Begleitpanzer 57 AIFSV

The Begleitpanzer (Escort Tank 57) AIFSV (Armored Infantry Fire Support Vehicle) was a project of the companies Thyssen-Henschel and Bofors. Only a single prototype was built. In the mid-1970s, the two then-existing companies Thyssen-Henschel and Bofors began without government a mandate with the development of an infantry escort tank, as they believed to have discovered a gap in a light fire support platform. The vehicle was first introduced in November 1977. However, due to lack of interest from potential buyers, the project was not pursued.
Description.
The modified hull of the armored personnel carrier Marder was used as chassis. Here all the components of the infantry fight, such as bullet covers, rear MG, tailgate and hatchways of the crew compartment had been removed to accommodate the much larger turret and associated equipment. The asymmetrically shaped turret had a recess in the middle in the longitudinal direction, in which the external, crest-fixed pipe cradle was mounted. In the direction of travel left was on the turret ceiling, the hatch of the commander with angle mirrors and stabilized round periscope. On the right side of the turret, which resembled the Marder Turret, was a launching device for TOW antitank missiles, including the gunner's hatch. This operated with a telescope with night vision thermal imaging system, a laser rangefinder and tracked control system for the missiles. For the commander, there was a monitor with parallel information. The cannon moved in the elevation range from -8 ° to + 45 ° The vehicle led an ammunition supply of 48 cartridges 57 mm ammunition and six anti-tank guided missiles with it. The cannon was a Bofors 57 mm / L70 Mk.1 ship gun with automatic loading.
The technical data corresponded to those of the Marder, except