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The Berliet VXB-170 is a four-wheel armoured vehicle used primarily as an internal security vehicle. Developed and initially produced by Berliet until Berliet was merged with Saviem to form Renault Trucks (now Arquus),[1] it lost to the Saviem VAB the competition to equip the French Army, even though it was cheaper than its competitor. Production stopped after fewer than 200 vehicles had been produced.
| VXB-170 | |
|---|---|
 A French Gendarmerie VXB | |
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1973 – present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Berliet |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12.7 tonnes (12.5 long tons) |
| Length | 5.99 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Width | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) |
| Crew | 3 |
| Passengers | 6 to 8 troops |
| Armor | 7 mm |
Main armament | 1 × 7.62 mm machine gun |
Secondary armament | 56 mm grenade launcher |
| Engine | Berliet V800M 8-cylinder diesel engine 170 hp (130 kW) |
| Power/weight | 23 hp/t |
| Suspension | wheeled |
Operational range | 750 km (470 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) |
History edit
In 1967, the BL-12 was presented as a concept for the French military for transportation.[2]
It was selected in 1972 by the French Gendarmerie, but it lost out to the Saviem VAB the competition for equipment of the French Army. Following the merger of Berliet and Saviem under the Renault brand in 1974, became redundant in the brand product offering so production was stopped soon after the Gendarmerie order was complete.
The VXB-170 was known as Véhicule blindé à roues de la Gendarmerie ("Gendarmerie wheeled armoured vehicle") or VBRG.[2]
Design edit
The VXB-170 has a V8 170 hp engine has a top speed of 80 km/h.[2] It can cover inclines of 60% and transverse cambers of 30%.[2]
It has a small turret on the roof that can be equipped with a 7.62mm machine gun.[3]
Variants edit
The VXB-170 was developed under the following:[3]
- internal security (procured by the Gendarmerie in 4 versions : basic vehicle, command vehicle, blade vehicle, and winch vehicle)
- reconnaissance and patrol
- light combat.
Operators edit
Current operators edit
France - 155 VXBs were procured from 1974 for the mobile units of the French Gendarmerie, of which about 70 remain in service in continental France, Corsica and the French overseas territories (as of 2018). Called "VBRG" (Véhicule Blindé à Roues de la Gendarmerie, "Gendarmerie wheeled armoured vehicle"), it is usually equipped with a 7.62 mm (cal.30) AANF1 machine gun and a 56 mm ALSETEX Cougar grenade launcher. Some vehicles feature a bulldozer blade, others have a winch. They have been deployed by the Gendarmerie in Kosovo and Ivory Coast.[4] They have been also used in both Overseas and Metropolitan France.[5]
Gabon - 12.[6] 15 reported in service as of 2019.[7]
Senegal - 12[8]
Former civilian operators edit
Tunisia - 10 (for police, now retired)[citation needed]
Former evaluation-only operators edit
South Africa - 1 (considered for Ratel prototype)[9]
Gallery edit
-
VBRG version -
VBRG version -
VBRGs during a demo -
VBRG, internal view -
VBRG "Blade" version -
VBRG "Winch" version
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Renault Trucks Defense renamed Arquus | Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
- ^ a b c d "Presentation of BL12 at Satory | Arquus - A century of military history".
- ^ a b "VXB-170 4x4 APC wheeled armored vehicle personnel carrier data | French army france wheeled armoured vehicle UK | French army military equipment vehicle UK". 29 January 2024.
- ^ Clerc, Marc. "Histoire et évolution des moyens blindés depuis la deuxième guerre mondiale". Revue de la Gendarmerie nationale (in French). No. 262. pp. 19–29.
- ^ "Gilets jaunes. Que sont les VBRG, ces véhicules blindés de la gendarmerie déployés à Paris ?". Ouest France (in French). 8 December 2018.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. Taylor & Francis. p. 467. ISBN 9781032012278.
- ^ "Gabon unveils new VN1 armoured vehicles | defenceWeb". 23 August 2019.
- ^ "Armored vehicles market 2019" (PDF). rfventures.co. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Stefan, Marx. The VAB Family of Armoured Vehicles: NG and Improved Vehicles, Upgrades. pp. 1–40.