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Piranha 3

Armored Fighting Vehicle Series

 

Piranha 3 8x8 APC


Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by: Switzerland (8x8 Mark 3C) and others including Belgium (3C), Botswana (3C), Brazil (3C), Denmark (3C & 3H), Ireland (3H), Romania (3C), Spain (3C), and Sweden (10x10 3C)
First Produced/Service Dates: Mark 3= 1996
Mark 3C = 2007?
Mark 3H = 1999?
Manufactured by: General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag (was MOWAG AG)
Crew:

6x6 = Up to 3+11

8x8 = Up to 3+13

10x10 = Up to 3+ 15

Armament: Determined by Variant/Version (From 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun to 105mm Cannon).  Otherwise, as fitted by user.
Engine: 6 Cylinder Turbo-Diesel (multiple options)
Miscellaneous Info: Even with the success of the Piranha 1 and Piranha 2 series of vehicles, MOWAG continued development of the Piranha family and released the much improved Piranha 3 series. MOWAG continued the flexible concept of design that served them well in the past, but also added modular ballistic armor which allows for the relatively simple addition of upgradable protection packages.  Other improvements to the Piranha 3 series over previous versions was a higher level of mobility and higher payload capacity.  In addition, other vehicle systems were brought up to more modern levels.  These include the fitting of an Anti-Lock Braking System-ABS, Centralized Tire Inflation System-CTIS, Fire/Explosion Suppression System, NBC Detection/Protection, etc. 

As was the norm, the Piranha 3 series was designed to fulfill many different requirements and missions, most notably by the ability to build the vehicle in 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 configurations; although reportedly no 6x6 variants were ever fielded.  Possible variants/duties are air defense, ambulance, anti-tank, APC, armored sensor vehicle, cargo transport, command post, fire support, heavy weapons carrier, infantry combat vehicle, maintenance, mortar carrier, repair/recovery and reconnaissance.


The initial baseline Piranha 3 vehicles seem to have never been fielded in any configuration.  However, a slightly longer version, the Piranha, 3H, was quickly developed and fielded by Denmark and Ireland.  Subsequently, an even larger vehicle was developed, the Piranha 3C, which appears to be the most successful of the family in terms of versions and variants in service.  Besides the great success of the Piranha 3 series, a number of iconic vehicles were derived from the 8x8 platform including the Canadian LAV III, New Zealand's NZLAV and USA's Stryker IFV Series.
Data Sheet Available:   Piranha 3 AFV Series Sales Brochure via General Dynamics European Land Systems - MOWAG AG

Piranha 3 Variants with Separate Indices available at WarWheels.net

Vehicle Vehicle

 


Other Photos               

Reference

Source/Provider

  Piranha 3 8x8 Vehicle Photo (Above)

Neil Baumgardner - Arlington, Virginia USA
  Belgian Piranha 3C 8x8 Vehicle Line-Up Photo William Testaert - Brussels, Belgium
Piranha 3C 8x8 Vehicle Photos Neil Baumgardner
      Belgian Piranha 3C 8x8 Ambulance Photos William Testaert
Belgian Piranha 3C 8x8 Fuselier Armored Infantry Vehicle Photos Belgian Ministry of Defence
Belgian Piranha 3C 8x8 Repair & Recovery Vehicle Photos Belgian Ministry of Defence
  Danish Piranha 3C 8x8 APC Photo Danish Defence Command
      Piranha 3C 10x10 AFV Photos  Guenther Neumahr - Bern, Switzerland
    Piranha 3H 8x8 Ambulance Photos MOWAG AG
Piranha 3H 8x8 Vehicle Photos MOWAG AG

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
"New Pirahna III, The"  By Raymond Surle'mont Armored Car - The Wheeled Fighting Vehicle Journal (Issue #36)
Piranha 3 Vehicle Series Information & Photos Army Recognition.com
Piranha 3 Vehicle Series Information & Photos Army-Technology.com
Piranha 3C Vehicle Series Information & Photos Military-Today.com
Piranha 3H Vehicle Series Information & Photos Military-Today.com

Printed

Reference Author
Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (4th Edition) Christopher F. Foss
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
       
Aftermarket Product Manufacturer Scale Other Information
       

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider