MTU MB837 series engine is the first generation armored vehicles series engine, developed by Germany after the Second World War. The full range includes V-6, V-8, V-10 and V-12. Later, due to the increase in engine bore from 165mm to 170mm and the use of different ways on speed and supercharging, developed a total of more than 10 kinds of models with the power range from 290 ~ 1103 kilowatts. These engines have been applied in more than 20 armored vehicles in about 15 countries, with the quantity of more than 14,000 units.

In the early 1950s, Daimler-Benz AG, one of the components of MTU Frederick Hafen, began to develop a high-power MB837 tank engine in accordance with the requirements of the Swiss Ministry of Military Technology. In 1955 the company developed a compact V8 water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine with a capacity of 463 kilowatts (630 horsepower) on the basis of the experience of the development of aero-engine and car engine, which later became the Swiss Pz61 tank power MB837Ba-500 diesel engine. Since then this model power has increased to 485 kilowatts (660 horsepower), once again Switzerland named it the Pz tank power.

Type BA 837-Ba 500
Manufacturer Mercedes Benz
Design 90 degree V-form
Fuel Diesel
Method of operation Four-stroke precombustion chamber process with mechanical supercharger
Number of cylinders 8
Total capacity 29,900 cm3
Effective output 460 - 483 KW, based on DIN at 2200/min
Max torque 2206 NM at 1750/min
Power-to-weight ratio 11 KW/t
R.p.m. idle 600-630 (engine at operating temperature)
Fuel injection sequence 1-8-4-2-7-3-6-5
Maximum speed with minimum load 2400 - 2460 / min
Maximum speed fully loaded 2200 / min (rated speed)
Maximum permitted rotary speed during operation 2350 / min
Lowest operating rotary speed 1500 / min
Cooling type Water circulation cooling
Coolant 115 litres
Engine’s direction of rotation Left (flywheel view)
Mass 1550 kg
Maximum length including drive coupling 1360 mm
Maximum width 1060 mm
Maximum height 1096 mm