Spähpanzer Luchs

Spähpanzer Luchs
An ex-Bundeswehr Luchs in a military history Museum in Dresden
TypeReconnaissance vehicle
Place of originWest Germany
Service history
In service1975–2009
Production history
DesignerDaimler-Benz
Porsche
Thyssen-Henschel
Designed1968–1974
Unit cost$293,000 in 1975 1.75 million
Produced1975–1977
No. built408
Specifications
Mass19.5 metric tons (43,000 lb)
Length7.74 meters (305 in)
Width2.98 meters (117 in)
Height2.84 meters (112 in)
Crew4

Main
armament
20 mm (0.79 in) Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 automatic cannon
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm (0.300 in) MG3 machine gun
EngineDaimlerBenz OM 403A 10-cylinder 4-stroke, turbocharged.
300 hp with gasoline, 390 hp with diesel
Power/weight15,38 hp/ton with gasoline, 20 hp/ton with diesel
SuspensionHydraulic all (8x8) wheel drive
Operational
range
730 kilometers (450 mi)
Maximum speed90 km/h (56 mph) on roads, 10 km/h (6.2 mph) swimming in water

The Spähpanzer Luchs (English: Scout Armored Car "Lynx", lit.'Scout Tank Lynx') is a German 8x8 amphibious reconnaissance armoured fighting vehicle (Spähpanzer) that was in service from 1975 to 2009 with the German Army, who used 408 in their armored reconnaissance battalions. It was developed by Daimler-Benz between 1968 and 1975, replacing the M41 and the Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz.