TAMSE VCLC (Vehiculo de Combate LanzaCohetes)

History of TAMSE VCLC (Vehicle de Combate LanzaCohetes)

With the introduction of the modern TAM light tank/VCTP infantry fighting vehicle series in 1983, the Argentine Army developed several other notable tanks based on the original chassis. The original work was billed by Thyssen-Henschel in Germany (since Rheinmetall Landsysteme) and was itself based on the German Army's Marder IFV. However, the production of Argentine vehicles is locally produced and handled by the TAMSE plant in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In addition to the TAM and VCTP title designs, the VCA 155 self-propelled artillery platform (described in detail elsewhere on this site) and the VCLC (Vehiculo de Combate LanzaCohetes = "Rocket Launcher Combat Vehicle") rocket launcher appeared.

Design work on the latter began in 1986, but entered service in 1995 (together with the VCA 155).

The VCLC retains the same hull form and features as the original VCTP IFV, including a German-sourced MTU MB 833 Ka-500 series 6-cylinder diesel 720 hp and undercarriage with six twin tire wheels to the track side. The front uses a drive sprocket and the rear uses a chain tensioner with three chain idlers. The engine is located in the front right of the fuselage and the driver is located in the front left of the fuselage.

The rest of the crew consists of a driver and two specialists. Glacis plates are well slanted for inherent ballistic protection, while the sides are designed to be only slightly sloping. The top of the fuselage rests flat on a power-mounted platform that houses two 18x rocket launch tube batteries. This allows the turret to rotate 360 ??degrees, attacking the target area from all angles.

The launcher can be tilted further to shoot arrows from a distance. The vehicle can carry larger 350mm type rockets that are 36x160mm or smaller. Both the missile and the launcher are Israeli-developed and can deploy different types of warheads, starting with the standard high-explosive version.

The VCLC has an operating weight of 35 tonnes (short), a range of 320 miles and a top speed of 47 mph - all in line with the modern Argentine Army's TAM and VCTP vehicle offerings. For budgetary reasons, VCLCs are limited to 30 units.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

36 x 160mm rocket or 18 x 350mm rocket

Changes