Panhard M3

Panhard M3
Country	France
Role	Armoured personnel carrier
Produced	1971–1986
Built	1180

The Panhard M3 VTT (French: Véhicule de Transport de Troupes) is an amphibious armoured personnel carrier. Developed as a private venture for the export market, the M3 was built with the same mechanical and chassis components as the Panhard AML range of light armoured cars. The two vehicle types share a 95% interchangeability of automotive parts. The M3 is an extremely versatile design which can be configured for a wide variety of auxiliary battlefield roles. The most popular variants of the base personnel carrier included an armoured ambulance, a mobile command post, and an internal security vehicle. It could also be fitted with a wide variety of turrets and armament, ranging from a single general-purpose machine gun to medium calibre autocannon

Source: Panhard M3 on Wikipedia

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
Photos	27

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 1

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 2

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 3

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 4

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 5

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 6

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 7

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 8

Panhard M3 VTT with TL-2i turret 9

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Wait, Searching Panhard M3 for you…

General Characteristics and Role

The Panhard M3 VTT (Véhicule de Transport de Troupes, or Personnel Carrier) is a French armored personnel carrier (APC) developed by Panhard in the late 1960s. Its key design feature is its high parts commonality (approximately 95%) with the highly successful Panhard AML armored car, simplifying logistics and maintenance. The M3 is a wheeled, amphibious, and air-transportable vehicle primarily designed to transport a squad of infantry in high-mobility warfare. While primarily used as an APC, its robust, boxy design allowed it to be adapted into various roles, including command, ambulance, mortar carrier, and maintenance vehicle. Although largely replaced in French service, it remains in use with over 30 countries globally.

Property	Typical Value (M3 VTT)
Role	Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
National Origin	France
Manufacturer	Panhard (now Arquus)
Service Entry	1971
Crew	2 (Driver, Commander/Gunner)
Capacity (Troops)	10 (Driver, Commander, plus 8 fully-equipped troops)
Length	4.45 m (14 ft 7 in)
Width	2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height (Hull Top)	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Combat Weight	6,100 kg (13,448 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: 1 x Panhard Model 4 HD four-cylinder, air-cooled petrol engine.
Power Output: 67 kW (90 hp) @ 4,700 rpm.
Drivetrain: 4×4 (All-Wheel Drive).
Maximum Speed (Road): 90 km/h (56 mph).
Maximum Speed (Water): 4 km/h (2.5 mph) (Propelled by its wheels).
Range (Road): 600 km (370 mi).
Key Feature: The high power-to-weight ratio and four-wheel drive configuration give it excellent off-road mobility. It is fully amphibious without preparation, propelled in water by its rotating wheels.

Protection and Armament

Armour: Welded steel, providing protection against small arms fire (up to 7.62 mm) and shell splinters.
Primary Armament: Typically equipped with a single 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on a roof ring or simple turret.
Troop Fire: Features six external firing ports with associated visors, allowing embarked troops to fire their personal weapons from within the safety of the vehicle.
Air Transport: Its light weight and compact size allow it to be easily airlifted by medium transport aircraft.