Basic Information

Name

CS/VN3 Chinese 4x4 Armored Scout Car

Designation

CS/VN3

Alternate Designation

CS/VN3

Equipment Type

Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle

Manufacturer

NORINCO

Date of Introduction

2007

Description

The CS/VN3 Chinese 4x4 Armored Scout Car resembles the French Panhard VBL or Swiss MOWAG Eagle III armored scout cars but is slightly larger. This vehicle was revealed in 2007. It is understood that the development of this light reconnaissance vehicle is now complete. Currently, it is produced in small quantities for the Chinese Army. It is also being proposed for export customers as a light multi-purpose armored personnel carrier. It is worth mentioning that this armored vehicle costs far less than comparable Western or Russian systems. The VN3 armored scout car has an all-welded steel hull. It provides protection from small arms fire, artillery shell splinters, as well as some types of mines. This armored scout car is fitted with a one-person turret, armed with a 12.7 mm or 14.5 mm heavy machine gun. The VN3 has a crew of five, including a commander, gunner, driver, and two scouts. Occupants enter and leave the vehicle through the side or rear doors, or roof hatches. There are some firing ports and associated vision blocks provided for the occupants. The vehicle is powered by a front-mounted diesel engine. Alternatively, the VN3 armored scout car could be configured as an armored personnel carrier, with the turret removed. In this case, it has a crew of two and accommodates eight troops. Other variants of this scout car include a larger unidentified 4x4 armored vehicle, fitted with a 30 mm turret-mounted cannon. This vehicle uses a turret similar to that of the ZLC 2000 airborne combat vehicle. Another variant is amphibious and can carry HJ-8 anti-tank missiles.

Ground Specifications

Crew 2

Engine Diesel (165 hp)

NBC Protection Yes

Variants

CS/VN3B This is an upgraded version of the CS/VN3 with add-on armour to increase ballistic and mine protection. The roof of the crew compartment is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with a 7.62mm machine gun.

CS/VN3C he Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant of the CS/VN3. The vehicle is fitted with a one man-turret armed with a 30mm automatic cannon.

System

Alternative Designation CS/VN3

Type Armored Scout Car

Manufacturer Norinco

Status In Production

Expected Out of Service Date 2036

Crew 2 ea

Troop Compartment 3 ea

Amphibious Capability Optional

Night Vision Optional

Navigation System Optional

Global Positioning System Optional

Maximum Range 600 km

Dimensions

Length 4.62 m

Width 2.2 m

Height 1.77 m

Weight, Combat 5.7 tons

Ground Clearance 0.41 m

Automotive

Engine Name INA

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 165 hp

Engine Location Front

Transmission Automatic

Cruising Range 600 km

Speed, Maximum Road 110 km/h

Speed, Average Cross INA

Speed, Maximum Swim INA

Fording Depth INA

Gradient 60 %

Turning Radius 8 m

Anti-Skid Braking System Yes

Note The monocoque hull is built from welded steel armour, and the engine and transmission are fitted directly to the hull rather than a chassis.

Communications

TBR-142

VHF FM Transceiver Yes, TBR-142(I)

VHF Range 1 to 50 km

Megahertz 40.000 to 59.975 MHz

Output Power 1 to 0.3 Watts

Power 12V Ni-Ca Rechargeable Battery or external 12V DC power source

Dimensions 217x135x58 mm

Weight 2.7 kg

Antennas 3 Total: a 1.3m whip antenna, a 0.3m short antenna, and a 10m wire antenna

Proliferated Widely with Artillery/Gun/Missile/Reconnaissance Units

Control Device TBR-142(II)

Multi-function Field Phone TBR-142(IIID)

Anti-Aircraft Control Unit TBR-142(IIIG)

ZXY88-200 C2 Capable Yes

Messaging Capability – Limited

Amplifier Available

Physical Conditions Terrain and Weather favorable

Main Weapon System

Note Other weapons, such as a remote weapon system or an anti-tank guided weapon launcher, can be mounted on the CS/VN3. For this example, we will use the standard configuration.

