The Renault VBC-90 (Véhicule Blindé de Combat, or "Armoured Combat Vehicle") is a six-wheeled French armoured car carrying a 90mm high-velocity gun mated to a sophisticated fire control computer and ranging system. It was developed primarily for internal security or armed reconnaissance purposes. Modeled after Renault's Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) armoured personnel carrier, the VBC-90 was engineered in concert with Saviem and Creusot-Loire.[2] One was also built in prototype form by Argentina under license, where it was known as the Vehículos de Apoyo y Exploración.[3] VBC-90s were available with various chassis configurations resembling both the VAB and the Berliet VXB-170.[2]
The VBC-90 was developed by Renault and Saviem as a specialized reconnaissance and fire support variant of the Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé.[2] It had a very wide turret ring and was manufactured specifically to carry a large-calibre gun system. At least two prototypes had been completed by 1979 and were initially designated VCS-90.[2] The first two had boat-shaped hulls and glacis plates reminiscent of the VXB-170 and VAB, respectively. They essentially resembled six-wheeled variants of these vehicles, albeit with larger turret rings.[2] The third had a more unique hull and a sloping glacis plate. It was this variant which was eventually accepted for production as the VBC-90.[2]
Unlike the VAB, the VBC was not developed to meet a French Army requirement and was intended solely for export to French military clients overseas.[4] Nevertheless, from 1981, the French government ordered 28 VBC-90s for a single squadron of the Mobile Gendarmerie, as a replacement for the ageing AMX-13 light tanks. The last one was delivered in 1984.[5] VBCs produced by Renault for the Gendarmerie were designated VBC-90G.[6] Another 6 were delivered to Oman between 1984 and 1985 as part of a much larger shipment of VABs for the Royal Omani Guard.[7]
Oman has since announced it will be phasing out its VBC-90s in favor of the much more heavily armed B1 Centauro.[8] The French gendarmerie relegated its VBCs to reserve storage in the early 2000s.[9]
A simplified VBC-90 variant known as the Vehículos de Apoyo y Exploración (VAPE) was developed for Argentina by Renault. It was trialled alongside a much heavier model of the ERC 90 Sagaie offered by Panhard, but neither of the two were adopted by the Argentine Army.[3]
In 2014, Lebanon was lobbying for the purchase of an undisclosed number of VBC-90s. The deal was to be partly financed with military grants from Saudi Arabia[10] but was frozen in 2016 due to tensions between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.[11]
Specificationsedit
It has a steel hull armoured to protect against small arms fire. It has a crew of three, with the driver sitting at the front of the vehicle with three bullet-proof windows provided for the driver. A GIAT TS 90 turret carries the commander and gunner, and carries an armament of a 90 mm cannon with a co-axial 7.62 mm machine gun. 20 rounds of 90 mm ammunition are carried in the turret, with a further 25 rounds in the hull.[1]
It is powered by a six-cylinder diesel engine mounted at the rear of the hull, driving a 6x6 drive. The vehicle is not amphibious, unlike the VAB on which it was based.[1]
^ abcdefPretty, Ronald. Jane's Weapon Systems, 1979–80 (1979 ed.). Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. pp. 317–367. ISBN978-0-531-03299-2.
^ abSánchez Rubio, Rodolfo. Carrera armamentista en el Cono Sur de América 1940-1981: teoría y práctica. Estado Mayor General del Ejercito (Chile) 1985. OCLC 20069482 p 141.
^Kolodziej, Edward A. "Making and Marketing Arms: The French Experience and Its Implications for the International System." Princeton University Press, 2014. ISBN1-40085-877-1. pp 274–275.
^Avis présenté au nom de la commission des Affaires étrangères de la Défense et des Forces armées, sur le projet de loi de finances pour 1986, adopté par l'Assemblée Nationale (PDF). Première Session Ordinaire 1985-1986 (Report). p. 8.
^ ab"Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
^(PDF). Institute for National Security Studies. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ abMerchet, Jean-Dominique (19 February 2009). . secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
^ ab. IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^Lamigeon, Vincent (22 February 2016). "L'Arabie Saoudite torpille le méga-contrat d'armement Donas". Challenges.
Foss, Christopher F. Jane's Armour and Artillery 1987–88. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1987. ISBN0-7106-0849-7.
Foss, Christopher F. Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide. London: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. ISBN0-00-712759-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to VBC-90.
