A VBL during a Bastille Day celebration in Paris, France Download high resolution version (1888x1280, 265 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
VBL
General characteristics
Crew	2-3
Length	3.80 m (4.00 m long version)
Width	2.02 m
Height	1.70 m
Weight	3.5 to 4 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour	STANAG level 1 (protection against 7,62 x51 mm OTAN and srapnels)
Main armament	depends on the version
Secondary armament	none
Mobility
Power plant	Peugeot XD3T turbo-diesel hp ( kW)
Suspension	0.35 m ground clearance
Road speed	>100 km/h
Power/weight	hp/tonne
Range	600 km (can be extended to 1000 km with external gas tanks)

The Panhard Véhicule Blindé Léger ("Light armoured vehicle") is a wheeled 4x4 all-terrain vehicle offered in various configurations. It was designed to combine the agility of the Peugeot VLTT liaison vehicle with adequate protection against small arms fire, artillery fragments, mines and NBC weapons. The VBL is fully amphibious and can swim at 5.4 km/h ; it is also air transportable by C-130 and C-160, and the future A400M. Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... A Panhard-Levassor was the first automobile to be introduced in Japan, in 1898 A 1920s Panhard A VBL of the French Army Panhard, originally Panhard et Levassor, is a French automobile manufacturer. ... Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ... A group of “quad bike” all terrain vehicles The term all-terrain vehicle is used in a general sense to describe any of a number of small open motorised buggies and tricycles designed for off-road use. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. ... A P4 from a transportation unit (apparently recently returned from KFOR service) The P4 is a 4-wheel-drive unarmored light vehicle used by the Military of France. ... Small arms captured in Fallujah, Iraq by the US Marine Corps in 2004 The term small arms generally describes any number of smaller infantry weapons, such as firearms that an individual soldier can carry. ... A land mine is a type of self-contained explosive device which is placed onto or into the ground, exploding when triggered by a vehicle, a person, or an animal. ... NBC is an initialism used to indicate nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. ... A DUKW (commonly DUCK), during World War II Propeller on a French VAB An amphibian or amphibious vehicle, is a vehicle that, like an amphibian, can move on land as well as on water. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... The Transall C-160 is a military transport aircraft developed by a consortium of French and German aircraft manufacturers for the air forces of those two nations and that of South Africa. ... The Airbus A400M (M for military) is a four engine turboprop aircraft designed by Airbus Military to meet the demand of European nations for a new military cargo aircraft. ...

The VBL was developed during the 80s and entered operational service in France in 1990. It has a fuel consumption of 16 litres/100 km. This article is about the year. ...

Combat experience

The VBL has been used in many peacekeeping operations, notably in Bosnia, Somalia and Kosovo. Motto: none Anthem: Intermeco Capital (and largest city) Sarajevo Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Government Republic  - Presidency members Haris Silajdžić1 (Bosniak) NebojÅ¡a Radmanović (Serb) Željko KomÅ¡ić (Croat)  - Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan Terzić Independence from Yugoslavia   - Recognized 6 April 1992  Area  - Total 51,197 km² (128th... For other uses of the name Kosovo, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ...

Due to the contribution of the French Army to the Blue Helmets in Yugoslavia, the VBL was one of the ubiquitous sights in the Siege of Sarajevo, earning it the nickname of "Sarajevo Taxi". Peacekeeping is a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace. ... Combatants ARBiH (1992-95) NATO (1995) JNA (1992) VRS (1992-95) Commanders Mustafa Hajrulahović Vahid Karavelić Nedžad Ajnadžić Stanislav Galic (1992-94) Dragomir Milosevic (1994-95) Strength 30,000-70,000 (only 30-40% were properly armed) 30,000 (including irregulars) Casualties Estimated 12,000 dead and 50...

