tanks/vehicles Tank Destroyer (EE-18 Sucuri-II)

[pieve 3,578]

                          Brasil

                                                                                          Hello everyone, I made this suggestion, I hope you like this idea

 

 

Curiosity about the emergence of the Brazilian tank destroyer EE-18 Sucuri-II during the 80's

Spoiler

 

In the early 1980s the German company RHEINMETALL, seeking to meet the needs of the United States Navy infantry corps, needed a low recoil cannon that could be attached to a wheeled vehicle or small caterpillars to Rapid Action Forces, then in full swing.

 

Because of this came the 105mm cannon, derived from the British L-7 and would successfully serve this new armored family that was emerging, since it should be airborne by a C-130 Hercules, hence the need to be small in light . Initially it was thought of a caterpillar vehicle that would meet these requirements without any problems, even being superior to one on wheels.

However, a vehicle on wheels would be the best solution, since it would require great strategic mobility, great speed and great range of action,
existing conditions in countries with large territorial extensions whether coastal or not, where it is possible to displace a
can travel on existing roads and on dry and sandy terrain with great ease.

 

From these parameters several vehicles on wheels 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 have been or are in development and in use in several armies at the present time.

 

In Brazil, whose territory has all these operational conditions, it caught the attention of the company ENGESA - Engenheiros Especializados S / A, which had already produced
with successful vehicles 6x6 EE-9 Cascavel and EE-1 Urutu, which were already in use in the Brazilian Army itself as they were also being exported to several countries,
including conflicts in the Middle East, especially in the war between
Iraq-Iran.

 

With this accumulated experience and realizing the need of the market, we started with an ambitious project, which had already been elaborated initially through the EE-17 Sucuri I, which became a great failure, first by still using boomerang suspension, in a very narrow, long and tall vehicle and whose FL-12 tower of origin
French, did not bring much innovation and the performance of the car was mediocre, being abandoned.

 

Prototype of EE-17 Sucuri I

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

 

Starting from these errors and analyzing better what was being developed in the world, the project of the EE-18 Sucuri II appeared, using the most advanced CAD / CAN computer systems at that time, when the electronics were interacting with the mechanics. The idea was to build a six-wheeled tanker, armed with a 105mm raked soul cannon, because at that time other similar projects were being developed in other parts of the world.

EE-18 Sucuri-II

Photo of the EE-18 Sucuri II prototype with 105mm / 52 Oto-Melara cannon. The same cannon used in Italian Centauro B1

 

EE-18 Sucuri-II
Based on the platform of Urutu and Cascavel, Sucuri was a tanks-on-wheels tanks created by Engesa in the 80s that gave up part of its protection capacity to surprise in terms of speed - reached up to 115 km/h with reach 600 kilometers.

 

The chassis was a welded monoblock made up of structural bimetallic armored plates, designed with small angles of incidence to maximize protection
ballistics.
The monoblock was divided into compartments for crew and the front power pack, separated by a fire and structural wall, with thermal / acoustic insulation, which had two access doors, a grid for entry and exit of air to the engine.

 

The fuel tanks were installed at the bottom of the floor between the two rear axles and both had inside them two breaks waves on each side. Their batteries were located in the front part of the unit, which was accessed through the cover mentioned above. The power pack consisted of five main assemblies, engine, intermediate box, automatic transmission, gearbox and cooling unit, attached to their respective accessories. Its withdrawal could be made at one time, through the engine chamber, by a special crossbar, by releasing the bolts securing the engine supports and cardans, disconnecting the quick couplings of the fuel, electric and hydraulic system.

 

Spoiler

Construction of the monobloc of the chassis and the same semipronto seen from rear in June of 1987 in the premises of Engesa in São José dos Campos, SP.

 

The prototype of EE-18 Sucuri II testing

 

The front engine was a Scania DS 11, diesel, four stroke, water-cooled, six-cylinder in-line, direct injection, turbocharged, maximum power 384HP.

