy machinegun, but a light machinegun turret can also be fitted. The VCR uses two engines; these engines may be diesel or gasoline (but both must be of the same type). Vehicles supplied to the Algerian Army have air conditioning, but this is not a standard feature.

Notes: This armored personnel carrier is based on the ACMAT VLRA truck chassis. The truck chassis is fitted with an armored body, firing ports, bullet-resistant windows, and large doors at the rear. There are three firing ports in each side and one in one of the rear doors. These are simply openings in the body with armored shutters, so any sort of weapon that will fit through the opening can be used. Three versions are available: the smaller 4x4 TPK 4.20, and the larger 6x6 TPK 6.40. For each of these versions, open-topped and closed-roof versions are available.

There are ambulance versions of the TPK 4.20 and TPK 6.40 armored personnel carriers. All are these vehicles are closed-topped, with a raised roofline housing an air conditioning and heating unit. The vehicles are equipped with refrigerators for perishable medical supplies, and most are equipped with respirators. Provisions for stretchers are made. The vehicle statistics are the mostly the same as the armored personnel carrier versions, except they are unarmed and do not have roof hatches or firing ports.

The Logistics Carrier version of the TPK 6.40 armored personnel carrier has an improved suspension and more powerful engine for increased cargo carrying capacity. The sides of the vehicle can be dropped for carrying outsized cargoes, and the roofline is raised for the same purpose. The front of this vehicle is noticeably longer to house the bigger engine. This vehicle does not have roof hatches, a weapon mount, or firing ports.

The TPK 4.20 VBL is basically a closed-top version of the TPK 4.20 fitted with a light one-man turret on the rear deck. The weapon can be aimed using a periscope and fired from within the vehicle. This vehicle did not have many export sales.

Twilight 2000 Notes: Before the Twilight War, these vehicles were used only by certain African nations that maintained ties with France (such as the Central African Republic, Gabon, and the Ivory Coast); but when the Twilight War commenced, a number of them were sent to the Middle East with French Foreign Legion forces. Later, a number of them were retained in France for patrolling the Dead Zone.

Notes: This is basically a square, armored body placed on the chassis of a Unimog U-1550L truck. It is primarily meant to be an armored car or vehicle for police SRT teams, and not a military APC, and the level of protection is not great. It does, however, have some amenities that military vehicles generally do not have, such as comfortable seats and air conditioning. There is a large door on the rear of the vehicle, and doors on either side of the driver compartment. There are large bulletproof windows in the front of the vehicle, and smaller ones in the sides and rear. There are no firing ports.

Notes: This French vehicle is also a contender for the title of "most modified APC," being available in some 27 variants and used by 10 countries. It is also available in a 4x4 or 6x6 versions, and is a common sight, especially in Africa and the Middle East. Statistics for the base versions are shown here, but the base version is rarely seen, as most customers outside of France use one of the modified versions, and France used several variants as well. The driver is on the front left off the vehicle, with the commander to his right; both have overhead hatches, and there is also a door on the hull side for each of them. A weapon station may be located to the rear of the driver and commander, but often the weapon station is deleted and the weapon mount is by the commander’s hatch, either on a pintle or as part of a cupola. The troops leave by two doors in the rear hull. If a separate weapon station is not present, there will be a hatch in the center of the hull deck, as well as two larger ones further back. Air conditioning and heating are optional, as is a front-mounted winch with 60 meters of cable and a capacity of 7 tons. On each door is a small armored window, and there are three more on each side and in the commander and driver’s doors. Each of these windows may be locked open, allowing weapons to be fired from inside.

The VAB VCI T20 is a 4x4 VAB with a T20 gun station/cupola. This is a light autocannon mount that does not take up much room and does not weigh much. The VCI T25 is the same, but it has a T25 gun station/cupola. The VCI Dragar is a 6x6 VAB with a Dragar 25mm autocannon turret. The VCI Toucan is a 6x6 VAB with a Giat Toucan I turret. The French Air Force also uses this vehicle, where it is known as the VIB.

The VMO is a VAB designed for the internal security role. In this role, there is a light cupola armed with twin MAG machineguns. Mounted in the front is an obstacle-clearing blade and winch, and in the hull are a loudspeaker system and several radios. 4x4 and 6x6 versions exist; Abu Dhabi uses the 6x6 version.

The VAB NBC Reco NBC is an NBC reconnaissance vehicle with Geiger counters, a gamma radiation meter, optical chemical sniffer, GPS system and mapping equipment, and extra communications equipment. At the rear of the vehicle is an arm for taking samples, and a mechanism to drop radio and visual beacons to mark contaminated areas. A central computer manages the whole system. This vehicle has a cupola with a machinegun which may be aimed and fired from within the vehicle, and has NBC-sealed firing points.

The VAB EW Vehicle is a VAB 6x6 modified for electronic warfare. It is fitted with a variety of ECM, radar and radio jammers, and radio detectors.

The Improved VAB is basically a VAB 6x6 with a turret and improved armor protection. The driving controls are simplified and less fatiguing, and the vehicle has automatic transmission. The Improved VAB has air conditioning in addition to heating, and is NBC shielded. The engine is fitted with protection against Molotov cocktails, so burning fuel will not pour into the engine.

Notes: This French APC was taken into service with the French Gendarmerie in 1973 and with the Senegalese and Gabonese police somewhat later. They supplement the VAB in those countries as a lighter alternative. The driver and commander sit at the front behind bullet-resistant windshields, which may be covered with armored screens. The first few were turretless, but most have a light cupola with weapons behind the driver's and commander's positions. There is a large door on each side of the hull for entry, and there is another door in the rear of the hull. The VXB-170 has a large roof hatch on the rear deck. The vehicle has a heater, an NBC system, and a winch with a capacity of 4.5 tons and 60 meters of cable.