Variants

French versions

• VBL MILAN: Anti-tank medium range (up to 2000 metres) combat. Uses one MILAN missile fire unit and six missiles, with a MIRA Thermal camera.
• VBL ERYX: Anti-tank short range (up to 600 metres) combat. Uses one ERYX missile fire unit and four missiles, as well as MIRABEL thermal googles. Its secondary weapon is a ring-mount fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1400 rounds).
• VB2L POSTE DE COMMANDEMENT: Command version. It operates a VHF system with two PR4G radios, a HF System with one SSB radio for long range and a Radio/intercom system for the crew. Its armament is a ring-mount fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1400 rounds). Specific equipment: A work station with map board and folding table, additional batteries to meet the requirements of the radio and auxiliary services giving up to 8 hours additional endurance, and a folding seat for 4th crewmember.
• VBL RECO 12.7: Reconnaissance and troops engagement. Operates 1 VHF transmitter/receiver (French version), radio/intercom system and one heavy 12.7 mm machine gun on ring-mount protected by side armour (Rate of fire: 485-635 rounds/minute - muzzle velocity: 920 m/s, Effective range: 1500 to 2000 m - Maximum range: 7000 m, Penetration capability: 13 mm at 1200 m - 25 mm at 300 m). Optional equipment : multiple launcher for anti-personnel grenades FLY-K (PL 127) - Rate of fire : 375 rounds/minute - muzzle velocity: 244 m/s, Effective range : against an area: 2200 m; against point target: 1500 m, Fragmentation effect : 15 m - armour penetration: 50 mm.
• VBL AT4CS: Anti-tank very short range (<250 metres). Operates 1 or 2 VHF transmitter/receivers, radio/intercom system, and a x 84 mm AT4CS munitions in ready-use configuration capable of penetrating 550 mm of armour (armoured vehicles without additional protection) or 1.5 m of concrete. Usable dismounted or in confined spaces). Secondary weapon: One ring-mount fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1400 rounds).

Export versions Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese: Milán (listen)) is the main city of northern Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. ... ERYX Type anti-tank Nationality France Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA Date of design Production period 1989 Service duration 1994 Operators Canadian, French, Norwegian armies Variants Number built Specifications Type Diameter 0. ...

• VBL TOW: Anti-tank long range (up to 3750 metres). Radio equipment: 1 or 2 VHF transmitter/receivers. Armament: One infantry-type single TOW tube: Day/night operation using integral night sight system (4 missiles). Secondary weapon: One ring-mount fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (2000 rounds).
• VBL ALBI-MISTRAL: Air defense (currently developed). Radio equipment : 2 VHF PR4G transmitter/receivers (1 for tactical links; 1 for firing system data transmission). Armament: Twin-round ALBI turret firing the MISTRAL "fire-and-forget" air defence missile, 6 missiles including 2 on the fire unit. Secondary weapon: One semi-circular rail fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun (1200 rounds).
• VBL (à flancs redressés) CANON: With an automated 20 mm turret. Radio equipment : 1 VHF transmitter/receiver. Armament: MK 20 Rh 202 automatic 20 mm cannon (Rate of fire: 1000 rounds/minute, Elevation range: - 10° to + 45°, Rounds carried: 260, Munitions loaded: 160 (60 left, 100 right), Sight: ZEISS PERI-Z-16, Optional equipment associated with the turret: laser range finder, thermal imager).
• VBL TOURELLE FERMEE: With a 12.7 mm remotely controlled turret. Radio equipment: 1 or 2 VHF transmitter/receivers. Armament: 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun or automatic 40 mm grenade launcher (Munition capacity: 600 rounds, day/night camera, laser rangefinder).

Note that the reconnaissance version is equipped with TR-VP 213 or PR4G radio, OB 41 and OB 43 night vision goggles and DUK-DUR 440 radiation meter & a dosimeter. A TOW missile being fired from a Jeep. ... Mistral Missile Tactical effective range ... Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... Cross section diagram of dosimeter released by the Federal Civil Defense Authority A dosimeter is any device used to measure an individuals exposure to a hazardous environment, particularly when the hazard is cumulative over long intervals of time, or ones lifetime. ...

Operators

•  Cambodia
•  Djibouti
•  France - 1100 VBLs currently in use.
•  Gabon
•  Greece
•  Indonesia - deployed in 2006 Lebanon UN peacekeeping mission
•  Iran
•  Kuwait
•  Mexico
•  Niger
•  Nigeria
•  Oman
•  Portugal
•  Qatar
•  Rwanda
•  Togo

Image File history File links Flag_of_Cambodia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Djibouti. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Gabon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iran. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kuwait. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Niger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Portugal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Qatar_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Rwanda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Togo. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: VBL

• Data Sheet and pictures to ArmyRecognition.com
• specialoperations.com
• (French) description
• VBL Update
• VBL at Army-Guide.com