TABC-79

KEY RECOGNITION

• Box type hull with nose sloping back under hull front, trim vane folds back onto glacis plate, two windows in hull front with shutters above, horizontal hull top, vertical hull rear

• Upper part of hull slopes slightly inwards as does lower half, two large wheels either side with door in lower half of hull

• Turret mounted towards front of vehicle has flat top and well sloped sides

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Crew: 3+4 Configuration: 4x4 Armament: 1 x 14.5mm MG, 1 x 7.62mm MG Ammunition: 500 x 14.5mm, 2,000 x 7.62mm Length: 5.64m Width: 2.805m Height: 2.335m (with turret) Ground clearance: 0.485m Wheelbase: 2.9m Weight, combat: 9275kg Weight, empty: 8575kg Power-to-weight ratio: 16.66hp/tonne Engine: Turbocharged diesel developing 154hp Maximum road speed: 85km/hr Maximum road range: 700km Fuel capacity: Not available Fording: Amphibious Vertical obstacle: 0.3m Trench: 0.70m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 30% Armour: 8mm (maximum)(estimate) Armour type: Steel NBC system: Yes Night vision equipment: Yes

The TA8C-79 (4x4) APC was developed specifically to meet the requirements of the Romanian Army and uses some automotive components of the TAB-77 (8x8) APC.

The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left with the vehicle commander to his right. Mounted on the roof to the rear of the commander's and driver's position is the oneman manually operated turret which is the same as that fitted to the TAB-71M (8x8), TA8-77 (8x8) and the Mountaineers Combat Vehicle. This is armed with one 14.5mm and one 7.62mm machine gun with total ammunition capacity being 500 rounds of 14.5mm and 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm.

The engine compartment is at the rear of the vehicle on the left side and in addition to the entry doors in either side there is also a door in the hull rear on the right side as well as a single roof hatch.

Standard equipment includes infra-red night vision equipment and an NBC system. The TABC-79 (4x4) APC is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by a single waterjet mounted at the rear of the hull. Before entering the water the bilge pumps are switched on and the trim vane erected at the front of the hull. When not required this lays back on the glacis plate.

TAB-79A PCOMA, armoured artillery observation post vehicle, armed with 7.62mm machine gun. TAB-79R, self-propelled 82mm mortar system which can also be deployed away from the vehicle if required. TABRCH-84, armoured chemical and radiological reconnaissance vehicle, no turret, fitted with racks of pennants to mark contaminated areas. Armed with 7.62mm pintlemounted machine gun. TCG-80, this is an unidentified variant, may be a recovery vehicle. AM 425, latest version of TAB-79 APC

The chassis is used as basis for Romanian equivalent of the Russian SA-9 SAM, the

Production complete. In service with Romania.

RATMIL RA.