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Condor (APC)
Encyclopedia
The Rheinmetall
Condor is a 4x4 wheeled armoured personnel carrier
originally designed by Thyssen-Henschel of Germany and manufactured by Henschel Wehrtechnik GmbH.
It is based on the chassis of the UNIMOG
and uses the same key components such as the engine, gearbox and axles. Serviceability is high and the vehicle is easy to maintain since support is readily available from civilian sources.
during the rescue operations following the Battle of Mogadishu highlighted its vulnerability against RPG-7
rocket rounds. One Malaysian soldier was killed when an RPG round penetrated the driver compartment of his vehicle.
The Condor is amphibious
and is air-transportable in C-130 Hercules
and in C-160 Transall type aircraft.
The Malaysian Army
uses mainly the Condor primarily in its armoured personnel carrier
configuration, but variants such as mortar carriers
and ambulances are also in service.
, 8 Condor 2 Malaysia
, 457 Condor 1 Portugal, 12 Condor 1 (operated by Polícia Aérea
- Air Force Policehttp://www.policiaaerea.net/WebAlbum/Condor.html) Thailand, 19 Condor 1 Turkey, 25 Condor 1 (Not in active service, will be out of inventory soon.) Uruguay
, 64 Condor 1 South Korea
,
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...
Condor is a 4x4 wheeled armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
originally designed by Thyssen-Henschel of Germany and manufactured by Henschel Wehrtechnik GmbH.
It is based on the chassis of the UNIMOG
Unimog
Unimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
and uses the same key components such as the engine, gearbox and axles. Serviceability is high and the vehicle is easy to maintain since support is readily available from civilian sources.
Design
The Condor was designed to provide overall protection against small arms, shrapnel and small mines. Combat with the Malaysian ArmyMalaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
during the rescue operations following the Battle of Mogadishu highlighted its vulnerability against RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
rocket rounds. One Malaysian soldier was killed when an RPG round penetrated the driver compartment of his vehicle.
The Condor is amphibious
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....
and is air-transportable in C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
and in C-160 Transall type aircraft.
Variants
The Condor is available in multiple configurations, these include:- Personnel and/or cargo carrier
- Command and control
- ReconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
/ surveillanceSurveillanceSurveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
/ observation - Liaison
- Weapons carrier
- Light air defenceAnti-aircraft warfareNATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
- Anti-riot
- Border control
- LogisticsLogisticsLogistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
/ recovery - AmbulanceAmbulanceAn ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
The Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
uses mainly the Condor primarily in its armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
configuration, but variants such as mortar carriers
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
and ambulances are also in service.
Operators
KuwaitMilitary of Kuwait
Under the constitution of Kuwait, the Emir of Kuwait is the supreme commander of the armed forces with a Minister of Defence who directs the Military of Kuwait through the Chief of the General Staff. The National Guard has its own commander, who reports directly to the minister of defence. Public...
, 8 Condor 2 Malaysia
Military of Malaysia
The Malaysian Armed Forces , the military of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Royal Malaysian Navy , the Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force...
, 457 Condor 1 Portugal, 12 Condor 1 (operated by Polícia Aérea
Polícia Aérea
The Polícia Aérea are a Special Forces unit, a Police unit from Portuguese Air Force. The primary mission of the Air Police is to guarantee the security and immediate defense of the Air Force units in the Portuguese territory. Outside the national territory, it exerts its mission of supporting...
- Air Force Policehttp://www.policiaaerea.net/WebAlbum/Condor.html) Thailand, 19 Condor 1 Turkey, 25 Condor 1 (Not in active service, will be out of inventory soon.) Uruguay
Military of Uruguay
The Armed Forces of Uruguay consist of an army, navy, and air force. These three branches are constitutionally subordinate to the president through the Minister of Defense...
, 64 Condor 1 South Korea
Military of South Korea
The Republic of Korea Armed Forces or ROK Armed Forces, is the armed forces of the Republic of Korea...
,
See also
- British Saxon APC
- Brazilian EE-11 UrutuEE-11 UrutuThe EE-11 Urutu is a 6x6 armored personnel carrier developed in the seventies by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-9 Cascavel Armoured fighting vehicle. The suspension includes Engesa's Boomerang double-axle rear...
- Finnish Sisu XA-180