Presentation (French)
May 01, 2024
renault, véhicule, blindé, combat, armoured, combat, vehicle, wheeled, french, armoured, carrying, 90mm, high, velocity, mated, sophisticated, fire, control, computer, ranging, system, developed, primarily, internal, security, armed, reconnaissance, purposes, . The Renault VBC 90 Vehicule Blinde de Combat or Armoured Combat Vehicle is a six wheeled French armoured car carrying a 90mm high velocity gun mated to a sophisticated fire control computer and ranging system It was developed primarily for internal security or armed reconnaissance purposes Modeled after Renault s Vehicule de l Avant Blinde VAB armoured personnel carrier the VBC 90 was engineered in concert with Saviem and Creusot Loire 2 One was also built in prototype form by Argentina under license where it was known as the Vehiculos de Apoyo y Exploracion 3 VBC 90s were available with various chassis configurations resembling both the VAB and the Berliet VXB 170 2 VBC 90TypeArmoured carPlace of originFranceService historyIn service1981 2010Used bySee OperatorsProduction historyManufacturerRenault Vehicules Industriels Creusot LoireNo built34Specifications 1 Mass13 500 kilograms 29 800 lb Length8 135 m 26 ft 8 3 in gun forward 5 63 m 18 ft 6 in Width2 50 m 8 ft 2 in Height2 552 m 8 ft 4 5 in Crew3Armour6 8 mmMainarmament90 mm rifled gunSecondaryarmament1 7 62 mm coaxial machine gun4 smoke dischargersEngineRenault MIDS 06 20 45 6 cylinder water cooler turbocharged diesel engine220 hp 160 kW Power weight16 hp tonneSuspension6x6 wheelOperationalrange1 000 km 620 mi Maximum speed92 km h 57 mph Contents 1 Development History 2 Specifications 3 Operators 3 1 Former operators 3 2 Potential operators 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment History editThe VBC 90 was developed by Renault and Saviem as a specialized reconnaissance and fire support variant of the Vehicule de l Avant Blinde 2 It had a very wide turret ring and was manufactured specifically to carry a large calibre gun system At least two prototypes had been completed by 1979 and were initially designated VCS 90 2 The first two had boat shaped hulls and glacis plates reminiscent of the VXB 170 and VAB respectively They essentially resembled six wheeled variants of these vehicles albeit with larger turret rings 2 The third had a more unique hull and a sloping glacis plate It was this variant which was eventually accepted for production as the VBC 90 2 Unlike the VAB the VBC was not developed to meet a French Army requirement and was intended solely for export to French military clients overseas 4 Nevertheless from 1981 the French government ordered 28 VBC 90s for a single squadron of the Mobile Gendarmerie as a replacement for the ageing AMX 13 light tanks The last one was delivered in 1984 5 VBCs produced by Renault for the Gendarmerie were designated VBC 90G 6 Another 6 were delivered to Oman between 1984 and 1985 as part of a much larger shipment of VABs for the Royal Omani Guard 7 Oman has since announced it will be phasing out its VBC 90s in favor of the much more heavily armed B1 Centauro 8 The French gendarmerie relegated its VBCs to reserve storage in the early 2000s 9 A simplified VBC 90 variant known as the Vehiculos de Apoyo y Exploracion VAPE was developed for Argentina by Renault It was trialled alongside a much heavier model of the ERC 90 Sagaie offered by Panhard but neither of the two were adopted by the Argentine Army 3 In 2014 Lebanon was lobbying for the purchase of an undisclosed number of VBC 90s The deal was to be partly financed with military grants from Saudi Arabia 10 but was frozen in 2016 due to tensions between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia 11 Specifications editIt has a steel hull armoured to protect against small arms fire It has a crew of three with the driver sitting at the front of the vehicle with three bullet proof windows provided for the driver A GIAT TS 90 turret carries the commander and gunner and carries an armament of a 90 mm cannon with a co axial 7 62 mm machine gun 20 rounds of 90 mm ammunition are carried in the turret with a further 25 rounds in the hull 1 It is powered by a six cylinder diesel engine mounted at the rear of the hull driving a 6x6 drive The vehicle is not amphibious unlike the VAB on which it was based 1 Operators edit nbsp Map with VBC 90 operators in blue Former operators edit nbsp Oman 7 nbsp France 9 Potential operators edit nbsp Lebanon 10 Gallery edit nbsp nbsp nbsp References edit a b c Foss 1987 pp 179 181 a b c d e f Pretty Ronald Jane s Weapon Systems 1979 80 1979 ed Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd pp 317 367 ISBN 978 0 531 03299 2 a b Sanchez Rubio Rodolfo Carrera armamentista en el Cono Sur de America 1940 1981 teoria y practica Estado Mayor General del Ejercito Chile 1985 OCLC 20069482 p 141 Kolodziej Edward A Making and Marketing Arms The French Experience and Its Implications for the International System Princeton University Press 2014 ISBN 1 40085 877 1 pp 274 275 Avis presente au nom de la commission des Affaires etrangeres de la Defense et des Forces armees sur le projet de loi de finances pour 1986 adopte par l Assemblee Nationale PDF Premiere Session Ordinaire 1985 1986 Report p 8 Senat Avis Premiere Session Ordinaire de 1986 1987 Tome V a b Trade Registers Armstrade sipri org Retrieved 20 June 2013 Oman PDF Institute for National Security Studies Archived from the original on 28 July 2016 Retrieved 28 July 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link a b Merchet Jean Dominique 19 February 2009 La gendarmerie va cannibaliser ses vehicules blindes secretdefense blogs liberation fr Archived from the original on 14 June 2020 Retrieved 5 October 2019 a b New Saudi donation to Lebanon raises doubts about USD3 billion pledged in 2013 IHS Jane s 360 Archived from the original on 2 September 2014 Retrieved 23 May 2015 Lamigeon Vincent 22 February 2016 L Arabie Saoudite torpille le mega contrat d armement Donas Challenges Foss Christopher F Jane s Armour and Artillery 1987 88 London Jane s Yearbooks 1987 ISBN 0 7106 0849 7 Foss Christopher F Jane s Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide London HarperCollins Publishers 2002 ISBN 0 00 712759 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to VBC 90 Presentation French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title VBC 90 amp oldid 1192563322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
