Transportpanzer 1 Fuchs APC The Transportpanzer 1, or Fuchs (Fox) as it is known, was developed to be an armoured amphibious load carrier utilising commercially available components wherever possible. Following extensive trials with prototype vehicles the main production run was carried out by Thyssen Henschel from 1979 onwards, with production still continuing. From its origins as a load carrier the fully amphibious Transportpanzer 1 has been modified to meet many other requirements, one being as an APC capable of carrying up to 14 troops seated individually in the load compartment (the German Army limits the number of troops carried to ten). As a load carrier the vehicle can carry nearly 3 tonnes of
supplies under armour, with this version being convertible to an armoured ambulance when necessary. However, the Transportpanzer 1 has been adapted for many other purposes, The German Army alone uses the Transportpanzer 1 as a RASIT battlefield surveillance radar carrier, combat engineer carrier, electronic warfare vehicle (without the amphibious capability), command and communications centre, an explosive ordnance disposal vehicle for the German Air Force, and an NBC reconnaissance vehicle. Other nations use the latter variant, including Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The US Army has adopted the NBC vehicle as the M93 Fox and expects to
Germany have over 300 examples; most current production is for this version. Other export variants of the Transportpanzer 1 include an 81 mm mortar carrier, a 120 mm mortar tractor, a general purpose armoured support vehicle, and an IFV version mounting a 20 or 25 mm cannon in an external mounting on the roof. Customers to date (apart from the NBC version) include Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and Venezuela. The armament carried varies according to role and user nation. Most carrier versions are limited to a single 7.62 mm machine gun but other models may have various 12.7 mm MG or 20 mm cannon installations in small turrets or external weapon stations.
