B + V Industrietechnik, formerly Blohm + Voss, has been engaged in the design, development and production of a wide range of armoured hulls and turrets for both tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles since the 1960s.

The company manufactures:

(1) light and heavy turret and hull casings

(2) add on armour for turret and hull casings

(3) refitting of armoured vehicles to improve their combat effectiveness

(4) in addition, a repair service for armour casings is also offered by the company.

The welded and machined turret is normally sent to another contractor for final fitting out before it is installed on the vehicle. In the case of the hulls, they leave the production site ready for the installation of subassemblies such as the power pack and suspension.

During the last decades, B + V Industrietechnik has produced more than 10,000 turret and hull castings for national as well as international contractors, particularly casings forthe Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 MBTs, for the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system and the Buffel armoured recovery vehicle.

Based on the company's manufacturing know how, co-operation and co-production agreements were made with Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland for the production of the Leopard 1 and 2 MBTs.

Today, the company is manufacturing the chassis the 185 PzH 2000 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled guns ordered by the German Army from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. These chassis are sent to MaK in Kiel where they are fitted out.

B + V Industrietechnik, in co-operation with the Federal Office for Military Engineering and Procurement, has developed an up-armouring kit for the Leopard 1A3 which, when fitted, provides the same level of protection as the later Leopard 1A4 MBT with its welded turret.

Today weight of the armour kit is 700 kg. Similar kits have been developed for other vehicles including the AMX-30 and M48 MBTs, M113 APC and Jagdpanzer rocket anti-tank guided missile destroyer.

In addition to delivering Leopard 1 up-armouring packages to the German Army, they have also been delivered to Italy and the Netherlands for their Leopard 1 MBTs. Following restructuring, the Leopard 1 MBTs have been phased out of service with Germany and the Netherlands.

In service with many countries.

Included in: Product Amount PzH 2000 (Self-propelled howitzer) 1