Tankograd Missions & Manouevres 7022 - Vehicles of the Modern Portuguese Army

Published work - Portuguese magazines

Published work in Portuguese magazines focuses mainly national military projects such as the
Portuguese-built Chaimite armoured vehicle or the Berliet-Tramagal family of military trucks, both deployed in combat operations in Africa, and units from the Portuguese Navy.

MOTOR CLÁSSICO ::  monthly :: classic cars 

Portuguese-built models:
Berliet-Tramagal GBC and GBA military trucks (MC 60)
UMM light tactical vehicles (MC 53)
Bravia Gazela, Leopardo and Pantera military trucks (MC 27 and 28)
Bravia Chaimite armoured vehicles (MC 22 and 23)

Foreigh models:
Daimler Ferret Mk II light armoured vehicle (MC 73)
M113 family of tracked armoured vehicles (MC 70)
Shorland Mk III patrol armoured car (MC 67)
M48 A5 Patton main battle tank (MC 65)
Panhard EBR and ETT wheeled armoured vehicles (MC 62)
M47 Patton main battle tank (MC 55)

SIRIUS :: bimonthly :: aviation and space

Plane spotting in Switzerland (November 2012)
Saab Gripen JAS-39 E/F selected by the Swiss Air Force (March 2012)
Sion Air Show 2011 (November 2011)

REVISTA DE MARINHA :: bimonthly :: naval subjects

D. Francisco de Almeida frigate, Dutch Karel Doorman class (February 2011)
Navy Day 2010 in Portimão (May 2010)
New Tridente submarine, U-209PN model (November 2010)
Cassiopeia patrol boat, Surveilling the seas at fast speed (February 2010)

VEGA :: bimonthly :: naval subjects

The Navy Helicopter Squadron (EHM), Sailing across the skies (August 2008)

TOPOS & CLÁSSICOS :: monthly :: classic vehicles

Bravia Comando Mk III, Portuguese-built armoured patrol car (January 2009)

SEGURANÇA E DEFESA :: quarterly :: national security and defense

Portuguese Army (November 2007) 

Chaimite: Second article published

Following a first part published in the December issue, the Portuguese magazine Motor Clássico has published on its Jannuary issue, the second part of a work covering the history of the portuguese-built Chaimite armoured vehicle.

Among the topics covered are the operational deployment of the Chaimite fleet in the Colonial War during the 1970s and the peacekeeping operations of the 1990s, details from foreign users , the Portuguese Marines fleet inclunding the history of the Armada 90 vehicle as well as other unknown aspects and curiosities such as the current status of the Portuguese and foreign vehicles or the destiny of the vehicles and prototypes.
These two articles are the result of several months of field research which has included interviews, research on archives, military units and press as part of the Chaimite Research Project. Main references and sources are indicated in the second part.

Pedro Monteiro

Chaimite: First article published

The Portuguese magazine Motor Clássico has published on its December issue, the first part of the history of the portuguese-built Chaimite armoured vehicle which has been in operation with both Portuguese and foreign military and security forces since the 1970s.

This first article comprises topics such as the context which surround the development of the project, the first years of production, other projects developed by the Bravia-VM (e.g., the Leopardo truck and the Comando Mk III security vehicle) as well as a technical description of the Chaimite. Other topics will have further development in the second part of this work.
The article is the result of several months of field research which has included interviews, research on archives, military units and press as part of the Chaimite Research Project.

Pedro Monteiro

Chaimite Project: A visit to Escola Prática de Cavalaria

On the first week of February, I have visited the Escola Prática de Cavalaria (EPC, Practical School of Cavalry) as part of the research which I am doing about the Chaimite and the Bravia-VM (please, check my last post). More recently, as part of the new organization of the Portuguese Army, the EPC has been moved from Santarém to Abrantes, where it was located a former infantry regiment.

Besides, this was a good opportunity to photograph some of the armoured vehicles which have served in the portuguese Cavalry (and that are preserved in Abrantes), as well as the present armoured fleet. In fact, the EPC has already in service the new Pandur II 8x8 armoured vehicle.

One of the new Pandur II 8x8 received by the EPC in the right side of the photo. In the left side, we can see a Chaimite V-600 4x4 armoured vehicle [click to enlarge].

The french-built Panhard AML was a light armoured vehicle used in the Colonial War (1961-1974) in missions such as scort and reconnaissance. Some of the vehicles were upgraded in the 1980s with a new engine and systems and, finally, redraw from service in 2001-2002 [click to enlarge].

An impressive M48 A5 Patton main battle tank in the main gate of the EPC. It was used by the 1ª Brigada Mista Independente, now known as Brigada Mecanizada (mechanized infantary). They were replaced by the M60 A3 TTS [click to enlarge].

Though Portugal does not use horse cavalry any longer, the Portuguese Army still has the tradition of learning how to ride a horse [click to enlarge].

Pedro Monteiro

Rosa Brava 07

The portuguese Army has conducted in April an exercise involving its heavy brigade, the Brigada Mecanizada (Mechanized Brigade). The exercise, called Rosa Brava 07 has mobilized 1.230 men and 267 vehicles. In the same period, and also at Campo Militar de Santa Margarida, where the operational units of the Brigada Mecanizada are based, another exercise - Eficácia 07 - was conducted involving the artillery and fire support units of the portuguese Armed Forces. I made a report on 19th April for the spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A M109 A5 howitzer in firing position.

M60 A3 TTS tanks of Brigada Mecanizada whose operation will probably end by 2008 with the reception of the new Leopard 2 A6, currently operated by The Netherlands.

A M60 main battle tank fires its 105mm gun.

The press received detailed explanations from the military evolved in the exercise. The new century has brought new challenges, such as the need of more cooperation with the press.

The following units have been involved on the operations:
Brigada Mecanizada (mechanized infantary); Brigada de Reacção Rápida (the operational and elite forces brigade, partipated with an unit of para-troops); Brigada de Intervenção (medium brigade, a cavalary unit was deployed); troops and equipment from Escola Prática de Artilharia and Regimento de Artilharia Nº 4; fire support units (mortars) from Regimento de Infantaria Nº 13, Regimento de Guarnição Nº 1 e Regimento de Guarnição Nº 3. The Navy deployed a fire support unit (mortars) of the Corpo de Fuzileiros (marines). In the case of the Air Force, F-16 OCU and Alpha-Jet fighters had made some missions, as the Alouette III helicopters in transport and logistic support role.

Na manhã do dia 19Abr07 realizar-se-á o Distinguished Visitors Day destes exercícios, que incluirá uma demonstração do Pelotão de Aquisição de Objectivos e Pelotão de Defesa NBQ e um exercício táctico com fogos reais, integrando ossistemas funcionais de Combate, Apoio de Combate, Apoio de Fogos e Apoio de Serviços orgânicos das Unidades participantes nos exercícios. Desde 13Abr07 até 20Abr07, decorrem no Campo Militar de Santa Margarida (CMSM) e de forma integrada, os Exercícios “ROSA BRAVA 07” (exercício da Brigada Mecanizada) e “EFICÁCIA 07” (exercício do Comando Operacional do Exército).

Pedro Monteiro