Otokar Akrep (Scorpion) Light Reconnaissance Vehicle

The Akrep (Scorpion) light reconnaissance vehicle was developed by Otokar Otobus Karoseri Sanayi AS with the first prototypes being completed in May 1993 and the first production vehicles in June 1994. In addition to being used in the light reconnaissance role other suggested missions include escort, perimeter control, counter-insurgency and light attack. The vehicle builds on Otokar's extensive experience in the manufacture of light vehicles for both the civilian and military markets. Since 1987 the company has been building the Land Rover range of 4 x 4 vehicles under licence and by 1997 production was running at around 2,500 vehicles a year.

Description

The Akrep has an all-welded steel hull with some 70% of the automotive components being from the well-known Land Rover Defender 90/110 (4 x 4) vehicle. The monocoque steel armour hull provides protection from small arms fire up to 7.62 mm ball ammunition fired at 90° incidence and point-blank range, and shell splinters. All windows and vision blocks are of laminated construction armoured glass with a polycarbonate anti-spall liner. The layout is conventional, with the engine at the front, driver and commander in the centre with the machine gun installation being mounted on the roof towards the rear with the gunner seated below. To the front of the commander and driver is a bulletproof window and in each side is a door with a bulletproof window in the upper part and a firing port below. There is also a firing port and an associated vision device in either side of the hull and a large door in the hull rear that opens to the left. This is provided with a firing port and a vision block above. In the roof of the vehicle, towards the rear, is an oblong roof hatch that opens to the rear. The machine gun mount fitted on the roof is normally armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun which can be aimed and fired from within the vehicle.

The mount can be traversed 180° left and right and the 7.62 mm machine gun can be elevated from -20 to +70°. In addition to the 230 rounds of ready use ammunition, an additional 3,000 rounds are carried inside the vehicle. Firing is electrical with safety locking and braking together with a mechanical back-up. A last round indicator is also provided. The day sight has a wide field of view (22°) with x1 magnification including a collimated aiming circle, and a narrow field of view (8°) with x8 magnification and a ballistic graticule. The night sight has a wide field of view (22°) with x1 magnification and a collimated aiming circle and a narrow field of view (7°) with x7 magnification and a 25 mm image intensifier tube and a ballistic graticule. Standard equipment includes an air conditioning system, a heater and demister, seat belts, two-speed windscreen wipers with wash facility, rifle clips, an infrared driving headlamp, a blackout lighting system, a smoke extraction fan mounted on the roof, a battery master switch, antenna mounting provision, special insulation for roof and body interior from thick polyurethane for thermal and noise insulation, front and rear recovery hooks, a first aid kit, stowage for extra gun barrel and a weapon cleaning kit, a toolkit, an explosion suppressed fuel tank and Hutchinson run-flat tyres. Optional equipment includes a front-mounted electrical winch with 25 m of cable with a capacity of 3,600 kg, 66 mm smoke grenade launchers, a pioneer kit including axe, shovel and pickaxe, a communication system, a land navigation system and 24 V suppressed vehicle electrics.

Variants

As an alternative to a 7.62 mm machine gun turret a similar remote-controlled weapon station with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun is available. This turret allows protected firing from inside where all gunner controls, including ammunition feed, are situated. A combined day/night system is fitted. A prototype has also been completed and tested fitted with twin 7.62.mm remote-controlled machine guns and a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) sight and CCD camera as a sight system. The gunner scans the area of expected approach of the enemy by FLIR and/or CCD camera and the image is transferred to two monitors, one in front of the gunner and the other in front of the commander. The sight system is boresighted with the machine guns and incorporates a ballistic reticule. The vehicle can also be adapted for special missions armed with anti-tank guided weapons or surface-to-air missiles, or it can be fitted out with a ground surveillance radar or as a command and control vehicle.

Armoured personnel carrier

This has a similar hull but extended slightly to the rear to create more internal volume. Full details are given in the Armoured personnel carriers (wheeled) section.

Internal security vehicle

This is the latest version to be developed and has a similar hull to the standard Akrep (Scorpion) light reconnaissance vehicle but has been modified for the internal security role. These modifications include:

(1) Internal security turret which can be traversed through 360° and is fitted with a grenade launcher and mast-mounted video camera which can be raised and lowered as required
(2) Video recording system with turret and front monitors
(3) Wheel arch fire suppression system
(4) Front support for grenade launcher
(5) Powerful siren and public address system
(6) Wire mesh protection for all windows and observation devices. Optional equipment includes front-mounted barricade removal equipment, remote-controlled front searchlight, front-mounted electric winch, wire cutter, additional gun ports, blackout lighting system, infrared driving headlamp system, vehicle-mounted CN/CS gas sprayer and underbelly protection shields.

SPECIFICATIONS :

Crew: 3
Configuration: 4 x 4
Combat weight: 3,600 kg
Unloaded weight: 3,200 kg
Power-to-weight ratio: 37 hp/t
Length:
(with winch) 4.19 m
(without winch) 4.025 m
Width: 1.91 m
Height:
(with MG mount) 2.563 m
(without MG mount) 2.01 m
Ground clearance: 230 mm
Track: 1.486 m
Wheelbase: 2.694 m
Angle of approach/departure: 67°/48°
Max road speed: 125 km/h
Fuel capacity: 110 litres
Range:
(petrol engine) 650 km
(diesel engine) 1,000 km
Gradient: 80%
Side slope: 60%
Vertical obstacle: 0.315 m
Fording: 0.65 m
Turning radius: 6.6 m Engine: Land Rover V-8 3.5 l water-cooled petrol developing 134 hp at 5,000 rpm or Rover 300 TDI 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel developing 111 hp at 4,000 rpm
Transmission: manual, 5-speed forward and 1 reverse or automatic 4-speed
Clutch: single dry plate
Transfer box: 2-speed, high and low ranges
Axles: live beam with single reduction hypoid differentials
Suspension: coil springs and hydraulic dampers Panhard rod and anti-roll bars
Tyres: 8.25 R16 size PR8 tubeless
Brakes:
(main) servo-assisted front and rear disc on all wheels
(parking) drum-type operating on transmission
Steering: power-assisted
Electrical system: 12 V
Alternator: 65 A
Armament:
(main) 2 x 7.62 mm MG
Smoke-laying equipment: optional
Ammunition:
(ready use) 230 x 7.62 mm
(reserve) 3,000 x 7.62 mm
Gun control equipment
Turret power control: manual
Elevation/depression: +70°/-20°
Turret traverse: 180° (left and right)
Gun stabiliser:
(vertical) no
(horizontal) no
NBC system: no
Night vision equipment: yes

Note: Above specifications relate to Akrep with twin remote-controlled 7.62 mm machine guns.

Status : Production. In service with Turkish security and armed forces and on order for Morocco and Pakistan. It is believed that these armoured cars will be used by SSG groups in insurgencies and with US Delta Force type teams.

COMPANY NAME : Otokar Otobus Karoseri Sanayi AS