Details of the Scania DS 11 engine used in the EE-118 Sucuri II prototype

 

Its steering system was totally mechanical / hydraulic, driven hydraulically through a pump coupled to the engine that sends oil to the steering box, which transmits the movement to the wheels via the steering bar. It also had a limiting system of rotation of the trunnion and another internal to the steering box, thus guaranteeing the mechanical and hydraulic safety. The steering was ZF model 8046, hydraulic.
The transmission was composed of three differentials mounted on cushions, in order to avoid transmitting vibrations to the monoblock, which are endowed with lock, driven
pneumatically through solenoid. Lubricated homokinetic joints and cardan
lubricated with special grease while the differentials are oil plated.All the transmission system is sealed from the power pack and the monoblock by means of rubber couplings.
The front and rear rear axles were ZF model BKA power type, with differential lock and planetary gear with ZF differential. The previous rear axle was ZF model BKA-DU type drive-thru with differential lock and planetary gearbox. The transmission was ZF model 6HP 600, automatic, with Lock Up and retarder with six speeds ahead and one aft. The inbox was a model ZF STV 600. mechanical type, attached directly to the automatic transmission.

 

EE-18 Sucuri-II doing off-road tests

 

In the final reducer was installed the wheel, the tire filling, the disc and the brake clipers.
The suspension system was composed of hydropneumatic unit, tray and trunnion. The tray was attached to the monoblock by means of bearings and the hydropneumatic unit by the trunnion. The hydropneumatic unit was fixed to the monoblock by means of a flange screwed on the top and by a special locking nut in the lower part (trunnion) and was composed of three cylinders and a separator piston. Two of the cylinders are fixed by the bottom containing oil and the top containing nitrogen gas. The spring effect of the suspension is obtained by compressing the nitrogen gas contained in the upper chamber of the unit with the movement of the lower cylinders, compressing the gas which is separated by the separator piston. Damping is achieved via the orifice plate in the oil chamber. The regulation was made by adjusting the nitrogen pressure through an easily accessible terminal. This suspension (front, rear, rear and front) was DUNLOP type Mc Pherson, independent, hydropenumatic.
The brake system consisted of a service brake that combines the performance of an integrated retarder to the transmission with the hydropneumatic brake assembly and brake of
manual parking, which had drums installed in front of the rear differentials.

 

The rolling train consisted of tire, wheel rim, rubber blanket and ACM (Appui Central Métallique). The 18.00 x 22.5 tire, low profile, stamped steel wheel rim, rubber mat mounted between the wheel rim and the ACM, thus avoiding direct metal-metal contact. The ACM was a metal part built in two parts secured by means of screws. Made up of six wheels with 14 x 22.5 "stamped steel rims, MICHELIN XS 18R 22.5 tires with bulletproof chambers with metallic crown, Michelin ACM system. It had a system of filling and emptying the tires driven from the interior of the vehicle.
The electrical system consisted of subsystems:
energy storage, distribution, protection, monitoring and control, and lighting.
The storage consisted of four batteries in the chassis and two in the tower, connected two and two in series with a total capacity of 300 Ah, the use of which depends on the normal or emergency mode, with a pair always being used for starting operation The generator was made by a 200 A, 28 V alternator, air cooled, driven by three belts, and complies with MIL-STD-461 A specifications and
1275 A.
Their distribution was all made with wiring and thermo-retractable coating protected by filters, shields and groundings against electromagnetic interference, mechanical protection resistant to traction, shock and vibration. Environmental protection resistant to corrosive environments, abrasives, oils, greases and others. It also had quick-connect connectors,
whips divided by functions: monitoring, power, commands and lighting.

