The MOWAG MR 8 (WOTAN) is a border force and police armoured personnel carrier.[1] It was developed by Mowag in Switzerland and built under licence in West Germany.[2][3][4]
| MOWAG MR 8-01 WOTAN | |
|---|---|
 MOWAG WOTAN prototype at the Swiss Military Museum | |
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designer | MOWAG Motorwagenfabrik AG Kreuzlingen |
| Manufacturer | Büssing (Germany) Henschel (Germany) |
| Produced | 1963 |
| No. built | 600–700 |
| Variants | SW1, SW2 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8,200 kg (18,100 lb) |
| Crew | SW1: 7 (driver, commander, and five passengers in the rear) SW2: 4 (driver, commander, and two passengers in the rear) |
Main armament | SW2a 20mm autocannon SW2b MG 3 machine gun |
| Engine | 6-cylinder diesel engine Büssing / Henschel / Daimler Benz 118 kW / 161 PS |
| Transmission | ZF transmission, 5 forward gears, 1 reverse |
| Suspension | 4x4 wheeled |
Operational range | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) on road 42 km/h (26 mph) off-road 12 km/h (7 mph) through water |
History
editThe WOTAN was introduced in 1963 in West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) as a Special Vehicle (Sonderwagen) in versions SW1 and SW2 for the Federal Border Guard (Bundesgrenzschutz) and the Readiness (Riot) Police (Bereitschaftspolizei) of the German states.[1][2][3]
The special vehicle SW1 had no armament of its own and featured an unusual split-open observation turret-hatch (cupola), whereas the special vehicle SW2 came in two versions featuring a one-man 360° rotating turret: SW2a with a Hispano-Suiza HS.820 autocannon, later upgraded to a Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 300-round autocannon (carrying 200 HE and 100 AP rounds), and SW2b with a 500-round dismountable MG 3 machine gun.[1][2][3][4] Additionally, the SW2 had three smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret.[1] Both the SW1 and SW2 versions featured roof-mounted Bosch RKLE 90 or Hella KLJ 60 blue police light beacons.[2][3]
The Federal Border Guard referred to the SW1 and SW2, also as Kfz 91 and Kfz 92, respectively Kfz stands for Kraftfahrzeug, meaning motor vehicle.[1] MOWAG delivered the first 20 special vehicles, and around 600–700 were built under license by Büssing and Henschel in West Germany,[1] with the armoured chassis supplied by Blohm+Voss.
Other variants were built, such as a mortar launching vehicle,[1] but these found no buyers. A WOTAN prototype, which was tested by the German Federal Border Guard, is now in the Swiss Military Museum.[5][6] An amphibious version was marketed as the Mowag Grenadier.
The MOWAG MR 8 was replaced from 1983 by the Thyssen-Henschel TM-170 armoured personnel carrier.[7]
Design
editThe four-wheel drive (4×4) vehicle had a small turning radius and was equipped with 2-axle steering. The arrangement of the engine installed in the rear left allowed the crew to park the vehicle and exit from the side and rear.
Variants
edit- MR 8 "SW1": also known as Kfz91. Armoured personnel carrier with a small observation turret-hatch (cupola) and no integral weapon. The turret hatch is split down the centre, allowing it to open vertically, in each half there are three vision blocks.[1] Crew: 7; commander (right-hand side), driver (left-hand side), and five equipped infantry personnel in the rear compartment.[1]
- MR 8 "SW2a": also known as Kfz92. Armoured personnel carrier with a one-man 360° rotating turret, initially equipped with a Hispano-Suiza HS.820 autocannon,[1] later upgraded to a Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 300-round autocannon, and three smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. Crew: 4; commander (right-hand side), driver (left-hand side), and two equipped infantry personnel in the rear compartment.
- MR 8 "SW2b": also known as Kfz92. Armoured personnel carrier equipped with a 500-round dismountable MG 3 machine gun and three smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret.[1] Crew: 4; commander (right-hand side), driver (left-hand side), and two equipped infantry personnel in the rear compartment.
- MR 8-09: 20 mm Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 autocannon upgrade.[1]
- MR 8-20: unguided rocket and ATGM variant, with provision for twin 8 cm unguided missile launchers.
- MR 8-23: heavy fire support and tank hunter vehicle with 90 mm medium-pressure gun and 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and two-man turret.[1]
- MR 9-32: 120 mm mortar carrier.[1]
Gallery
edit-
10th anniversary of the Federal Border Guard (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz) in SW1 armoured personnel carries; parade in the presence of Federal Minister of the Interior Gerhard Schröder and BGS Brigadier General Alfred Samlowski, Lübeck, May 1961. -
SW1 armoured personnel carrier of the Federal Border Guard (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz) guarding the Federal Chancellery ("Palais Schaumburg"), Bonn, May 1975. -
SW1 armoured personnel carriers of the Federal Border Guard (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz) taking part in Exercise Reforger, West Germany, 1986.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carrier". War Machines. London: Marshall Cavendish. 1991–1993. pp. 181–182. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ a b c d Kalinowski, Patrik (2015). "Einsatzfahrzeug: BGxx-xx - Büssing - SW 2 (a.D.)" [Service Vehicle: BGxx-xx - Büssing - SW 2 (retired)] (in German). BOS-FAHRZEUGE.INFO. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ a b c d Kalinowski, Patrik (2015). "Einsatzfahrzeug: Geschützter Sonderwagen II (a.D.)" [Service Vehicle: Armoured Special Vehicle II (retired)] (in German). BOS-FAHRZEUGE.INFO. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ a b "Panzer, Kanonen und andere Waffenträger Geschützter Sonderwagen II (SW II) 4 x 4: beim Bundesgrenzschutz" [Tanks, cannons and other weapon carriers Armoured Special Vehicle II (SW II) 4 x 4: of the Federal Border Guard] (in German). Ashampoo Air & Car Services GmbH & Co. KG. 2015. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ Militärmuseum Full Switzerland
- ^ Marcus Bauer, Nutzfahrzeuge der MOWAG Motorwagenfabrik AG, Fachpresse Goldach, Hudson & Company, 1996 ISBN 9783857380563
- ^ "Military Vehicles Forecast: TM 170 - Archived Report 8/2004". Forecast International: Intelligence Center.