ASCOD PT-1

ChieftainWarrior · October 3, 2024, 5:10pm

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ASCOD (PT-1)

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TL;DR: First prototype of the joint Austro-Spanish ASCOD program, resulting in the Spanish Pizarro and Austrian Ulan IFVs. Equipped with 30mm Mauser auto-cannon. Features worse armour, worse engine power, much lower weight, and no fire control system, compared to the production vehicles.

History
In the late 1970s, Spain and Austria were equipped with rapidly-aging APCs – the M113 in Spain, and the 4K 7FA in Austria. Both countries sought a modern AFV to complement heavy armour (in Austria, the Leopard 2A4, and in Spain, the AMX-30Es, M48s and M60s [and only later Leopard 2A4s in 1998]).

In 1982, Steyr-Daimler-Puch began the process of development of a new AFV. They contacted Greece, Norway and Switzerland to discuss the requirements. In 1985, Austria’s Bundesheer revealed their requirements for a new IFV, named the Kampfschützenpanzer 90 (KSPz 90). This led to Steyr progressing further with development, but it became clear to them that Austria would not purchase any new IFVs soon, and that development costs would exceed Steyr’s budget.

This led to the formation of ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development) – a merger of Steyr-Daimler-Puch and Santa Bárbara Sistemas. Soon after, the ‘Alexandros’ IFV was proposed by the combined effort of ASCOD and the Greek ELVO (formerly Steyr-Hellas). However, after a change in the Greek government and realising the Alexandros would be too expensive for Greece, ELVO dropped out, but not before handing over documents and design plans they had drawn up. ELVO would then go on to design the Kentaurus, which only saw a single prototype produced.

ASCOD then progressed rapidly in designing a prototype. The hull was produced in Spain, and the turret in Austria. The turret was a further development of the SP 30 turret already used on the Austrian Pandur II IFV in service with Portugal. The first prototype was demonstrated in 1991. The original prototype weighed 18.8t, but over the course of development, this soared to 28.3t (Pizarro Fase 1 combat weight).

The PT-1 was notable in that it was sent to Norway in 1992 for tests, and during these was painted in a Norwegian splinter camouflage. It competed against four other IFVs, including the CV9030, Warrior, and M2 Bradley. It ultimately lost to the CV9030 by 1994. Its fate afterwards is unclear, but it eventually ended up in GDSBS’ Seville factories, after spending time in their technology centre in Paracuellos. Here it was refurbished, and acquired appliqué armour on the hull, as well as some turret mounts. I suspect this was to test the ERA that would be mounted on the production Pizarro, but this is just my speculation. Note: I am not suggesting it with this appliqué armour, I am suggesting it in its original form.

ascod

PT-1 in Norway

pt-1

PT-1 (left) and PT-2 (right). The first two prototypes, and the only ones to have six road-wheels; PT-3 onwards had seven.

In 1994, Spain ordered four pre-production vehicles for further testing, and in 1996, placed an order for a first batch of 144 vehicles. These were called the Pizarro. Austria placed their order in 1999, for what they designated the Ulan. While the two vehicles are very similar, the Ulan has a few noteworthy changes over the Pizarro, notably a more powerful powerpack, and different armour composition.

A second production batch of the Pizarro was also ordered later, with the first Pizarro Fase IIs arriving in the Spanish Army in 2016. Originally 212 vehicles (both VCI/C and engineering variants) were ordered, but this was cut down to 117, 83 of which are the VCI/Cs. The Fase IIs incorporate a number of upgrades, not least of all being a larger hull. These vehicles are identifiable easily by their sideskirts being straighter.

Pizarro Fase II (left) and Ulan (right)

Characteristics

Note: Details regarding the specifications of the ASCOD prototypes are not clear, but most can be reasonably inferred from the information we do have

The ASCOD PT-1 is armed with a two-plane unstabilised German 30mm Mauser MK30-2 auto-cannon. The cannon fires standard 30x173mm ammunition at 200 rounds per minute. It can use a variety of APDS, APFSDS and HE rounds – PMC287 APFSDS has 121mm of penetration at 10m at 0°, firing at 1480m/s, and the more recent PMC359 weighs 40% more and is fired at the same velocity, likely increasing its penetration. It’s worth noting however that PMC359 is a modern round, and if the production Pizarro/Ulan variants were to also be added, it makes sense for the PT-1 to only have APDS rounds. 300 rounds of 30mm ammunition are carried on the production vehicles, likely similar here. The PT-1 also has a coaxial 7.62mm.

The PT-1 was not fitted with a fire control system. It lacks a laser rangefinder, stabiliser, and thermal sights.

The cannon has elevation of -10°/+50° on the production vehicles, and is probably the same for PT-1. The PT-1 has six smoke grenade launchers total, 3 at each end of the turret.

Rear of PT-1 turret.

While the production Pizarro and Ulan have steel armour capable of resisting 14.5mm rounds all-around, and 30mm rounds across the frontal arc, the PT-1 weighs significantly less (1/3) than the production vehicles and as such is most likely resistant to 7.62mm rounds only.

The production Pizarro and Ulan are fitted with spall liners in both the hull and turret, as seen below, but no information is available on whether these were included in the prototypes – presumably not.

Screenshot 2024-09-23 at 14.27.14
Screenshot 2024-09-23 at 14.28.14

The PT-1 is fitted with a diesel engine made by Pegaso, providing 500hp. The transmission used is unknown. With a weight of 18.8t, this gives the PT-1 a power-to-weight ratio of 26.6hp/t. It has a top speed of 70km/h.

Conclusion
The ASCOD PT-1 would be a great option for a premium/event IFV for a future Iberian tree or Alpine tree, complementing the production VCI/C Pizarro / Ulan. It could alternatively be placed in the tech tree, as it would probably sit at around 7.7 with APDS rounds. It would be much more mobile than the production variants, but is much more lacking in firepower and armour.

Specifications
Armament

30mm Mauser MK30-2
- Unstabilised
- 200rpm
- Ammunition
  - MK238 HEI-T
  - APDS
    - 87mm at 0° at 10m
  - PMC287 APFSDS-T
    - 121mm at 0° at 10m
7.62mm MG-3S coaxial
- 3,800 rounds
Vertical guidance
- +50°/-10°