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Panhard (VBL) Véhicule Blindé Léger
Light Armored Vehicle
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Specifications
| Country of Origin/Used by: | France (and many others including Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Djibouti, Gabon, Greece, Indonesia, Kuwait, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo and the United Arab Emirates) |
| First Produced/Service Dates: | 1985 |
| Manufactured by: | Panhard |
| Crew: | 2-4 |
| Armament: | Numerous weapons depending on variant. They include the 7.62mm Machine Gun, 12.7mm Heavy MG, 20mm Cannon, 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher, AT4CS, Eryx, HOT, MILAN and TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missile Systems or Mistral Anti-Aircraft Defense System. Also, they can mount different types of Remote Weapons Systems/Stations. |
| Engine: | 4 Cylinder Turo-Diesel |
| Miscellaneous Info: | The Panhard VBL is available in two (2) basic
lengths and can be equipped/fitted for numerous missions and duties.
The short wheel base reconnaissance/scout/liaison vehicle is
considered the "standard" variant and appears to be the most numerous in
service. Other variants in service are the VBL 12.7 recon vehicle,
ALBI-Mistral anti-aircraft vehicle, VBL AT4CS, Eryx, HOT,
Milan and TOW anti-tank vehicles, VBL Canon (fitted with a 20mm MK 20 Rh
202 cannon), VBL Tourelle Fermee (mounting a remote controlled weapon
system), ULTRAV MIL NBC recon vehicle and long wheel base VB2L Poste de
Commandment. Over the long years the vehicle has been in service, it became overloaded and prone to break down easily. As a result, two separate upgrade programs were instituted. The first was the VBL Mark 2, which primarily consisted of the fitting of a more powerful engine. Although helping, the problems with the suspension lingered. Therefore, a second major upgrade program commenced which again included an even more powerful engine, but also redesigned most of the suspension and transmission components. This vehicle is referred to as the VBL Ultima and it appears that older vehicles were also retro-fitted to the upgraded standard. |
| Data Sheet Available: |
None Available |
Photos
| Reference | Source/Provider |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Photos (LWB) | Jacques Dujardin - France |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Photos | French 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Photos | French Armee de Terre |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Photos | Luis Pitarch - Spain |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Photos (Saumur, France) and Above | Dennis Trowbridge - Bristol, UK |
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Panhard VBL Light
Armored Vehicle Photo |
UK Ministry of Defence (Crown Copyright) |
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Panhard VBL Light
Armored Vehicle Photo |
US National Archives) |
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.jpg) Panhard VBL
12.7 Recon Vehicle Photos |
French 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment |
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.jpg) Panhard VBL
Milan Anti-Tank Vehicle Photos |
French 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment |
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Panhard VBL with
WASP Remote Weapon Station Vehicle Photo |
French 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment |
References Available
Online
| Reference | Source/Provider |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Information & Photos | Army Guide.com |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Information & Photos | Army Recognition.com |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Information & Photos | Army-Technology.com |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Information & Photos | Military Factory.com |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Information & Photos | Military-Today.com |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Information & Photos | Tank Encyclopedia |
Printed
| Reference | Author |
| Blue Helmets Under Fire, The (Concord Publications) | Samuel Katz & Yves Debay |
| "Exercise Bold Alligator" (July 2012 Issue of Military Machines International Magazine) | Henri-Pierre Grolleau |
| IFOR: Vehicles of the Multinational IFOR Peace-Keeping Operation (1995-96) (Tankograd Publications) | Carl Schulze |
|
ISAF Vehicles in
Afghanistan: 2007 (Kabul and Kandahar Areas) - Mushroom Model
Publications Book Review by Patrick Keenan |
Dick Taylor |
| Jane's AFV Recognition Handbook (Second Edition) | Christopher F. Foss |
| Landing Zone Lebanon: UNIFIL 2006 (Blue Steel Books) | Moustafa Assad |
| VBL Panhard - Histoire & Collections | Yves DEBAY |
Hobby Modeling
Kits and Accessories
