Source: inukraine.official on Instagram
A crewman of a Ukrainian Minenräumpanzer Keiler (MiRPz Keiler; Mine-Clearing Tank “Boar”) hams it up for a smartphone video (posted in July 2024) of which this is a screenshot from. In January 2023, Germany provided Ukraine with four MiRPz Keiler vehicles. The MiRPz Keiler is not new and it is actually a heavily modified M48A2 Patton medium tank (specifically, the German upgraded Kampfpanzer M48A2GA2), the M48 having been in service with the Bundeswehr before being retired in 1993. Only 24 Keiler vehicles were converted between 1996 and 1998. MaK GmbH and Thyssen Henschel Wehrtechnik were responsible for the development and production of the Keiler.
The 53-ton Keiler is powered by a MTU MB 871 liquid-cooled, turbocharged diesel engine that develops 986 horsepower and which is mated to a Renk HSWL 284 M 6-speed transmission (4 forward, 2 reverse). This replaced the Keiler's original Continental AVI-1790-8 606 petrol engine and Allison GMC CD-850-5 transmission as part of a Keiler modernization program that occurred in 2015. The MB 871 engine can propel the Keiler along roads at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour and top reverse speed of 15 miles per hour. Enough fuel is carried to provide for a maximum cruise range of 370 miles.
Because the Keiler retains the hull of the M48A2CGA2, the crew is protected by 101mm to 120mm thick frontal armor, 76mm thick side armor, 44mm to 51mm thick rear armor, 44mm thick floor armor, and 57mm thick top armor. As for armament, the Keiler has none outside of any small arms the 2-man crew has with them. The Keiler does have 76mm smoke grenade launchers arranged in a single bank of 16 launchers arranged in two, 8 launcher rows. The bank is mounted on the left side of the rear engine deck. Each grenade has a range of 165 feet and all sixteen grenades create a smoke screen in a total arc of 90 degrees.
Of course, the main piece of apparatus on the Keiler is its flail. The reason for the flat superstructure is to accommodate the flail which is positioned horizontally over the hull when in travel mode. When the flail is deployed for use, the arm that supports it swings 110 degrees to the front and then lowers the flair onto two hydraulic rams which control the up and down motion of the flail. These rams stick out like the tusks of a boar, hence the vehicle's name. Once the flail is in place, a shield fitted to the front lower glacis plate of the Keiler is lowered so that it barely touches the ground. The shield serves two purposes with the first being to protect the rams from mine detonations and the second is to act as a spade to prevent the Keiler from tipping forward as it becomes front heavy with the flail deployed.
The flail has two shafts, each fitted with twelve quick-connect chains ending in 53 pound, bell-shaped weights. The Keiler's MB 871 provides drive power to the flail, spinning it at 400 revolutions per minute. This, however, has the side effect of consuming a lot of fuel which can limit the operational range of the Keiler or reduce its operating time when mine clearing. The weights strike the ground at a speed of 125 miles per hour and any mine struck with either detonate or be so damaged from the impact that it is unusable. Nevertheless, a sapper would have to come remove it due to the explosive that remains. The Keiler is said to have a near perfect detonation rate. The flail clears a path 15.5 feet wide and can clear to a depth of 10 inches. During operation, and terrain depending, the Keiler's top clearing speed is 1.25 to 2.5 miles per hour. Due to damage incurred during flailing, every 1.9 miles, the chains need to be replaced to maintain effectiveness. A total of six spare chains and weights are carried atop the hull by the engine deck.
On the back of the Keiler is a CLAMS (Clear Lane Marking System) built by IMI (Israeli Military Industries) and it deploys a marker flag in the center of the cleared path. The CLAMS can be set to deploy markers automatically or manually. If automatically, the CLAMS can be set to drop a marker every 6, 12, 24, 26, or 48 meters.
The driver, given his position in the front of the vehicle, is provided with a reinforced hatch to withstand the overpressure wave of exploding mines. Also, because his vision blocks typically get obscured by kicked up soil, he is provided with a gyroscope that keeps him on course.
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