The Char de dépannage DNG/DCL is an armoured recovery vehicle built upon the chassis of the Leclerc battle tank.

The DCL comes as a replacement for the AMX-30 D in the role of a recovery and repair tank for battle tanks over 50 tonnes. Nexter designates it DNG (Dépanneur Nouvelle Génération, "next generation repair"); the French Army uses the term DCL (Dépanneur du Char Leclerc, "Leclerc tank repair").

Char de dépannage DNG/DCL

The main role of the DCL is tugging disabled tanks out of a battle zone; its secondary roles include repairing damaged tanks, and helping in military engineering. For these roles, it is fitted with a crane which allows removing a tank turret, and a bulldozer blade.

Char de dépannage DNG/DCL

20 DCL are currently in service in the French Army. One is deployed in South Lebanon in support of the 13 Leclerc tanks of the UNIFIL. 46 DCL are in service in the United Arab Emirates.

Char de dépannage DNG/DCL

Equipment

Main winch: 180m long, 35 tonnes tugging

Secondary winch: 230m, 1.3 tonne

Crane: 30 tonnes lifting

3.4 metre bulldozer blade

Diesel generator

20 DREB smoke generators

1 x 12.7 mm machine gun

Notes and references

GIAT

chars-francais.net

Armoured fighting vehicles of France

Tracked armoured recovery vehicles

Military vehicles introduced in the 1990s