Opal (armoured personnel carrier)
| Opal | |
|---|---|
 WPT Mors | |
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin |  Poland |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Poland |
| Production history | |
| Designer | HSW S.A. |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 11,900 kg |
| Length | 6.45 m |
| Width | 2.86 m |
| Height | 1.865 m |
| Crew | 2 (+ 11 passengers) |
Main armament | 12.7mm NSVT machine-gun |
| Engine | SW680 diesel 245 hp |
| Power/weight | 20 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
The Opal-I is a multi-purpose fully amphibious armoured personnel carrier developed and produced by HSW S.A. in Poland. APC is a development of MT-LB that was produced in HSW under licence. Major changes are reworked nose section and fitted propellers for better floating speed and manoeuvrability, new turret with 12.7 mm NSVT machine-gun instead of old one with 7.62 PKT and powered-up engine. Opal-II is a stretched variant with longer chassis with 7 road wheels on each side, like the 2S1 and MT-LBu and 300 hp (220 kW) SW680T engine.
Variants
[edit]WPT Mors
[edit](WPT for Wóz Pogotowia Technicznego - lit. Technical Support Vehicle) - armoured recovery and repair vehicle with light crane, hydraulic dozerblade, welding equipment and an NBC detection system. The vehicle is a basic support vehicle of mechanized battalions equipped with BMP-1 IFV in Polish Land Forces.[1]
TRI Hors
[edit](TRI for Transporter Rozpoznania Inżynieryjnego - lit. Engineering Reconnaissance Vehicle) - engineering vehicle with basic equipment. In use with Polish Land Forces.[2]
TRI-D Durian
[edit]It's TRI Hors additionally equipped with trailer-mounted UZR-3 mine clearing system. In use with Polish Land Forces.[3]
ISM Kroton
[edit](ISM for Inżynieryjny System Minowania – lit. Engineer Minelaying System, Kroton is Polish for Croton) - Opal-II based engineer vehicle with mine-scattering system UMN mounted on a cargo bed. UMN consists of 4 launchers, each with 20 launch containers for anti-personnel or anti-tank mines. The ISM has a crew of 2 and a combat weight of 15.25 tonnes. It entered service with Polish Land Forces in 2004.[4]
WEM Lotos
[edit]Armoured ambulance vehicle. In service with Polish Land Forces.[5]
ZWD-10R Łowcza-3
[edit](ZWD for Zautomatyzowany Wóz Dowodzenia – lit. Automatic Command Vehicle) - Opal-I based air defence command vehicle equipped with Łowcza system. The troop compartment section of vehicle is higher than in standard vehicle. Also known as LA-3. Vehicle is used by Polish Land Forces.
LSPZRA Sopel
[edit](LSPZRA for lekki samobieżny przeciwlotniczy zestaw rakietowo-artyleryjski – lit. light, self-propelled, anti-aircraft, combined gun and missile system; Sopel is Polish for Icicle) - air defence variant armed with twin 23 mm cannon and two 9M32M "Strela-2M" surface to air missiles. Vehicle designed as air-defence vehicle for mechanized units. Only prototype.[6]
LSPZRA Stalagmit
[edit](Stalagmit is Polish for Stalagmite) - development of Sopel, based on Opal-II, armed with ELOP turret with two 23 mm Model-4216 guns and 4 Grom surface to air missiles. This variant was equipped with more advanced guiding systems. Only prototype.[6]
Bor
[edit]Ammunition re-supply vehicle for artillery units. Only prototype.
References
[edit]- ^ "Militarium - WPT Mors (PL)". Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Hors
- ^ Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Durian
- ^ Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Kroton
- ^ Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Lotos
- ^ a b "Militarium - Sopel/Stalagmit (PL)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2009-02-15.