ACEC Cobra
Encyclopedia
The ACEC Cobra is an armored personnel carrier with amphibious
capabilities. It was developed by Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi (ACEC) along with the Belgian Army. The Cobra was the fifth vehicle prototype of an experimental project to create a vehicle with an electric transmission. The electric transmissions made the vehicle lighter and have more room than previous vehicles. The vehicle was completed in October 1985, but never made it into active service because the Cold War
ended in 1989/1990.
When the Cobra went through performance training in Detroit, the test drivers stated that the electric transmission gave the Cobra equal, if not better, performance and maneuverability than vehicles with mechanical transmissions.
The vehicle provided its passengers with protections from small arms fire, small armour piercing projectiles, and shell splinters.
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
capabilities. It was developed by Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi (ACEC) along with the Belgian Army. The Cobra was the fifth vehicle prototype of an experimental project to create a vehicle with an electric transmission. The electric transmissions made the vehicle lighter and have more room than previous vehicles. The vehicle was completed in October 1985, but never made it into active service because the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
ended in 1989/1990.
When the Cobra went through performance training in Detroit, the test drivers stated that the electric transmission gave the Cobra equal, if not better, performance and maneuverability than vehicles with mechanical transmissions.
The vehicle provided its passengers with protections from small arms fire, small armour piercing projectiles, and shell splinters.
Variants
Of the Cobra, two basic versions have been developed, using identical automotive components:- Cobra APC: has a crew of two and carries up to 10 fully equipped infantrymen. Armed with a roof-mounted 12.7mm M2HB machine gun. Optionally, the .50cal machine gun could be replaced by cannons up to 25mm. Some versions had a bow-mounted 7.62mm machine gun MAGFN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
. This version could also be used as the basis for a mortar carrier. - Cobra AFV: with a crew of three and fitted with a turret for cannons up to 90mm. One prototype was equipped with an AK 90 E two-man electrical turret, armed with Cockerill's KEnerga 90/46 gun and fiited with the OIP LRS-5 fire control system with ballistic computer, day/night sight and a laser rangefinder. Another version had the Cockerill C-25 two-man turret with Oerlikon KBB 25mm gun and 7.62mm coax machine gun.
