- Joined
- 21 May 2006
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Very clever and resourceful of the Brazilian's just the same....Somewhere on the Facebook I have found info on a vehicle developed in Brazil that was based on the Stuart tank, namely a mortar carrier designated as Viatura Blindada de Combate, Morteiro 120mm, XM3B1.
The first version of the mortar carrier had the mortar mounted in the rear compartment (as in self-propelled mortars based on the M113 APC). Unfortunately it turned out that the hull and suspension were too weak to withstand the mortar recoil, which caused fractures. So a modification of the vehicle was developed: now mortar barrel, bipod (and ammunition, obviously) were to be carried in the rear, but the base plate was to be mounted on the vehicle's glacis. Therefore the mortar must have been reassembled on the ground before firing and disassembled when leaving the position. My guess is that such a procedure was so cumbersome that the project was cancelled.
Piotr
The fact they simply didn't discard the chassis is impressive just the same.
Regards
Pioneer