Referenz-Foto CD "TPz Fuchs A8A14"

Photo CD with reference photos for the military / vehicle enthusiasts and modellers.
Overall views and details from all areas of vehicle.
70 photos in JPG format (playable in any standard PC with CD drive and many current DVD players)

The Fuchs TPz 1 A8A14 armored personnel carrier is a specialized version of the 6×6 wheeled armored personnel carrier "Fuchs," introduced in the 1970s and continuously developed. The name is a combination of the modernized A8 basic configuration and the installation kit no. 14. While the A8 basic configuration significantly increases protection and survivability in operations, the installation kit no. 14 transforms the Fuchs into a mobile command and control center for indirect fire, making it an indispensable link in the network of artillery and fire support forces.

The A8 combat upgrade brought a number of technical improvements: a reinforced hull floor and additional structural reinforcements protect the crew against mines and IEDs; decoupled seats reduce the impact of explosions; and the chassis suspension, doors, and wheel arches were reinforced to meet the increased protection requirements. In addition, the Fuchs A8 received a modernized electrical system and power supply to reliably operate the additional systems of the special variants.

The A8A14 version differs only slightly from other Fuchs A8s on the outside, but inside, the transport or crew compartment is converted into a command and work zone. Several control consoles, radio and computer racks, large-scale situation map systems, and interfaces for digital fire control data characterize the equipment. Additional antenna systems and mast installations are also planned, as is air conditioning and a powerful power supply for operating the complex electronics. This enables the A8A14 to collect data from observers and sensors, calculate fire orders, and forward them to the assigned artillery or mortar batteries – protected, mobile, and highly networked.

The basic technical specifications of the Fuchs A8 remain valid for the A14 version: The vehicle is 6.83 m long, 2.98 m wide, and approximately 2.50 m high (without additional superstructures). Its combat weight is between 20 and 22 tons, depending on the variant. The engine is a Mercedes-Benz OM 402A V8 diesel engine with 320 hp (235 kW), enabling a top speed of approximately 105 km/h. The road range is approximately 800 km. The crew typically consists of a driver, commander, and radio operator/operator, supplemented by the specialists of the respective installation kit.

The A8 equipment level was introduced into the military in 2008, particularly for vehicles deployed in Afghanistan, where protection against mines and booby traps was paramount. Installation kit 14 is used by the artillery troops, where it serves as a command and fire control vehicle. Exact numbers of the A8A14 have not been publicly published, but the Bundeswehr has a total of around 900 Fuchs vehicles in various variants, a growing number of which have been upgraded to A8 standards.

The A8A14 combines the high protection and mobility standards of the modernized Fuchs with the specific ability to perform command and fire control tasks at the level of a mobile command post – making it a specialist for modern, digitalized artillery command.