- Yes
- No
- Tech Tree
- GE /Premium/ Battlepass
- No
- USA Tech-Tree
- France Tech-Tree
- Latin american Tech-Tree
- Italian Tech-Tree
- Iraq Tech-Tree
- i voted no
EE-T4 OGUM - The Brazilian Wiesel
During the 1980s, Engesa (Engineers Specialized S/A) boasted an extensive client portfolio, including Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s leadership. In the midst of the conflict with Iran, Iraq expressed the need for a vehicle inspired by the German Wiesel. Engesa promptly responded by introducing a lightweight armored vehicle, designed with tracks, engineered for exceptional flexibility, and capable of performing various mission types, all with a wide range of envisioned versions built on the same chassis.
When Engesa embarked on the Ogum project, the Wiesel was still in development, ultimately being delivered to the German army only by late 1989. The initial prototype was crafted for mechanical testing, and the second was sent to Iraq for field trials, evolving the design over time. Subsequently, a fourth prototype, significantly more sophisticated than the previous three, was equipped with an Engesa turret featuring two 7.62mm machine guns. This version was presented at the First International Military Products Exhibition held in Baghdad in 1989.
Ogum was also offered to other countries, with potential buyers visiting Engesa’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, SP, where an array of demonstrations showcased the vehicle, along with other military vehicles produced there. According to Professor Expedito’s book on Brazil’s armored vehicles, Ogum purportedly participated in a competition in Abu Dhabi in 1988, and is said to have technically outperformed the Wiesel in the tests conducted there. The final result was a remarkably compact vehicle with low ground pressure, aerotransportability, the ability to be parachute-dropped, exceptional speed, great mobility, a wide operational range, and impressively low weight.
Officers of the Venezuelan Army witness a demonstration of the Engesa EE-T4 Ogum light armored reconnaissance vehicle at the manufacturer’s facilities in Brazil on September 24, 1986.
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Visitation by the Delegation from the Iraqi Armored Directorate
Armor
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The structure was a monoblock constructed from bimetallic steel plates, the same material used in the 6x6 wheeled Urutu and Cascavel armored vehicles, known for their high durability. It featured a blend of high-strength steel and 1020 steel, providing it with both structural strength and effective ballistic protection. According to the manufacturer, it could withstand 7.62mm AP caliber rounds.
Engine and Transmission
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As a lighter and more compact armored vehicle, the Ogum received a less powerful engine compared to its “older siblings,” the Urutu and Cascavel. The initial prototype was equipped with a Perkins diesel engine, model QT 20B4, featuring four inline cylinders, turbocharged, and liquid-cooled. This engine produced 125 HP at 16,000 rpm, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 23.15 HP/ton. It had an impressive range of 350 km at 70 km/h on roads.
The transmission was automatic with four forward speeds and one reverse. The chosen model was the AT 545, manufactured by the American company Allison Transmission. This same company developed and produced transmissions for the M1A1 Abrams battle tanks. The AT series, at the time of the Ogum project, was a relatively new product on the market and is now widely used in light and medium commercial vehicles.
The second prototype received a BMW M21 D24WA diesel engine, generating 130 HP at 4,800 rpm. In addition to increased power, this engine led to a slight boost in speed (75 km/h) and extended operational range (360 km). The transmission was replaced with a ZF (Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen) model 4 HP 22.
Compared to the Weasel, the Ogum, regardless of the engine used, had higher horsepower, but the power-to-weight ratio favored the German model (30.7 HP/ton), as it was significantly lighter.
Suspension
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The suspension system doesn’t hold any major surprises, employing a torsion bar design with three shock absorbers and four support wheels on each side. Additionally, there are two steering sprockets at the front (one on each side) and a set of tension wheels at the rear. The tracks were manufactured by the German company Diehl and featured removable track shoes.
Comparison of Size between Ogum and Wiesel
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Engesa EE-T4 Ogum:
- Weight: Approximately 4 tons
- Engine: Perkins QT 20B4 (125 HP) or BMW M21 D24WA (130 HP)
- Maximum Speed: 70-75 km/h
- Range: 350-360 km
- Suspension: Torsion bars with three shock absorbers
- Armored Protection: Effective against 7.62mm AP rounds
Wiesel:
- Weight: Approximately 4.78 tons
- Engine: Deutz F2L 511 diesel (68 HP)
- Maximum Speed: 70 km/h
- Range: Approximately 250 km
- Suspension: Torsion bars with three shock absorbers
- Armored Protection: Effective against 7.62mm AP rounds
Specifications
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(image source: Expedito Carlos Stephani Bastos)
X-ray of the EE-T4 Ogum:
1 — Engine;
2 — Idler wheel;
3 — Hull;
4 — Controlled differential;
5 — Driver’s compartment;
6 — Fuel tank;
7 — Brake system;
8 — Electrical system — 24 volts
Engine Compartment, Turret Compartment, and Driver Compartment
(image source: Expedito Carlos Stephani Bastos)
Drive wheel, track, support roller, guide wheel, and tensioner wheel
(image source: Expedito Carlos Stephani Bastos)
(image source: Expedito Carlos Stephani Bastos)
Versions and Armament
Engesa’s intention was to produce a family of armored vehicles based on the Ogum chassis. The basic production version would be a reconnaissance vehicle equipped with light armament. The proposed versions were:
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ET-7.62 mm twin
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Mounted over the rear of the vehicle is an ENGESA one-man turret armed with twin 7.62 mm machine guns with an elevation of +55º and a depression of -7º with turret traverse a full 360º. In addition to the roof-mounted periscopic sight for aiming the weapons, four observation periscopes can be installed, as can two smoke dischargers either side of the turret.
Anti-tank Missile Carrier
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This would be fitted with a turret that can be traversed through a full 360º and mounted on either side would be an ATGW (Anti-Tank Guided Weapon). The missile launcher was the armament that the company began to manufacture through a subsidiary, Orbita, in partnership with Embraer.
ET-50
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This would be fitted with a one-man turret which has an externally mounted 12.7 mm machine gun with 100 rounds of ready use ammunition and two smoke dischargers mounted either side of the turret. In addition to the roof-mounted periscopic sight, the gunner also has three observation periscopes.
ET-20
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This would be fitted with a one-man turret armed with an externally mounted 20 mm cannon with 100 rounds of ammunition for ready use and a further 200 rounds in reserve in the turret. Weapon elevation is from -10 to +45º with turret traverse a full 360º. In addition to the day/night periscope for aiming the weapons, the gunner also has four observation periscopes.
images
videos
source
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Army Guide
O blindado Engesa EE-T4 Ogum - Forças Terrestres - Exércitos, Indústria de Defesa e Segurança, Geopolítica e Geoestratégia
BASTOS, Expedito. C. S. . Blindados no Brasil - Um londo e árduo aprendizado - Volume 2. 1º. ed. Juiz de Fora: Edição do autor, 2012. v. 2. 604p .
BASTOS, Expedito. C. S. . Uma realidade brasileira: Projetos ainda viáveis. Revista da Cultura, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, p. 42 - 53, 01 dez. 2006.
BASTOS, Expedito. C. S. . Uma realidade brasileira: As exportações dos veículos militares Engesa. Revista da Cultura, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, p. 36 - 41, 01 jun. 2006.