 

The whole set was protected by thermal circuit breakers that exhibit visual open circuit indication, which can be monitored from the main panel, a monitor panel and an alert panel.
The lighting system consisted of external lighting (headlamps, lanterns) and internal lighting (plafoniers and panel lighting). Possessed NATO key (civil / military).
The voltage was 24 volts, the batteries were Saturnia 6 TN,12 volts,100 Ah each, the alternator was a Leuca Neville A001 2036AA, with voltage of 28 volts and capacity of 200 A.
The NBC system (nuclear, biological and chemical) with external air collection, filtering and insulation inside the vehicle housed in the chassis, anti-fire system for engine room and crew compartment was also included as optional items.

 

Last presentation of the EE-18 Sucuri-II in the military parade of September 7 in São Paulo

 

In relation to the tower, it was a monoblock in welded steel plates, two hatches that allowed easy access to its interior, one on each side and another side that allowed the ammunition to be loaded inside the vehicle, as well as the discharge of the cases used. His crew was composed of three men, the sniper and commander to the right and the commander to the left of the cannon. The system was of basket supported on rollers in the bottom of the vehicle and dragged by the tower by an articulated arm, this system that allowed the tower to be removed independently of the basket, reducing the weight of the assembly and free height necessary for its removal. Through the basket it is possible to access the driver's compartment through the interior of the vehicle. The shooter's and commander's seats were supported on the floor of the basket with devices for fast and continuous height adjustment. The loading seat was fixed to the tower, with a folding seat, thus increasing the space available during the cannon loading operation.

 

Its main armament was a 105mm Oto-Melara cannon, long recoil with mouth brake and smoke extractor, spring-type reset, maximum recoil of 750mm, recoil force 12,000kg and weight of 1,850kg, able to fire high-speed ammunition HEAT -MP-T (armored targets or infantry) and APDSFS (heavy armored, long range targets effective and high terminal effect). The tube was type L7, with light alloy thermal mittens, thus avoiding deformations caused by uneven distribution of temperature. O recoil brake was composed of a hydropneumatic recuperator cylinder mounted parallel to the tube.
The wedge opening could be automatic or manual (driven by the recoil of the gun), selected by a lever located on the left side of the breech block. InThis would only be used primarily in NBC operations, avoiding overpressure in the tower, and the closing would be effected automatically by the ammunition when it was introduced into the chamber. The extraction of the case was automatic, with
the opening of the breech. The extraction of fumes was effected automatically by means of an extractor chamber, fixed in the intermediate position of the tube of the cannon. The trip was electric, through a contactor in the wedge, triggered by pedals operated by the shooter or commander. Emergency fire was carried out by an independent electric circuit operated by the shooter.
As secondary weaponry was a 7.62mm MAG coaxial machine gun, fired by the shooter or commander, with the possibility of an emergency mechanical firing through the sniper's trigger and a Browning .50 (12.7mm) machine gun installed on the outside of the tower, by means of a
support, fired by the harvester. 

It also had two sets of six tubes of smoke grenade launchers on the sides of the tower, which could also fire anti-personnel grenades instead of smoke.

 

During the period of great development undergone by the Brazilian military industry in the 1980s, several projects were presented by Brazilian companies, among which the ENGESA of S. José dos Campos (SP) was clearly highlighted.

At that time the company produced the URUTU armored personnel carriers and the equally well-known Armored Reconnaissance vehicle Cascavel, equipped with a low speed 90mm cannon.

With emerging markets in mind, but also with the possibility of ordering by the Brazilian army for a vehicle more powerful than the Cascavel, although with great mobility, ENGESA designed a tanker.

That is: A relatively unprotected but heavily armed armored vehicle capable of engaging more powerful vehicles by surprise and using its high speed to escape the possibility of being destroyed.

