- Yes
- No
Cardoen Piraña I 6x6 Alacrán - 81 mm Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla launcher
History:
In 1980 Chile obtained the contract for the licensed production of the Mowag Piranha I being one of the few countries to build these vehicles, production began in 1983 by the Chilean company Industrias Cardoen which was in charge of the construction of the Piraña I in its 6x6 version building hundreds of these vehicles and equipping them with different turrets and armaments. In this suggestion we will see the version with the 81 mm Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla launcher.
The Cardoen Piraña I 6x6, built in Chile, follows the original model of the Swiss Mowag, also retaining its amphibious capacity, so it keeps the propellers for the water at the rear of the vehicle. The driver is located in the front left of the vehicle right next to the engine and the crew behind the driver in the middle of the vehicle. The vehicle has 8mm armor, which protects it from 7.62mm machine gun fire and explosive shrapnel, making it vulnerable to larger-caliber fire. The biggest advantage of this vehicle is its great mobility and speed.
During the 1980s, Industrias Cardoen tested various weapons on the Piraña I 6x6, promoting different versions to potentially be sold to the Chilean army or abroad. One of these versions carried a twin 81 mm Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla launcher capable of firing high-explosive anti-tank ammunition.
It is most likely that Cardoen reached an agreement with the Chilean Navy to borrow or buy a twin 81mm Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla launcher, as this had previously been used on the Mowag Grenadier MRS-80, which was operated by the Chilean Marines during the Beagle Channel conflict that almost escalated into a war with Argentina.
The Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla twin 81mm rocket launcher has 18 ready-to-fire anti-tank grenades, 9 in each launcher, and the spacious vehicle can carry up to 18 more for reloading. The weapon’s maximum reload speed is just 0.4 seconds, allowing it to discharge all the launcher’s ammunition in a short period. The guns have a depression of -10° and an elevation of 20°, which is quite good for positioning on high ground and attempting to ambush enemy vehicles. The guns can rotate 360°, so it’s not necessary to rotate the vehicle to get a good shot.
The Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla 81mm twin launcher can fire two types of ammunition. The first is the PL-3, which is a HEAT anti-tank grenade capable of penetrating up to 330mm of armor at 0° incidence at any distance. The second ammunition is the SSK 032, which is a high-explosive fragmentation grenade with a larger explosive charge used for lightly armored targets, infantry, or fortifications.
Finally, what happened to this prototype is unknown, although it is most likely that it was not acquired by either the Chilean army or any foreign client, the project being abandoned, since the only photos I have found are from its presentation at FIDA 86, which was an international military fair held in Chile in 1986, and another photo during its field tests.
Specifications:
- Crew:
- 3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver)
- Armament:
- Primary: 2x 81 mm Oerlikon Typ 3Z 8Dla launchers
- Dimensions:
- Length: 5.97 m
- Width: 2.5 m
- Height: 1.85 m (without turret)
- Weight: 10.5 t (vehicle)
- Maneuverability :
- Engine: Detroit diesel 6V-53T, 300 hp at 2800 rpm
- Max. speed on roads: 100 km/h
- Speed in water: 10.5 km/h
- Transmission: Allison MT-653 automatic with 5 forward and 1 reverse gears
- Turning circle: 11.3 m
- Gradient: 70%
- Side slope: 30%
- Vertical obstacle: 0.5 m
Sources:
- Piraña 6x6, la navaja suiza de Chile
- Chile, Industrias Cardoen, Uso Militar y Civil | PDF
- U-SH 405 | War Thunder Wiki
- Jane’s Armoured Fighting Vehicle Retrofit Systems 1993-94
- Jane’s Military Vehicles and Logistics 1994-95
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery Upgrades 2006-2007
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery 1979-80
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery 1993-94
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery 1994-95
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery 2011-12
- International Defense Review 7/1983