Panhard EBR Reconnaissance Vehicle

Panhard EBR Reconnaissance Vehicle Description

ebr75
Panhard EBR Reconnaissance Vehicle (EBR-75)

The EBR by French company Panhard is easily recognisable by its osculating turret, much like that of the AMX-13 tank and 4 of its 8 wheels being solid metal. The front and rear wheels are standard wheels with rubber tyres for whilst driving on the road and when going off-road the 4 central metal wheels were lowered to provide additional power, traction and reducing the vehicles ground pressure.

The vehicle also had 2 drivers. 1 stationed in the front as per normal and 1 in the rear.

An oscillating turret works as two hinged parts. The first part is fixed to the hull with a limited traverse left and right. The second part is the upper half, which has the gun in a fixed position and fed by an  autoloader and drum magazines at the back of the upper half. It only requires 2 crew, the gunner and vehicle commander.

The original production model was armed with a rifled 75mm main gun as used on the AMX-13 and later in production with the same 90mm main gun the AMX-13 was upgraded with.

Panhard EBR Development And Production

Though the first prototype was completed in 1950 following earlier chassis’s built in 1948, the Panhard design  pre-dated the German Invasion of France. Shelved until the Post War, the deign met the needs of the French Army for a wheeled reconnaissance vehicle.

EBR-75 Reconnaissance Vehicle

EBR-75 Reconnaissance Vehicle
EBR-75 Reconnaissance Vehicle

Using the same turret as the AMX-13, the Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance entered production with French Company Panhard in 1950/51.  650 vehicles were built with the original 75mm main gun and had a 7.5mm coaxial Machine Gun and both drivers also had a 7.5mm MGs. A second 75mm Main Gun was also introduced with a greater Calibre Length offering increased muzzle velocity.

EBR-90 Reconnaissance Vehicle

EBR-90 Reconnaissance Vehicle
EBR-90 Reconnaissance Vehicle

The 90 represents the upgrade during mid-production to the 90mm rifled main gun. Both new production vehicles and some earlier EBR-75’s were bought up to this model. Production ended with almost 2000 vehicles built (including the earlier 650 EBR-75).

EBR VTT Armoured Personnel Carrier

EBR VTT Armoured Personnel Carrier
EBR VTT Armoured Personnel Carrier

This was the Armoured Personnel Carrier variant and sold to Portugal. Production started around 1956. The vehicle accommodated 15 personnel, which included both drivers, commander and infantry. The commander had a single person turret equipped with a Machine Gun. The infantry sat on 2 benches back to back and were able to fire their personnel weapons from within the vehicle through firing ports along the hull side. http://www.primeportal.net/apc/david_lueck/ebr_ett/

Panhard EBR Command Vehicle

Housing additional radio equipment, only 1 was converted.

Panhard EBR Reconnaissance Vehicle Operators

France (Retired)
Morocco (Retired)
Tunisia (Retired)
Portugal (Retired)

Panhard EBR-75 Spec’s

Armament: 75mm Main Gun x3 7.5mm Machine Guns
Armour: 40mm angled steel (frontal)
Crew: 4
Dimensions: Length 6.157m / Width 2.42m / Height 2.327m
Weight: 12.5 tonne
Engine: 200hp Panhard 12 H 6000 12 cylinder petrol
Top Road Speed: 105km/h
Operational Range: 570km

Panhard EBR-90 Spec’s

Armament: 90mm Main Gun x17.5mm Machine Guns
Armour: 40mm angled steel (frontal)
Crew: 4
Dimensions: Length 7.331m / Width 2.42m / Height 2.582m
Weight: 14.9 tonne
Engine: 200hp Panhard 12 H 6000 12 cylinder petrol
Top Road Speed: 105km/h
Operational Range: 570km