 

TECHNICAL SHEET EE-18 SUCURI II  

Spoiler

 

Crew: 4
Weight in combat order: 18,500kg
Weight without fuel and ammunition: 17,000kg
Overall length without cannon: 5.84m
Overall length with cannon: 7.75m
Total height: 2,80m
Height to hull roof: 1,75m
Height to roof of tower: 2,52m
Width: 2,33m
Clear height above ground: 0,40m
Distance between axles: 2,60 + 1,44m
Weapon: A 105mm Oto-Melara cannon with 40 ammunition and a 7.62mm MAG machine coaxial and 3,200 rounds A .50 Browning machine gun
Six smoke grenade launchers on each side of the tower

maximum speed on the road: 115 km/h

Engine: Scania DS 11, diesel, direct injection, six cylinders in line, 384Hp

Front armor is protected from 20 to 25mm
Tower between 25 ~ 30

 

 

source:

Spoiler

http://www.ecsbdefesa.com.br/fts/Sucuri II.pdf

http://www.military-today.com/artillery/ee_18_sucuri.htm

 

Edited December 30, 2018 by pieve

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Pavys 2]

This is great! With the new italian line I think Sucuri will fit just fine. Hope Gaijin look foward to it. Nice job OP

[FOX_HAWKWIND 6]

hmmm, sucurí is a good tank killer...but I still prefer the entrance of MBT EET1 and EET2 Osório to unseat MBT M1-Abrams ( again ) ... who knows, it would not be time for gaijin to begin to think about and implement the armored and airborne tree in Brazil, since the second war so far, following its schedule of updates

[marcosblood 1]

is a good TD and i would like to see him in game. 

 

 

 

Edited February 13, 2019 by marcosblood

[pieve 3,578]

7 hours ago, marcosblood said:

is a good TD and i would like to see him in game. 

 

 

 

Well, I did not play Armored Warfare, but I can see people talking very well about Sucuri-II in matches

[onemax9000 1,243]

+1 gib

[_PabloSniper_ 2,142]

As a good Brazilian, I totally support!

[Wolf_89 2,525]

On 07/03/2019 at 01:44, _PabloSniper_ said:

As a good Brazilian, I totally support!

Brazil made/modified a lot of vehicles. And i would really like to see most if not all of them in game. But where could they be placed? 

My fav has to be Bernardini X1A/X1A2 series

[pieve 3,578]

On 20/03/2019 at 08:24, Wolf_89 said:

Brazil made/modified a lot of vehicles. And i would really like to see most if not all of them in game. But where could they be placed? 

My fav has to be Bernardini X1A/X1A2 series 

Yes, Brazil in the 70s and 80s made many modifications and manufactures of their own during these decades.

 

EE-18 Sucuri-II, would fit better in the Italian line, since it used a cannon of the Italian Centauro B1, famous 105mm 52 Oto-Melara.

 

Bernardini X1A2 have already gone to development, now it only keeps us waiting for them

 

 

 

Edited June 21, 2019 by pieve

[H_A_R_D_Z_I_K_A 54]

UP

[_M4RC0S_ 22]

LETS UP 

[Swaizer 2]

Boas...

 

Voted!!!

Great job pieve.

 

[]`s

 

FUI

[LowfirE 75]

MASSA...

[PrussianOwl 440]

Good idea, +1, don't know which line it would go in though

[ronaldotitan 4]

Imo, the sucuri II should be at 8.7, we already have armored cars with an l7 gun at that BR so it seems more fitting.

+1

[pieve 3,578]

On 22/09/2019 at 23:25, ronaldotitan said:

Imo, the sucuri II should be at 8.7, we already have armored cars with an l7 gun at that BR so it seems more fitting.

+1

coming soon...

[eleks12 1,079]

+1 In a South American Tree of some sort!

[VEIO_da_HAVAN 75]

 

 

 

moreeeeeee

[Milocat 4,854]

+1, ideally in a South American tech tree of some kind.

[VEIO_da_HAVAN 75]

[pieve 3,578]

On 28/03/2023 at 15:19, VEIO_da_HAVAN said:

Beautiful high quality photos of the EE-18 Sucuri-II, in the last photo you can see a prototype of another 90mm turret

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

This would be very nice as part of a brazilian sub TT for Italy1! +1 i absolutely love it