System (Option 1)

Name 1 x QJG89

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Manufacturer INA

Turret Type One Person

Length 2,119 mm

Length, Barrel 1,003 mm

Diameter INA

Weight (Gun Only) 18.5 kg

Weight (Tripod) 17.5 kg

Action Gas

Rate of Fire 450-600 reds/min

Fire Selector 0-F

Stock Fixed

Feed System Belt

Sights Iron/Optical

Ammunition

Type Ball

Caliber 12.7x108 mm

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

Basic Load INA

Effective Firing Range (vs. Air) 1,500 m

Effective Firing Range (vs.Ground) 2,000 m

Magazine Belt fed, 50 rounds

Operation Hybrid direct impingement and short recoil

Armor Penetration INA

System (Option 2)

Name 1 x KPV

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 14.5 mm

Manufacturer V.A. Degtyarev Plant

Date of Introduction 1949-present

Proliferation Widely Proliferated

Weight 49 kg

Length, Total 1,980 mm

Length, Barrel 1,346 mm

Width 162 mm

Height 225 mm

Action Short Recoil Operation

Rate of Fire 600 rds/min

Feed System 40-round belt

Sights Iron or Optical

Ammunition

Type Anti-tank rifle, Heavy machine gun

Caliber 14.5 mm

Cartridge 14.5x114 mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,005 m/s

Basic Load INA

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

Effective Firing Range 3,000 m

Armor Penetration Yes

Round Variant 1 BS: Armor-piercing incendiary original anti-tank round. The projectile weighs 64.4 grams and is 51 millimeters long with a 38.7 gram core of tungsten carbide with 1.8 grams of incendiary material in the tip. The overall round weighs approximately 200 grams and is 155 millimeters long. The projectile has a muzzle velocity of approximately 1,006 meters per second and can penetrate 30-32 millimeters of RHA steel at an incidence of 0 degrees at a range of 500 meters, or 40 millimeters at a range of 100 meters.

Round Variant 2 B-32: Armor-piercing incendiary full metal jacket round with a hardened steel core. Projectile weight is 64 g and muzzle velocity is 1006 m/s. Armour penetration at 500 m is 32 mm of RHA at 90 degrees.

Round Variant 3 BZT: Armor-piercing incendiary tracer full metal jacket round with a steel core. Projectile weight is 59.56 g and muzzle velocity is 1,006 m/s. Tracer burns to at least 2,000 m.

Round Variant 4 MDZ: High-explosive incendiary bullet of instant action. Projectile weight is 59.68 g.

Round Variant 5 ZP: Incendiary tracer round

Round Variant 6 DGJ02: APIDS-T cartridge uses a 45 g tungsten penetrator, wrapped in a discarding sabot (similar to the US military SLAP cartridges) with dual colour tracer to aid ranging. The sabot splits and leaves the penetrator between 150 and 200 m from the muzzle. It has a muzzle velocity of 1,250 m/s and is quoted as being able to penetrate 20 mm of armour plate set at an angle of 60° at 1000 m.

Round Variant 7 DGE02: APHEI cartridge weighs between 175 and 188 g. At 1000 m it is quoted as having a 90 percent chance of being able to penetrate 15 mm of armour plate set at 30°. At 300 m after penetrating a 2 mm soft steel plate (representing an aircraft skin) it can further penetrate a 1.2 mm thick steel plate producing 20 fragments. Upon explosion between 75 and 95 incendiary pieces are formed which have an 80% chance of igniting aviation fuel.

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 1 x Type 80

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Manufacturer Norinco

Date of Introduction 1985

Length, Total 1,192 mm

Length, Barrel 658 mm

Diameter INA mm

Weight (Gun Only) 12.6 kg

Weight (With Tripod) 17.5 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Rate of Fire 700-800 rds/min

Feed System Belts in 100/200/250 round boxes

Sights Open sights. Optical/Night vision scope can be outfitted.

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62×54mmR mm

Muzzle Velocity 840 m/s

Basic Load INA, Belts in 100/200/250 round boxes

Effective Firing Range 100-1,500 (With Sight Adjustments) m

Min Range 100 m

Armor Penetration Available

Fire Control

Laser Target Designation INA

Protection

Hull Armor All-welded Steel, provides an unspecified level of protection from small arms fire, shell splinters and some types of mine.

Applique Armor Available

NBC Protection Yes

Ballistic Glass Yes

Fire Detection and Suppression System Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, 2 x banks of three smoke grenade launchers are mounted on the turret

Firing Ports Yes

Air Conditioning System Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://www.militarytoday.com/apc/vn3.htm;