| Model Kit | Manufacturer | Scale | Other Information |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Kit | ADV/Azimut | 1/35 | Resin |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Kit | ADV/Azimut | 1/72 | Resin |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle with PL127 Turret (12.7mm M2HB Browning HMG) Model Kit (10049) | ADV/Azimut | 1/35 | Resin |
| Panhard VBL CB52 ISAF Light Armored Vehicle with VAB 7.62mm Turret) Model Kit (10050) | ADV/Azimut | 1/35 | Resin |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Kit | Coree | 1/35 | Resin |
|
Panhard VBL Reconnaissance Vehicle with 7.62mm MG Model Kit (GAS50218) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL Reconnaissance Vehicle with MILAN ATGW Model Kit (GAS50218milan) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL Reconnaissance Vehicle with Brouilleur IED Jammer Model Kit (GAS50218brou) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL Reconnaissance Vehicle with PL127 MG Turret Model Kit (GAS50219) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL 2-Long Reconnaissance Vehicle with 7.62mm MG Model Kit (GAS50220) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL 2 with WASP Sagem RWS Model Kit (GAS50221) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL 2 TOP with 12.7 mm Kongsberg RWS Model Kit (GAS50222) |
Gaso.line | 1/48 | Mixed Media |
|
Panhard VBL with 12.7 mm Machine Gun Model Kit (MM-R215) |
Model-Miniature | 1/72 | Resin. |
|
Panhard VBL 7.62mm Reconnaissance Vehicle Model Kit (MM-R217) |
Model-Miniature | 1/72 | Resin. |
| Panhard VBL MILAN Anti-Tank Vehicle Model Kit (MM-R222) | Model-Miniature | 1/72 | Resin. |
| Panhard VBL OPEX Vehicle Model Kit (Lebanon & Afghanistan Version) (MM-R234) | Model-Miniature | 1/72 | Resin. |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Model Kit (4603) | Tiger Model | 1/35 | Injection Molded Plastic. |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle Model Kit with 12.7mm M2 Machine Gun (4619). | Tiger Model | 1/35 | Injection Molded Plastic. |
| Panhard VBL Light Armored Vehicle with Milan Anti-Tank Missile Launcher Model Kit (4618) | Tiger Model | 1/35 | Injection Molded Plastic. |
| Aftermarket Set | Manufacturer | Scale | Other Information |
| VBL Wheel Set (BL35240K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL PL127 .50 Cal Machine Gun Turret (BL35241K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL 2011 XZL Type Wheel Set (BL35242K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL Interior Update Set (BL35243K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL Wire Cutter (BL35244K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL Exterior Update Set (BL35245K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL Counter-IED Set (BL35246K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL (Add-On) Armor Kit Set (BL35247K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL Stowage Set -OPEX Africa (BL35253K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL MAG 58 Machine Gun Replacement (BL35354K) | Blast Models | 1/35 | Resin; Replaces model kits' machine gun. |
| French Panhard VBL Sagged Wheel Set #1 (DW35084) | DEF Model | 1/35 | Resin. For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| French Panhard VBL Sagged Wheel Set #2 (DW35096) | DEF Model | 1/35 | Resin. For the Hobby Boss and Tiger Model Kits |
| VBL Light Armored Vehicle Weighted Road Wheel Set (ER35-068) | E.T. Model | 1/35 | Resin. For the Hobby Boss Kit. |
| VBL Light Armored Vehicle Detail Set (E35-257) | E.T. Model | 1/35 | Photo-Etched Brass. For the Hobby Boss Kit. |
| Panhard VBL Weighted Wheel Set (35931) | FC Model Trend | 1/35 | 3D Printed Resin. For the Tiger Model Kits. |
| VBL Panhard Tire and Wheel Set (GAS50559) | Gaso.line | 1/48 | Rubber. |
| VBL Panhard PVP Michelin 255/100 R16 XZL Tire and Wheel Set (GAS50561) | Gaso.line | 1/48 | Rubber. |
| VBL WASP 1 and Add On Armor Set (KMT35047K) | KMT | 1/35 | Resin. |
| Greek Army VBL Conversion Set (SSM 35007) | Slingshot Models | 1/35 | Resin. |
| VBL Stowage Packs Set (ACL 35009) | Slingshot Models | 1/35 | Resin. |
| VBL Sagged Wheel Set (ACL 35010) | Slingshot Models | 1/35 | Resin. |
| VBL Panhard Anti-Slip Surface (SSM 35011) | Slingshot Models | 1/35 | For the Tiger Model Kits. |
|
“ISAF #3: French Troops in Afghanistan” (35-C1269) |
Star-Decals |
1/35 |
Decals; Includes Markings for the Panhard VBL & VAB. |
|
“ISAF #4: Afghanistan Peacekeepers” (35-C1282) |
Star-Decals |
1/35 |
Decals; Includes Markings for the BRDM-2, BTR-80A & VBL. |
|
"ISAF-Afghanistan # 2: Peacekeepers from France" (72-A1101) |
Star-Decals |
1/72 |
Decals; Includes Markings for the Panhard VBL & VAB. |
|
"ISAF-Afghanistan # 3: Peacekeepers from Bulgaria, Hungary and Portugal" (72-A1102) |
Star-Decals |
1/72 |
Decals; Includes Markings for the BRDM-2, BTR-80A & Panhard VBL. |
Model Photos
| Reference | Source/Provider |
| Panhard VBL Model Photos (1/35 Tiger Model) | Mike Oberholtzer - River Forest, Illinois USA |
