Opal (armoured personnel carrier)

The ''Opal''-I is a multi-purpose fully amphibious armoured personnel carrier developed and produced by HSW S.A. in Poland. APC is a development of MT-LB that was produced in HSW under licence. Major changes are reworked nose section and fitted propellers for better floating speed and manoeuvrability, new turret with 12.7 mm NSVT machine-gun instead of old one with 7.62 PKT and powered-up engine. ''Opal''-II is a stretched variant with longer chassis with 7 road wheels on each side, like the 2S1 and MT-LBu and 300 hp (220 kW) SW680T engine.

Variants

WPT ''Mors''

(''WPT'' for ''Wóz Pogotowia Technicznego'' - lit. ''Technical Support Vehicle'') - armoured recovery and repair vehicle with light crane, hydraulic dozerblade, welding equipment and an NBC detection system. The vehicle is a basic support vehicle of mechanized battalions equipped with BMP-1 IFV in Polish Land Forces.

TRI ''Hors''

(''TRI'' for ''Transporter Rozpoznania Inżynieryjnego'' - lit. ''Engineering Reconnaissance Vehicle'') - engineering vehicle with basic equipment. In use with Polish Land Forces.Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Hors
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TRI-D ''Durian''

It's TRI ''Hors'' additionally equipped with trailer-mounted UZR-3 mine clearing system. In use with Polish Land Forces.Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Durian
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ISM ''Kroton''

(''ISM'' for ''Inżynieryjny System Minowania'' – lit. ''Engineer Minelaying System'', ''Kroton'' is Polish for Croton) - ''Opal''-II based engineer vehicle with mine-scattering system UMN mounted on a cargo bed. UMN consists of 4 launchers, each with 20 launch containers for anti-personnel or anti-tank mines. The ISM has a crew of 2 and a combat weight of 15.25 tonnes. It entered service with Polish Land Forces in 2004.Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Kroton
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WEM ''Lotos''

Armoured ambulance vehicle. In service with Polish Land Forces.Huta Stalowa Wola Web Site - Lotos
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ZWD-10R ''Łowcza''-3

(''ZWD'' for ''Zautomatyzowany Wóz Dowodzenia'' – lit. ''Automatic Command Vehicle'') - ''Opal''-I based air defence command vehicle equipped with ''Łowcza'' system. The troop compartment section of vehicle is higher than in standard vehicle. Also known as LA-3. Vehicle is used by Polish Land Forces.

LSPZRA ''Sopel''

(''LSPZRA'' for ''lekki samobieżny przeciwlotniczy zestaw rakietowo-artyleryjski'' – lit. ''light, self-propelled, anti-aircraft, combined gun and missile system''; ''Sopel'' is Polish for Icicle) - air defence variant armed with twin 23 mm cannon and two 9M32M "Strela-2M" surface to air missiles. Vehicle designed as air-defence vehicle for mechanized units. Only prototype.

LSPZRA ''Stalagmit''

(''Stalagmit'' is Polish for Stalagmite) - development of ''Sopel'', based on ''Opal''-II, armed with ELOP turret with two 23 mm Model-4216 guns and 4 ''Grom'' surface to air missiles. This variant was equipped with more advanced guiding systems. Only prototype.

''Bor''

Ammunition re-supply vehicle for artillery units. Only prototype.

References

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Tracked armoured personnel carriers
Armoured personnel carriers of Poland
Amphibious armoured personnel carriers
Tracked amphibious vehicles