APC Talha

APC Talha
APC Talha
Type	Armoured personnel carrier (APC)
Place of origin	Pakistan
Service history
Used by	Pakistan Army; Iraqi Army
Production history
Designer	Heavy Industries Taxila
Designed	1998
Manufacturer	Heavy Industries Taxila
Produced	2002
Specifications
Mass	12.5 ton (combat weight); 10.6 ton (curb weight)
Length	218.5 inches (555 cm)
Width	100 inches (250 cm)
Height	102 inches (260 cm)
Crew	13
Armour	Aluminium (5083 series)
Main; armament	12.7 mm machine gun
Engine	Two options: Detroit Diesel 6V53T, 275 hp; KMDB UTD-20, 330 hp;
Power/weight	; 22 hp/ton (6V53T); 25 hp/ton (UTD-20);
Suspension	Torsion bars, hydraulic dampers
Operational; range	320 miles (510 km)
Maximum speed	40 km/h

Talha is an armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed and manufactured in Pakistan by APC Factory of Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT).

The vehicle is based on the M113-A2-Mk.1 APC. The Pakistani Army plans to deploy 2,000 Talha APCs by 2010.^{[needs update]} TALHA is an all terrain, amphibious infantry support vehicle with 12.7 mm machine gun as its main armament. Adequate crew compartment space provides excellent crew comfort. Survivability is enhanced through use of external fuel tanks. Various forms of bolt-on armour can be added to increase armour protection of the vehicle.

History

The decision to develop the Talha was made after U.S. sanctions imposed on Pakistan made it impossible for HIT to continue manufacturing the M113. The Talha's design is based on the M113, one notable difference being the positions of the engine and driver station.^[1]

The Al-Talha is being marketed for export and was displayed at the IDEAS 2002 defence exhibition, Karachi, in 2002.^{[citation needed]} In November 2004 an Iraqi delegation ordered 44 Talha APCs.

Engine

There is a flexibility in the design that the Engine compartment can accommodate power pack with 275 HP Detroit Diesel 6V53T turbocharged engine or 330 HP UTD-20, a Ukrainian engine.

Operators

Current operators

Pakistan

Pakistan Army: 400+ in Service;^[2] Total 2,000 planned to be deployed.^[3]

Iraq

Iraqi Army: 44 delivered by Pakistan in 2006.^[3]

Civilian operators

Pakistan

Sindh Police: 40 delivered by Wah Ordnance Factory in 2012.^[4]

Variants

Maaz - Fitted with Baktar-Shikan anti-tank missile firing unit
Mouz - Fitted with RBS 70 surface-to-air missile firing unit
Sakb - Command post vehicle
Al Qaswa - Logistics & cargo vehicle

APC Saad

APC Saad is a stretched 6 road wheel variant of Talha. Further variants of Saad:

Viper - Infantry fighting vehicle.
Al-Hadeed - Armoured recovery vehicle.
Al-Hamza - Infantry fighting vehicle. Only for export purpose.

References

^ "Talha Series of Tracked Armoured Vehicles" jedsite
^ "PAKISTAN ARMY". Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
^ ^a ^b "Talha Armored personnel carrier". Retrieved 2013-03-07.
^ "Low quality equipment risk cops' lives". Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2013-03-11.

[jedsite.info-1] "Talha Series of Tracked Armoured Vehicles" jedsite

[2] "PAKISTAN ARMY". Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-03-07.

[MToday-3] "Talha Armored personnel carrier". Retrieved 2013-03-07.

[4] "Low quality equipment risk cops' lives". Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2013-03-11.

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