Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/713424
replace MK 30-2/ABM with a heavier construc- tion. Already during the prototype stage, Puma was facilitated with a remotely controlled six-barrel 76 mm smoke grenade launcher. The armament was mounted at the back of the vehicle, on its left side. So far, that solution was not mature enough to become a part of the serial production vehicles. Nevertheless, there are works performed on implementation of an improved launcher described as support armament system that is independent of the position of TSWA turret (Turmunabhängigen Sekundärwaffenanlagen). In the newest variation, the body of TSWA turret six 76 mm grenade launchers are surrounded by 24 barrels loaded with 40 mm ammunition. Construction of the launcher is to provide a full angle of fire within the horizontal plane. The minimum range is 50 m while the maximum – 400 m. The launcher may use various types of ammunition, like high explosive - fragmen- tation grenades, smoke grenades, as well as e.g. tear gas and stun grenades. The improved TSWA module, the model of which was pre- sented in 2016 by Rheinmetall, was fitted with its own day-night observation and targeting device with a stabilized head. The weight of the set is 350 kg. According to manufactur- er's proposition, Puma would receive 2 such modules mounted on the sides of the rear part of the hull (which would require replacing cells of CLARA armor with passive cover). Mobility The heart of Puma is MTU MT 892 Ka-502 diesel enginle. It belongs to the newest, forth generation of drive units. Series 890 features compact construction – they take up almost half the space when compared to the previous 880 series with the same power. 10-liter MT 892 Ka-502 is a liquid-cooled V10 enginge, with an integrated starter-generator system. It has been equipped with high pressure common rail and a two-stage compressor. The engine is able to deliver power of 800 kW (1090 hp) at a relatively high, as for a diesel engine, speed - 4250 rpm. The maximum torque reaches up to 2070 Nm. Engine capacity provides Puma with a high ratio of power output. In the case of the "air- mobile" configuration, that value amounts 25.3 kW/t (34.5 hp/t). After armoring the vehicle with a fighting kit, the discussed ratio decreas- es to 18.6 kW/t (25.3 hp/t). To compare - in the case of BMP-1, which is still found to be very mobile, the power-weight ratio does not ex- ceed 17 kW/t (22.7 hp/t), while in the case of www.fragoutmag.com