The DAF YP-408 is a Dutch 8×6 armoured personnel carrier, with three out of four axles driven by the typical DAF

H-drive An H-drive drivetrain is a system used for heavy off-road vehicles with 6×6 or 8×8 drive to supply power to each wheel station. H-drives do not use axles but rather individual wheel stations, usually carried on a punt chassis. A single differ ...

. It has a 6-litre, 6-cylinder

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-ca ...

with a 5-speed gearbox and a 2-speed

transfer case A transfer case is a part of the drivetrain of four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and other multiple powered axle vehicles. The transfer case transfers power from the transmission to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts. It also syn ...

. Prototypes were developed in the late 1950s, with the production of 750 vehicles taking place in the 1960s. The YP-408 entered service in 1964 and remained in use with the Dutch army until 1987. A number of vehicles serving with the

Netherlands Army The Royal Netherlands Army ( nl, Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Though the Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, its origins date back to 1572, when the was raised – making the Dutc ...

in Suriname were handed to the new Surinamese army when that country became independent in 1975. The Portuguese Air Force received 28 ex-Dutch examples in 1992. These were used by its ''

Polícia Aérea The ''Polícia Aérea'' ( Portuguese for "Air Police") or PA is the military police and ground combat force of the Portuguese Air Force. The Air Police has as its main symbol the Blue Beret with the Emblem of the Air Force. Missions The ''Políc ...

'' (

military police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear rec ...

), in the air base security role, until the early 2000s.

Variants

* YP-408 PWI-S /Pantserwiel Infanterie Standaard: Basic version with a two-man crew (driver and gunner), able to carry up to ten passengers and armed with a Browning HB 12.7mm HMG. Of the 429 vehicles produced, around 84 were later converted to other roles (see below). In reality, this version consisted of two near identical models: ** YP-408 PWI-S(GR)/Pantserwiel Infanterie Standaard (Groep): This was used to carry an armoured infantry section. ** YP-408 PWI-S(PC)/Pantserwiel Infanterie Standaard (Pelotonscommando): Platoon commander's variant fitted with an RT 3600 Radio and a pair of antennae. * YP-408 PWCO /Pantserwiel Commando: Command vehicle fitted with additional radios and a desk equipped with special lighting. Crew comprised six men. 179 were built. * YP-408 PWGWT /Pantserwiel Gewondentransport: Unarmed version with a three-man crew (driver, signaller and a medic) able to carry up to six wounded soldiers (two on stretchers and four seated). 28 were built. * YP-408 PWV /Pantserwiel Vracht: Cargo vehicle capable of carrying a 1,500 kg payload. 28 were built. * YP-408 PWMR /Pantserwiel Mortier: Mortar transporter that towed a 120mm mortar. Besides the driver and gunner, the vehicle carried a five-man mortar detachment and 50 shells. 86 were built. * YP-408 PWAT /Pantserwiel Antitank: Anti-tank vehicle with a centrally mounted

TOW missile The BGM-71 TOW ("Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided") is an American anti-tank missile. TOW replaced much smaller missiles like the SS.10 and ENTAC, offering roughly twice the effective range, a more powerful warhead, and a greatly ...

launcher instead of an MG mount. The vehicle, which had a four-man crew, was a conversion of the basic YP-408 PWI-S. Approximately 55 were produced. * YP-408 PWRDR /Pantserwiel Radar: This version carried a Marconi ZB-298 Battlefield Surveillance Radar that could be mounted on the roof behind the MG mounting, or detached and mounted on a tripod. The vehicle, which had a four-man crew, was a conversion of the basic YP-408 PWI-S. Approximately 29 were produced.

References

External links

"Armoured car - the wheeled fighting vehicle newsletter" pages 9 & 10, issue #32, December 1995;, article by J. w. l. Heesakkers

"DAF YP408 Forgotten hero?"
{{Modern IFV and APC Wheeled armoured personnel carriers Armoured fighting vehicles of the Netherlands Military vehicles introduced in the 1960s Eight-wheeled vehicles