Panhard M3 VTT (APC)

The Panhard M3 VTT (French: Véhicule de Transport de Troupes) is a vehicle carrying troops of French firm Panhard, it’s a variant of AML-60 which uses the same essential components. The Auto-Mitrailleusse Legere, aka the Panhard AML was developed and manufactured by French firm Panhard to meet the requirements of the French Army for an indigenous 4x4 Scout Car. Riding on the success of the AML, Panhard developed as a private venture for the export market the M3 Armored Personnel Carrier. Both the AML and M3 share 95% commonality in their parts. The first M3 prototype was completed in 1969 and production started in 1971, since then over 1200 were built, which were exported to 35 countries around the world. Production has now ceased. The M3 APC was subsequently replaced in production by the Buffalo

The hull of the Panhard General Defense M3 is made of all-welded steel armour with the driver seated at the front of the vehicle with 3 vision periscopes. The engine is behind him and the rear space is used for variants equipment. The 1969 prototype had square-cut sides with a single door in each side of the hull and twin doors in the hull rear. It was intended that each door would have a single circular firing port. The production vehicle had a redesigned hull incorporating three hatches either side of the troop compartment.

The M3 served mainly with Infantry Battalions, both in Ireland and with UNIFIL, in the Defence Forces, although the 4th Cavalry Sqdn. is known to have used some. It is reported that some of the 61 M3s delivered to the DF were re-engined, though it is not clear if this was with a Peugeot 2.5l V6 Petrol engine or the Peugeot XD Diesel engine as re-fitted to the AMLs.