chile BMS-1 ​​Alacran/ The last halftrack in the world

[Chilean_Thunder 89]

 

 

BMS-1 Alacran  

 

 

 

History:

 

Revelación

 

The BMS-1 Alacrán was developed in the early 1980s by the Chilean company Industrias Cardoen. Chile had gained great experience in the modernization of the M3A1 half-tracks in the 1970s, so it was decided to develop a nationally manufactured vehicle.

 

In the end, the alacran was not a success despite being the most mobile halftrack of all time, surpassing all other halftrack models in the world. The Chilean Army considered it inferior compared to contemporary full-track and wheeled vehicles. so the possibility of future purchases of this vehicle was not realized

 

by 1992 the fate of the project was uncertain, in addition to the fact that the cardoen businessman had much bigger problems, since he had sold cluster bombs worth 200 million dollars to iraq, for which the reputation of cardoen industries declined considerably. Due to all these problems, the alacran is no longer for sale. Although there is a theory that it was sold to countries like Iraq or Iran, in 1996 a vehicle practically the same as the original Cardoen was seen in Iran. Too similar to be a coincidence.

 

 

 

 

Vehicle virtually identical to Cardoen's alacran being seen in Iran

 

 

The BMS-1 Alacran has a distinctive appearance. Protection is provided by high hardness steel armor, proof of blast overpressure, 7.62mm armor-piercing and shell-splinter shells on all sides, and 12.7mm ball shells over the frontal arc. Armament varies greatly from variant to variant, with the APC usually carrying a 12.7mm Browning M2HB machine gun. Other weapons can be mounted on the standard commander's cupola, including 7.62mm machine guns, 40mm grenade launchers, and recoilless rifles.

 

The interior is spacious, with individual seat cushions for 10 passengers, along with the vehicle's commander's and driver's stations. There are 4 fire ports and 4 vision blocks on each side of the vehicle, as well as 2 fire ports and 2 vision blocks.

 

The electronics of the BMS-1 Alacran are very sober, but it includes a radio and a starlight periscope for the driver.

 

Propulsion is provided by a Detroit Diesel 6V-53T diesel V6 with 275 hp at 2800 rpm, mated to an Allison MT-653 automatic transmission with 5 forward and 1 reverse gears. It is worth noting that this is the same engine used in the APC M113A3.

 

The Alacran's undercarriage is unique, having a pair of hydraulic suspension wheels with coil springs at the front and the full set of tracks from the M3A1 halftrack at the rear.

 

Known versions of the Alacran include a C3I vehicle, a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, a fire support vehicle with a large-caliber gun, an ambulance, a multiple launch rocket system with a LAU-97 70mm rocket launcher, a rocket carrier ATGM, and a 120mm mortar carrier. Other variants have been proposed, but not built.

 

This vehicle developed and built in Chile was the last half-track that is known to have been built and even so there is little information and photos about it; Capable of surpassing all its predecessors in mobility, unfortunately it was never produced in series.

 

 

 

Specifications:

 

Revelación

Country of origin:  Chile

Service entered:  -

Crew:  2

Staff:  10

 

Dimensions and weight:

Weight: 10.5 tons (combat weight)

Length:  6,37 m

Broad:  2,36 m

Height:  2,3 m

 

Armament:

-Browning M2HB 12.7mm machine gun

-multiple launch rocket system with a LAU-97 70mm rocket launcher

 

 

 

 

Mobility:

Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V-53T diesel

Engine power: 275 hp

Maximum highway speed: 80 km/h

Autonomy: 900 km

 

Maneuverability:

Gradient: 60%

Side slope: 40%

Vertical step: ~0.6m

Trench: 0.6~1m

wading: 1.6 m

 

 

 

 

 

Photos:

 

Revelación

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personal opinion:

 

Revelación

 

It seems to me that this vehicle should be integrated into the game since it is a historical vehicle, it was literally the last halftrack in history and deserves a mention. It was very difficult to find information or photos of the vehicle since it was not a known project, most of the sources are in other languages (I speak Spanish). but I think it would be fun to see it in the game. unfortunately I did not find photos with the variety of weapons that he could carry, I only found photos with the rocket launcher. and I'm not sure which tech tree I would place it in since it's a unique design from Chile, so I'd like to know what you think about it. Anyway I hope you like my idea and support it friends <3

 

 

 

Sources:

 

http://www.military-today.com/apc/alacran.htm

https://fdra.blogspot.com/2015/06/mesa-de-diseno-el-alacran-chileno.html

https://www.konflikty.pl/technika-wojskowa/na-ladzie/woz-bojowy-bms-1-alacran/

https://jendralari.blogspot.com/2014/07/bms-1-alacran-chili.html?m=1

https://archivopatrimonial.uahurtado.cl/uploads/r/archivo-institucional-universidad-alberto-hurtado/4/9/9/4998a0c82c45d2308d9ab1be11f7b9e3c9937ecaea6a4dc9df3c4ec20fdbaf8d/85-9-9.pdf

 

 

The last link is a patrimonial archive of a Chilean university where the vehicles manufactured by Industrias Cardoen are mentioned, among them, the BMS-1 Alacran (page 6).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Chilean_Thunder
I deleted a photo that was broken and couldn't be seen

[Headnaught 502]

Approved and open for discussion.

[Chilean_Thunder 89]

On 25/12/2022 at 16:50, Headnaught said:

Approved and open for discussion.

Thanks a lot 

[Milocat 4,854]

+1 for a future South American tree.

[Chilean_Thunder 89]

On 31/12/2022 at 02:21, Milocat said:

+1 for a future South American tree.

Thank you very much 

[VEIO_da_HAVAN 75]

amazing rocket launcher! +1 for a future South American tree.