WPB Anders

{{Short description|Family of Polish medium, tracked combat vehicles}} {{Infobox weapon|name=Anders |image=Anders MSPO2010 P1010145.JPG |image_size=300 |caption=Anders light tank demonstrator during MSPO exhibition 2010. |origin=Poland  |type= * Infantry fighting vehicle * Light tank |is_vehicle=yes |is_UK=yes |designer=OBRUM |design_date=2008–2011 |length={{convert|6.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |width={{convert|3.2|m|abbr=on}} |height={{convert|2.8|m|abbr=on}} |weight={{convert|35|t|lb|abbr=on}} |suspension=Torsion bar suspension |speed={{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}} |vehicle_range= |primary_armament=120 mm Ruag CTG cannon or<br> 30 × 173 mm ATK Mk44 Bushmaster II gun |secondary_armament=co-axial 7.62 mm UKM-2000C<br>12.7 mm WKM-B or 40 mm GA-40 in remote controlled turret |armour= |engine=MTU diesel |crew=3 (Commander, gunner and driver) |passengers=4 (Light Tank) or 8 (IFV) |engine_power={{convert|720|hp|abbr=on|lk=in}} |pw_ratio=22 hp/tonne }}

The '''WPB Anders''' ({{langx|pl|Wielozadaniowa Platforma Bojowa Anders}} i.e., Anders Multirole Combat Platform) is a family of medium, tracked combat vehicles. The vehicle was designed by OBRUM ({{langx|pl|Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych}} – Research and Development Centre for Mechanical Appliances) part of the ''Bumar Group'' (now Polish Armaments Group). It is named after Władysław Anders, a general of the Polish Army during World War II and later a member of the Polish government-in-exile.

==History== thumb|left|Anders light tank demonstrator on MSPO 2010 thumb|right|Anders light tank prototype on MSPO 2010 The vehicle was designed to replace the Polish Army's remaining inventory of obsolete BWP-1 fighting vehicles family, the first prototype being publicly shown in 2010, at the MSPO Kielce defense industry exhibition. During its first presentation, the vehicle was shown in its fire support configuration ({{langx|pl|wóz wsparcia ogniowego}}), armed with a 120-mm tank gun. The media referred to this vehicle as a "light tank". Later, the same vehicle was shown configured as an infantry fighting vehicle ({{langx|pl|bojowy wóz piechoty}}) with a KTO Rosomak Hitfist-30P turret. A more advanced IFV prototype is expected to be shown at the 2011 MSPO Kielce exhibition. Further variants, such as command and control, medical evacuation, combat-engineering and self-propelled anti-aircraft gun are also planned.

==Technical details== In its basic configuration the vehicle has a STANAG 4569 protection level of 3; this can be increased to level 5 with a planned add-on armor system.

==Variants== thumb|Anders infantry fighting vehicle prototype on MSPO 2011

Developed by OBRUM for Polish Armed Forces as part of the '''Universal Modular Tracked Platform (UMTP)'''-family. As of 2016 OBRUM have developed an infantry fighting vehicle based on the Anders chassis, and are furthermore developing versions including engineering vehicles, command and control, ammunition wagons and medical vehicles, etc.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/mspo-2016-universal-vehicle-prototype-advances|title=MSPO 2016: Universal vehicle prototype advances|first=Grant|last=Turnbull|publisher=Shephard Media|date=September 12, 2016|accessdate=September 12, 2016}}</ref>

==See also== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * {{lwc|PT-91 Twardy}} * {{lwc|M2 Bradley}} * {{lwc|AIFV}} * {{lwc|Combat Vehicle 90|CV90}} * {{lwc|Puma (IFV)|Puma}} * {{lwc|Warrior tracked armoured vehicle|Warrior}} * {{lwc|ASCOD}} * {{lwc|Dardo IFV|Dardo}} * {{lwc|ELVO Kentaurus|Kentaurus}} * {{lwc|Tulpar (IFV)|Tulpar}} * {{lwc|Bionix AFV|Bionix}} * {{lwc|K21}} * {{lwc|Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV|Type 89}} * {{lwc|T-15 Armata}} * {{lwc|Tanque Argentino Mediano#Variants|VCTP}} * {{lwc|Abhay IFV|Abhay}} * {{lwc|PL-01}} {{div col end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100218143712/http://www.altair.com.pl/start-3382 Altair - Polski czołg lekki] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100909174331/http://www.altair.com.pl/nsp-spec-202 Altair - Propozycja Bumaru: Wielozadaniowa Platforma Bojowa Anders] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100909174356/http://www.altair.com.pl/nsp-spec-207 Altair - WPB Anders] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101025074951/http://www.altair.com.pl/start-5235 Altair - Anders strzela] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101214140622/http://www.altair.com.pl/start-5498 Bwp Anders – następca BWP-1] {{in lang|pl}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708104525/http://www.bumar.com/aktualnosci/1145/ W Bumarze-Łabędy nowa odsłona ANDERSA] {{in lang|pl}}

==External links== {{Commons category|WPB Anders}} *[http://www.armyrecognition.com/poland_polish_tanks_heavy_armoured_vehicles_uk/anders_120mm_light_tank_expeditionary_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_pictures_video.html Anders 120mm Light Expeditionary tank technical data sheet - specifications - pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819150121/http://www.armyrecognition.com/poland_polish_tanks_heavy_armoured_vehicles_uk/anders_120mm_light_tank_expeditionary_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_pictures_video.html |date=2017-08-19 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110103060207/http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZugokHYUDUyEz2yxWzEWeQ?feat=embedwebsite picture of fire support vehicle]

Category:Tanks of the post–Cold War period Category:Light tanks of Poland Category:Autoloaders Category:Armoured fighting vehicles of the post–Cold War period Category:Tracked infantry fighting vehicles Category:Infantry fighting vehicles of Poland