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Panhard M3 VTT Armoured Personnel Carrier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Panhard M3 VTT Copyright � M. McNamara/Curragh Local History Group |
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The Panhard M3 VTT Armoured Personnel Carrier was built as a private venture and the first prototype was completed in 1969. This vehicle had square-cut sides and a production standard prototype, with 3 hatches on either side was completed in 1971 with first deliveries to the Defence Forces in 1972. The M3 shares some 95% of it's mechanical components with the AML series of armoured cars. The M3 served mainly with Infantry Battalions, both in Ireland and with UNIFIL, in the Defence Forces, although the 4th Cavalry Sqdn. is known to have used some. It is reported that some of the 61 M3s delivered to the DF were re-engined, though it is not clear if this was with a Peugeot 2.5l V6 Petrol engine or the Peugeot XD Diesel engine as re-fitted to the AMLs. The M3s were "boarded" when the Piranhas arrived, though it is debateable why some of the better ones could not be converted as "Interim Light Tactical Vehicles", when it became obvious that the LTVs could not be acquired for some time. |
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