ERC 90 Sagaie

Encyclopedia : E : ER : ERC : ERC 90 Sagaie

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ERC 90 Sagaie General characteristics
Length	m
Width	2.50 m
Height	2.25 m
Weight	t
Suspension
Speed	90 km/h road  km/h off-road
Range	730 km km
Primary armament	cannon 90 mm
Secondary armament	2 x 7.62 mm machine guns
Armour	10 mm mm
Power plant	155 hp at 5,250 rpm horsepower>hp ( kW)
Crew	3

The ERC 90 Sagaie (Engin de Reconnaissance à Canon de 90 mm) is a French six-wheeled light tank. It is mobile, amphibious and NBC-proof.

Developed by Panhard on its own funding, it appeared in 1977 and was based on a project proposed to the French Army in the early seventies. The original project lost against the Saviem (now Renault) VAB, but the ERC 90 has been adopted for the French Fast Deployment Force.

The first ERC-90 was built in 1977. It was an export success, orders being made by Argentina, France, Iraq, Côte-d'Ivoire, Niger, and Mexico. The first batch were for Iraq, where they had to be fitted with the UTM-800 turret. Panhard later used more modern turrets fitted with the F4 90 mm gun.

The all terrain mobility of the ERC 90 is enhanced by the capability to raise or descend the central pair of wheels depending on terrain condition. It is amphibious without preparation and is equipped with two hydrojets. It can be fitted with different turrets. The ERC 90 Sagaie, used by the French Army, has a GIAT TS 90 turret.

The Sagaie can be ferried by Transall C-160 or Hercules C-130 planes

It was used by the Iraqi army in the succession of wars which took place there, and proved very useful for the French Army in urban conditions during the Siege of Sarajevo.

Variants

• EMC 91: Fire support version armed with 81mm mortar in an Hispano-Suiza EMC turret.
• ERC 20: Anti-aircraft version with 2 x 20 mm autocannons.
• ERC 60-20: Fitted with Hispano-Suiza 60-20 Serval turret armed with a 60 mm mortar and a 20 mm autocannon.
• ERC 90 (Diesel): Fitted with a diesel engine.
• ERC 90 F1: Fitted with the Hispano-Suiza Lynx 90 turret.
• ERC 90 Sagaie: Fitted with GIAT TS 90 turret.
• ERC 90 Sagaie 2: Slightly larger version fitted with twin engines and improved turret.
• VCR: APC based on ECR.

User countries

Argentina (Marines), Chad, Gabon, Irak, Côte d'Ivoire, Mexico and Niger.

Characteristics

• Armament: 1 x 90 mm, 1 x 7.62 mm coaxial MG, 1 x 7.62 mm AA MG AA (optional), 2 x 2 smoke grenade dischargers
• Ammunition: 20 x 90 mm, 2,000 x 7.62 mm
• Armour: maximum 10 mm steel
• Crew: 3
• Weight:: 8,100 kg
• Length: 5.10 m hull, 7.69 m overall
• Width: 2.49 m
• Height: 2.25
• Wheelbase: 1.63 + 1.22 m
• Engine: Peugeot V-6 petrol, 155 hp (116 kW) at 5,250 rpm
• Maximum speed: 95 km/h
• Fuel capacity: 242 L
• Range: 700 km
• Fording: Amphibious
• Water speed: 4.5 km/h wheels, 9.5 km/h hydrojets
• Ground clearance: 0.34 m
• Vertical obstacle: 0.8 m
• Trench: 1.1 m
• Gradient: 60 %
• Side Slope: 30 %
• NBC system: Optional
• Night vision: Optional (passive)

External links