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Piranha 2

Armored Fighting Vehicle Series

 

Piranha 2 4x4 APC

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by: Switzerland (and others including Australia, Canada, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and USA)
First Produced/Service Dates: 1980
Manufactured by: General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag (was MOWAG AG)
Crew:

4x4 = Up to 10 crew/troops?

6x6 = Up to 14 crew/troops?

8x8 = Up to 15 crew/troops?

10x10 = ?
Armament: Determined by Variant/Version (From Light Machine Gun to 105mm Cannon).  Otherwise fitted by user.
Engine: 6 Cylinder Turbo-Diesel
Miscellaneous Info: The Piranha family was developed by MOWAG as a private venture utilizing a modular concept to allow for flexibility of use, ease of production and subsequent maintenance.  The modular concept allows for the relatively inexpensive and simple creation of similar vehicles able to fulfill many different requirements and missions.  Possible variants/duties are air defense, ambulance, anti-tank, APC, cargo transport, command & control, electronic warfare, fire support, internal security, mortar carrier, recovery and reconnaissance.

The Piranha 2 was an improved product in MOWAG's successful family of wheeled fighting vehicles. Improvements were made to increase the vehicle's capability/payload/performance and include (among other things) a lengthend hull, multiple engine options, larger tires, upgraded armor, braking systems, phenumatics and transmission. Due to the flexibility of the design, Piranha 1 vehicles could be fitted with the later improvements. The vehicle could be built on a 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 chassis while filling many roles and duties; the 8x8 design being by far the most successful.  The 4x4 version was built only as a prototype, but did lead to MOWAG's SPY (4x4) Recon Vehicle. 6x6 and 10x10 vehicles were also developed and built, but appear to have never been purchased and fielded. Even with the success of the Piranha 2 AFV's, MOWAG continued the development of the Piranha platform and created the improved Piranha 3 Series of Armored Fighting Vehicles.

Countries that use(d) the 8x8 vehicle/variants are Australia (later ASLAV 25’s), Canada (Bison APC Series & Coyote Recon Vehicles), Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden (1 vehicle), Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and USA (Later Marine LAV25A2's).
Data Sheet Available:   Piranha 2 (4x4) Data Sheet by David Haugh

Photos               

Reference

Source/Provider

Piranha 2 4x4 APC Photo (Above)

MOWAG AG via David Haugh - Content Editor

    Piranha 2 4x4 APC Photos

Guenther Neumahr - Bern, Switzerland

  Piranha 2 8x8 Command Vehicle Photo

Massimo Foti
Piranha 2 (8x8) Swiss Military Police Vehicle Photos Guenther Neumahr
Piranha 2 (8x8) Mortar Vehicle Prototype Photos Guenther Neumahr

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
Piranha 2 (6x6) AFV Information & Photos Army Guide.Com
Piranha 2 (8x8) AFV Information & Photos Army Guide.Com
Piranha 2 (8x8) Command Vehicle Information & Photos Army Guide.Com
Piranha 2 (8x8) Repair/Recovery Vehicle Information & Photos Army Guide.Com
Piranha 2 (10x10) Armored Combat Vehicle Information & Photos Army Guide.Com

Printed

Reference Author
Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars Duncan Crow & Robert J. Icks
LAV & Piranha: The Extended Family (Concord Publications) Gordon Arthur & Steve Hearn
MOWAG Piranha: Wheeled Armour for the Modern Battlefield (Tankograd Publishing) Stefan Marx (Tankograd Publishing)
Vehicules Blindes de Combat Roues (Wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicles) 8x8 (Histoire & Collections) Youri Obraztsov

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
Piranha 2 (4x4) Model Kit  Electric Models (Brazil) 1/35 Resin
       
Aftermarket Product Manufacturer Scale Other Information
       

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider