Rickshaw
Mate, I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of highly regarded RAEME guru’s yesterday, regarding the Panhard EBR and the feasibility of relocating its engine, and how it might affect its differential arrangement between its four sets of wheels’ arrangement!
Both agreed, that it wouldn’t be much of a technical issue to move the engine and gearbox rearward, as the vehicle wasn’t amphibious, its CG wasn’t a fundamental issue! In fact, they agreed that by moving the engine to the rear, as I proposed, the complication of the four driveshafts could probably be eliminated and a simpler arrangement could be applied. They also made note of the cooling arrangement and crew comfort would be substantially improved, with a rear-mounted engine arrangement, with separating firewall!
Greg, I enquired into your suggestion of adopting the German Sd.Kfz. 234 8x8 armoured car. One of the RAEME guru’s, made note of an issue he states that they’ve had with the LAV-25/ASLAV series, that he might envisage with a ‘Conon 75mm SA50’ gun armed Sd.Kfz. 234, being that of a disproportionate ‘top-heavy CG’, when operating over harsh open terrain, like that found up North! It was interesting that he noted this ‘top-heavy CG’ with the LAV’s because the American adoption of the vehicle elected to use smaller diameter wheels, as opposed to the larger wheels of the original MOWAG Piranha 8x8 it was based on! (interesting and duly noted, as I’ve operated in LAV’s over the years!). But saying this he admits he’s no expert on the Sd.Kfz. 234!
So at this stage, the Panhard EBR is looking a good option for this Alternative ADF ORBAT, for this given timeframe, with the following modifications/incorporations:
- The original EBR’s four inner metal wheels are replaced with four additional rubber tyres, as used on the main-drive wheels.
- Paramount to the selection of the Panhard EBR, by the Australian Army, was the designs capability to be modified to have its engine relocated, so as to give far better and sensible access for maintenance and replacement in the field. To achieve this, Panhard, in cooperation with the Australian Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Production, redesigned, built, and tested two ‘modified EBR’s to validate the designs capability to meet the Australian Army’s requirements, before it committed to contract and licences-production in Australia.
-To relocate and accommodate the new diesel engine [engine type/design still to be decided!] to the rear chassis and body area required the complete elimination of the rear drivers compartment and steering gear.
Other modifications and incorporation included-
-Attachments for external long-range fuel tanks;
-Attachment points for water Jerry Can’s
-The incorporation of the longer barrels, higher velocity ‘Conon 75mm SA50’ gun, which offered superior anti-tank capability.
P.S. As both a side note and of some relevance to this Alternative ADF ORBAT, I might have finally made some headway in obtaining more information and a contact re Australian Army’s ‘Project Waler’ of 1970-80’s! Which I'm very excited about!!
M.A.D