| The VBR-2 [Lit; Viatura Blindada Sobre Rodas or Viatura Blindada de Reconhecimento] aka CRR [Lit; Carro de reconhecimento Sobre Rodas] was built as a result of a Brazilian
Army requirement. Subsequently this vehicle became the Cascavel and was produced by ENGESA. It had two basic versions: what was known as 'Cascavel Magro' (Lean
Cascavel) and the 'Cascavel Gordo' (Fat Cascavel). The 'Cascavel Magro' was the vehicle initialy delivered to the Brazilian Army, equiped with the 37mm gun, from the old M3
light tanks.
Due to customer requirements ENGESA developed the 'Cascavel Gordo' which was the 'Cascavel Magro' widened to receive the French CNMP-Berthiez H 90
turret equiped with a 90mm DEFA D 921 gun. Due to the high price of the French turret and gun, ENGESA then acquired a licence to produce the Belgian Cockerill Mk 3 gun
which was assembled in a ENGESA designed and produced turret. The engine used could be either a Mercedes Benz one from their factory in Brazil or if the customer so
required the Detroit Diesel 6V-53N imported from the US. Transmission was again either from the ZF factory in Brazil or Detroit Diesel Alison MT643 automatic from the US.
|