ABC-79M

The ABC-79M (4x4) (Romanian: amfibiu blindat pentru cercetare) armoured personnel carrier has been developed in Romania and uses some automotive components of the TAB-77 (8 × 8) armoured personnel carrier. Although previously known as TABC-79 (transportorul blindat pentru cercetare), it is now known as the ABC-79M.[1]

ABC-79M
TABC-79 in Afghanistan
Type	reconnaissance vehicle armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	Socialist Republic of Romania
Production history
No. built	154
Specifications
Mass	9,27 tonnes
Length	5,64 m
Width	2,80 m
Height	2,34 m
Crew	3+4
Main armament	1 × 14,5mm KPVT Machine gun 500 rounds
Secondary armament	1 × 7,62mm PKT Machine gun 2000 rounds
Engine	Diesel Type 798.05N2
Suspension	4×4
Operational range	700 km
Maximum speed	80 km/h

The ABC-79M is a simplified version of the earlier TAB-77 8x8 armored personal carrier, which was itself a Romanian version of the BTR-70. Both vehicles share several common components.

The ABC-79M is fully amphibious, and is equipped with a single water-jet for propulsion. Other equipment includes infra-red night-vision equipment, winch with 50m of cable and capacity of 5,500 kilograms, and central tire pressure regulation. It is also equipped with an engine preheater, to allow the engine to start in severe cold.

It is equipped for nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare and features a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun with 500 rounds of ammunition as primary armament. This is supplemented by a lighter 7.62mm machine gun with 2000 rounds of ammunition on board. Both weapons are located in a small one-man turret which is identical to turret of the TAB-77 and the earlier TAB-71M.

Production is now complete, and the vehicle is no longer available for foreign or domestic sale. It is in use only with second line units of the Romanian military, and there have been no export orders other than a single vehicle purchased by Israel in 1994. No Israeli order followed the trials.[2]