ELBO Kentaurus
Encyclopedia
Kentaurus is an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) designed and developed by the Greek
vehicle builder ELBO
. Its history is connected with the need for an advanced AIFV by the Greek Armed Forces. The vehicle takes its name from the Greek word for Centaur
the creature from Greek mythology
. After aborted efforts including Leonidas-2
variants and other attempted improvements and joint developments, ELBO
worked entirely on its own, on a new design according to the specifications given at the time by the Hellenic Army
. The resulting AIFV developed by the Greek company, named 'Kentaurus' ('ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ'), was officially introduced in the Defendory
Arms Exhibition in Athens
in 1998, and at that time was one of the most advanced AIFV's in the world. It features a 420hp MTU
Diesel engine, 30 mm EBO cannon and 7.62 mm machine-gun (built on Mauser and Rheinmetall designs), Pyrkal
smoke-grenade launchers, Toxotis computerized fire control system and KUKA turret. The crew is 3+8, maximum speed (street) is 75 km/h and maximum weight is 19.8 tons. However, despite successful intensive tests by the Greek army, its approval, and an initial agreement in 2003 for an order of 140 vehicles, its fate is to this date uncertain due to subsequent cutbacks in relevant military spending, and evaluation of cheaper alternatives.
The vehicle has steel armor, concentrated mostly to the front arc. The front arc is rated as proof to APDS-T rounds of 30x179mm calibre at 1,500 meters, of 25x137mm at 400 meters and of 20x139mm at 30 meters. The sides are proof to 12,7mm AP rounds at 100 meters and fully proof to 7,62mm rounds. The vehicle is proof to artillery shrapnel at 15 meters, and against 2,5kg mines. The vehicle is capable of taking additional passive and reactive armor, and is offered with the option of spall liners inside the vehicle.
The MTU 183TE22 engine has a dry weight of 725kg and requires 19kg of oil and 15kg of cooling fluid to operate. It can operate without problems at temperatures from -46 to +52°C. It can be accessed from a large hydraulic assisted hatch and be removed from the vehicle in 15 minutes. Attached to it is an ZF LSG-1000 gearbox, with a RENK SU-1201C final transmission. There are 6 forward gears and 2 backward.
The 1-man KUKA E-8 turret is made of welded steel and has a low profile. It weighs 1,585kg. Initially it was offered with a Bushmaster II gun of 30mm calibre, but the Kentavros prototype had a licence-produced by EBO (now EAS) Mauser Mk30, also of 30mm. There are 100 APDS-T and 100 HE-I rounds ready to use in the turret, with a further 196 stored inside the hull. The turret traverses at 30° per second, and the gun elevates from -10° to +45°, also at a speed of 30°/second. All movement is done electrically, with a back-up manual system also present.
Secondary armament is a MG3A1 machinegun of 7.62mm. It can be replaced with a 12.7mm heavy machinegun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The turret also has the provision for the addition of AT or AA launchers.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
vehicle builder ELBO
ELBO
ELBO , is a Greek vehicle manufacturer based in Thessaloniki...
. Its history is connected with the need for an advanced AIFV by the Greek Armed Forces. The vehicle takes its name from the Greek word for Centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
the creature from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. After aborted efforts including Leonidas-2
ELBO Leonidas-2
The Leonidas-2 represented an effort made by the Greek vehicle manufacturer ELBO to produce an advanced armoured personnel carrier of its own. It is named after Leonidas, the king of the ancient city-state of Sparta...
variants and other attempted improvements and joint developments, ELBO
ELBO
ELBO , is a Greek vehicle manufacturer based in Thessaloniki...
worked entirely on its own, on a new design according to the specifications given at the time by the Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
. The resulting AIFV developed by the Greek company, named 'Kentaurus' ('ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ'), was officially introduced in the Defendory
Defendory
Defendory is a bi-annual international trade show for the defence industry held in Greece. It is organised in the grounds of Athens’s Ellinikon International Airport, which became defunct following the construction of the New Athens International Airport in Spata.It was first staged in 1980 and the...
Arms Exhibition in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 1998, and at that time was one of the most advanced AIFV's in the world. It features a 420hp MTU
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909...
Diesel engine, 30 mm EBO cannon and 7.62 mm machine-gun (built on Mauser and Rheinmetall designs), Pyrkal
Pyrkal
Founded in 1874, Pyrkal is one of the oldest Defence Industries in Greece and the main producer of ammunition and explosives in the country. Throughout its history it has been one of the largest Greek companies, in fact a reflection of the history of Greek Industry itself...
smoke-grenade launchers, Toxotis computerized fire control system and KUKA turret. The crew is 3+8, maximum speed (street) is 75 km/h and maximum weight is 19.8 tons. However, despite successful intensive tests by the Greek army, its approval, and an initial agreement in 2003 for an order of 140 vehicles, its fate is to this date uncertain due to subsequent cutbacks in relevant military spending, and evaluation of cheaper alternatives.
Description
The hull is made of welded steel. The engine is placed in the front-right compartment, with the driver in the front-left. The turret follows and then the troop compartment. The driver accesses his position either from a roof hatch or from the troop compartment. The commander is situated in the E-8 KUKA 1-man turret behind the driver. The troop compartment is accessed from two rear-doors, as well as from two roof-hatches. The squad leader sits alone, with the rest of the men at the sides in a 3-man and 4-man rows. The troops have two optical periscopes for situational awareness. The interior of the vehicle has been designed to permit comfortable movement for men of up to 1.90m height.The vehicle has steel armor, concentrated mostly to the front arc. The front arc is rated as proof to APDS-T rounds of 30x179mm calibre at 1,500 meters, of 25x137mm at 400 meters and of 20x139mm at 30 meters. The sides are proof to 12,7mm AP rounds at 100 meters and fully proof to 7,62mm rounds. The vehicle is proof to artillery shrapnel at 15 meters, and against 2,5kg mines. The vehicle is capable of taking additional passive and reactive armor, and is offered with the option of spall liners inside the vehicle.
The MTU 183TE22 engine has a dry weight of 725kg and requires 19kg of oil and 15kg of cooling fluid to operate. It can operate without problems at temperatures from -46 to +52°C. It can be accessed from a large hydraulic assisted hatch and be removed from the vehicle in 15 minutes. Attached to it is an ZF LSG-1000 gearbox, with a RENK SU-1201C final transmission. There are 6 forward gears and 2 backward.
The 1-man KUKA E-8 turret is made of welded steel and has a low profile. It weighs 1,585kg. Initially it was offered with a Bushmaster II gun of 30mm calibre, but the Kentavros prototype had a licence-produced by EBO (now EAS) Mauser Mk30, also of 30mm. There are 100 APDS-T and 100 HE-I rounds ready to use in the turret, with a further 196 stored inside the hull. The turret traverses at 30° per second, and the gun elevates from -10° to +45°, also at a speed of 30°/second. All movement is done electrically, with a back-up manual system also present.
Secondary armament is a MG3A1 machinegun of 7.62mm. It can be replaced with a 12.7mm heavy machinegun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The turret also has the provision for the addition of AT or AA launchers.