These Zimbabwean Type-89 photos are from SADC exercises in South Africa. The IFVs spot a 25mm autocannon. The VP1 has a crew of two and can carry up to 13 fully-equipped troops, its all-welded steel armour hull providing protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. Its 320 hp air-cooled diesel engine gives a maximum road speed of 65 km/h and a maximum cruising range of 500 km. With a combat weight of 15.5 tonnes, the VP1 is fully amphibious, being propelled in the water by its tracks; the only preparation required involves erecting a trim vane at the front of the vehicle and activating the vehicle's bilge pumps. The baseline VP1 APC is fitted with a one-person cupola armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun (MG), with the gunner provided with armour protection to the sides and rear. Mounted on either side of the upper part of the chassis towards the vehicle's front is a bank of 76 mm electrically-operated smoke grenade launchers. Other weapon stations can be fitted on the roof, including a turret armed with a 25 mm cannon and 7.62 mm co-axial MG. Click images to zoom. |
Type-89 IFV (VP-1)
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