TAMSE TAM Light Tank / Medium Tank

TAMSE TAM Light Tank / Medium Tank
Attempting to modernized its extensively outdated armored corps consisting of World War 2-era M4 Sherman Medium Tanks and M3/M9 Half Tracks, the Argentine government sought new alternatives entering into the 1970s. Since the nation lacked the historical base needed for indigenous design and development of an expensive tracked vehicle program, they commissioned the German concern of Thyssen-Henschel (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme of Kassel, Germany) in 1974 for the task. Key to the Argentine Army requirement was development of a frontline Light/Medium class combat tank and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) utilizing the same chassis and powertrain to keep costs under control.