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Mowag MR 8

The MOWAG MR 8 (WOTAN) is a border force and police armoured personnel carrier. It was developed by Mowag in Switzerland and built under licence in West Germany.

History
The WOTAN was introduced in 1963 in West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) as a Special Vehicle (Sonderwagen) in versions SW1 and SW2 for the Federal Border Protection (Bundesgrenzschutz) and the Readiness (Riot) Police (Bereitschaftspolizei) of the German states. An amphibious version was marketed as the Mowag Grenadier. The MOWAG MR 8 was replaced from 1983 by the Thyssen-Henschel TM-170 armoured personnel carrier. == Design ==
Design
The four-wheel drive (4×4) vehicle had a small turning radius and was equipped with 2-axle steering. The arrangement of the engine installed in the rear left allowed the crew to park the vehicle and exit from the side and rear. == Variants ==
Variants
MR 8 "SW1": also known as Kfz91. Armoured personnel carrier with a small observation turret-hatch (cupola) and no integral weapon. The turret hatch is split down the centre, allowing it to open vertically, in each half there are three vision blocks. Crew: 7; commander (right-hand side), driver (left-hand side), and five equipped infantry personnel in the rear compartment. • MR 8 "SW2a": also known as Kfz92. Armoured personnel carrier with a one-man 360° rotating turret, initially equipped with a Hispano-Suiza HS.820 autocannon, later upgraded to a Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 300-round autocannon, and three smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. Crew: 4; commander (right-hand side), driver (left-hand side), and two equipped infantry personnel in the rear compartment. • MR 8 "SW2b": also known as Kfz92. Armoured personnel carrier equipped with a 500-round dismountable MG 3 machine gun and three smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. Crew: 4; commander (right-hand side), driver (left-hand side), and two equipped infantry personnel in the rear compartment. • MR 8-09: 20 mm Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202 autocannon upgrade. • MR 8-20: unguided rocket and ATGM variant, with provision for twin 8 cm unguided missile launchers. • MR 8-23: heavy fire support and tank hunter vehicle with 90 mm medium-pressure gun and 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and two-man turret. • MR 9-32: 120 mm mortar carrier. == Gallery ==
Gallery
File:Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F010413-0001,_Lübeck,_Jubiläum_BGS,_Parade.jpg|10th anniversary of the Federal Border Protection (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz) in SW1 armoured personnel carries; parade in the presence of Federal Minister of the Interior Gerhard Schröder and BGS Brigadier General Alfred Samlowski, Lübeck, May 1961. File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F045459-0003, Bonn, Bewachung des Bundeskanzleramts.jpg|SW1 armoured personnel carrier of the Federal Border Protection (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz) guarding the Federal Chancellery ("Palais Schaumburg"), Bonn, May 1975. File:ReForGer 86 in Nurnberg, West Germany 1986.jpg|SW1 armoured personnel carriers of the Federal Border Protection (BGS, Bundesgrenzschutz) taking part in Exercise Reforger, West Germany, 1986. == References ==
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