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Background  —  Taurus Armoured Recovery Vehicle  (for Leopard)

Also see: ARV 3 Büffel (Bergepanzer 3), a new Leopard 2-based armoured recovery vehicle in Afghanistan for use with Leopard 2 A6Ms.

Sign of the Bull – the Taurus Armoured Recovery Vehicle The first airlift of  CF Leopard  tanks  to Kandahar included a Taurus ARV –  a Leopard-chassised Armoured Recovery Vehicle. The age of CF Leopards suggests that sending the Taurus was prudent. But, so far, the 28-years old Leopards have proven surprisingly spry (a 60km+ move into Panjwaii without mechanical incidents is a testament to maintenance personnel – and to those who reconditioned the tanks). But the Taurus ARV has other uses in the yard  –  including the pulling of MTU powerpacks (at left) and, in a pinch, Taurus can pull  the entire Leopard C2  turret, 105mm gun included.

Taurus has an extensible hydraulic crane  which traverses through 270°. While hoisting, a ’dozer blade [1] gives stability. The blade also anchors the Taurus while using its drum winch  (right).  Rigging a snatch block to the crane, increases pulling power up to 70 t  –  through the pulley’s force multiplication. The winch’s cable has a useable length of up to 90m, which should allow Taurus to ‘unstick’ any bogged Leopard. Disabled vehicles can be towed behind the Taurus like a tow  truck.  Powerpacks are carried  on the  rear deck.

A Taurus acts  as a ‘ Mobile  Repair Team’ vehicle  for the Leopards and is  even  expected to refuel the tanks at times. Although based on the Leopard 1 chassis,  the Taurus casement has more in common with the CF’s Badger AEV. Both types are fitted with add-on armour for the Afghan deployment.

MaK Taurus [3]  Armoured Recovery Vehicle  –  Specifications   Crew:   2-4  driver,  commander, (opt. radio op, gunner)   Armament:   2 x 7.62mm C6 (1 in glacis plate/1 on hatch)  [4]   Size:   L x 7.57m (hull), W x 3.25m, H x 2.7m (overall)  Weight:   39,200 kg (empty),  39,800 kg (combat weight)   Powerplant:    610 kW multi-fuel MTU MB838 V10,  ZF trans.   Speed/Range:   Max: 65km/h / Operating Range: 850km (road)   Capabilities:   Max hook strength 20 t,  Max winch pull  35 t

[1] Obviously, this blade also allows the Taurus to carry out dozing operations. However, the blade is not as robust as that of the Badger (or attached to some Leopards). This is, in part, to allow sufficient access to the main drum winch (and its access door) in the glacis plate. [2] This image © PW Fredenburg.  No re-use of  this copyrighted image elsewhere without the written permission of Paul W. Fredenburg. [3] The Taurus name is an oddity  –  in Bundewehr service, the Taurus was designated Bergepanzer 2A2.  Besides Canada and Germany, the Bergepanzer 2 vehicle has been used by Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Turkey. [4] The ball-mounted hull C6 machinegun position is often left unarmed.  The ubiquitous 76mm Wegmann launchers fire smoke grenades.