HSW from Poland presents its Baobab-K truck-mounted scatterable mine-laying system
According to a video published by the Polish Company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) S.A., the company has presented the latest prototype of its Baobab-K truck-mounted scatterable mine-laying system. The BAOBAB-K enables an automatic laying of barrier minefields of different sizes, densities, and times of self-destruction.
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Polish-made HSW Baobab-K truck-mounted scatterable mine-laying system. (Picture source HSW)
The first prototype of the Baobab scattered mine laying platform was presented in September 2013 during the MSPO Defense Exhibition that was held in Kielce, Poland. In December 2018, The Polish army procurement agency awarded a contract to the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola to develop a prototype of the Baobab-K. Citing Jane's website, HSW expects that the development could be completed by the end of 2022.
The Baobak-K is based on a P662D.43 8x8 truck chassis manufactured by the Polish company Jelcz. The vehicle is designed with a crew cabin at the front and a crane on its rear and six mine launcher units, each mounted on a turntable mounted at the rear of the truck chassis. Each mine launcher unit has twenty preloaded magazines each holding five mines. Each launcher unit carries 100 mines. The BAOBAB-K can use two types of anti-tank mines, the MN123.1 with immediate action and the MN123.2 with delayed action.
The MN-123 is a Polish scatterable anti-tank mine. The mine is a flat cylinder, with a beveled edge. It is normally deployed from a ground vehicle, using a dispensing system holding 80 mines. The mine can also be manually laid. Like the MN-121 mine, it uses a magnetic influence fuze which detects when a vehicle passes over it. It also has an anti-handling device. Both faces of the mine have a Misznay Schardin effect-shaped charge, which is reportedly able to penetrate 60 millimeters of armor at an offset of 0.3 meters.
The BAOBAB-K enables the deployment of barrier minefields with different sizes, densities of laying, and time of self-destruction. Required parameters of the resultant barrier are obtained by suitable programming of the control unit in automatic or manual mode and positioning of launchers. The minefield laying process is carried out automatically by using a control station. The vehicle is operated by a crew of two.
In automatic mode, the computer calculates the speed of the vehicle, launcher settings, and adjusts the frequency of launching mines while driving. Additionally, minefield parameters and coordinates are recorded on digital maps and displayed on the computer screen and might be sent through radio communications to higher command level units.
The BAOBAB can launch the mine from center line of the vehicle to a distance of 30 to 90 m with a speed from 5 to 25 km/h with the possibility of launching on the sides and the rear of the vehicle. Possibility of laying on both sides and to the rear of the vehicle. the Baobab-K is bale to create a minefield of up to 1,800 m with a laying time of less than 22 min. The vehicle can be reloaded in less than 30 min.
The Jelcz P662D.43 is based on high mobility truck chassis with an armored crew cabin at the front providing protection against the firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. The truck has a length of 11 m, a width of 2.6, and a height of 3.4 m with the launcher units. It has a combat weight of 31,700 kg. The truck can reach a maximum road speed of 85 km with an off-road range of 580 km and a road range of 1,650 km.
