With the arrival of the modern TAM Light Tank/VCTP Infantry Fighting Vehicle series in 1983, the Argentine Army developed several more notable battlefield vehicles based on the original chassis. The original work was charged to Thyssen-Henschel of German (since becoming Rheinmetall Landsysteme) and itself was based on the German Army Marder IFV. However, production of the Argentine vehicles was local and handled out of the TAMSE factory in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Beyond the TAM and VCTP headline designs, there emerged the VCA 155 Self-Propelled Gun platform (detailed elsewhere on this site) and the VCLC (Vehiculo de Combate LanzaCohetes = "Rocket Launcher Combat Vehicle") rocket projector. Design work on the latter began in 1986 with service entry though to be 1995 (along with the VCA 155).
The VCLC retains the same hull form and function of the original VCTP IFV and this includes it German-originated MTU MB 833 Ka-500 series 6-cylinder diesel of 720 horsepower and running gear of six double-tired road wheels to a track side. The drive sprocket is at front and the track idler at rear with three track return rollers used. The engine remains at front right of the hull with the driver at front left. The remainder crew consists of the vehicle commander and two specialists. The glacis plate is well-sloped for inherent ballistics protection while the sides are only slight sloped in their design. The hull roof is kept flat to a powered mounting platform that fits twin 18 x rocket launcher tube batteries. This provides the turret with a full 360-degree traversal for engagement of target areas at all angled. The launcher can further tilt for arced firing at range. The vehicle can carry 36 x 160mm rockets or fewer of the larger 350mm type. Both the rockets and launcher were developed by Israel and can field various warhead types beginning with a standard high-explosive type.
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Specifications
Thyssen-Henschel (Rheinmetall Landsysteme) - Germany / TAMSE - Argentina Manufacturer(s)
FIRE SUPPORT / ASSAULT / BREACHING
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.
26.2 ft (8 meters) Length
10.8 ft (3.3 meters) Width
7.9 ft (2.4 meters) Height
77,162 lb (35,000 kg) Weight
38.6 tons (Medium-class) Tonnage
1 x MTU MB 833 Ka 500 supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engine generating 720 horsepower @ 2,400rpm. Drive System
47 mph (75 kph) Road Speed
323 miles (520 km) Road Range
36 x 160mm rockets OR 18 x 350mm rockets
AMMUNITION
36 x 160mm rockets OR 18 x 350mm rockets
TAMSE VCLC (Vehiculo de Combate LanzaCohetes) - Base series designation.
Images
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Image released to the Public Domain by Wikipedia user Joaqu?n Alvarez Riera, 2008
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