Sisu NA-110 Nasu

     Notes: Finland's Arctic troops used horses for transport well into the 1960's, but eventually, the Finnish military decided it was time to replace them with vehicles.  To this end, they license-produced the Swedish BV-202s and Bv-206s, but the Finns weren’t weren't happy with the BV-206 as it was; they wanted a vehicle that was not only a rough-terrain vehicle (and remember, Finland abounds with swamps as well as snow), but a light-armored vehicle as well, and they felt that the Bv-206 did not have the muscle they wanted in the power department. With heavy modifications, the Finns turned them into the NA-110.  The word “Nasu” is an acronym of Nahua-Sisu, or “Tracked Sisu vehicle,” but the word Nasu is also the Finnish word for “piglet.”  The Na-110 has found employment in small number around the world, (particularly in use by arctic or mountain troops) ranging from the Chinese Woodlands Fire Service, Indian Army special police units, the Mexican Army’s mountain troops, and even in Antarctica (the armor makes them warmer inside than normal over-the-snow vehicles, as well as hardier).

     The first modification the Finns made was to the engine and drive train.  The engine was replaced with a more powerful 115-horsepower engine that was a bit more economical that the Bv-206s stock engine.  This meant that the cab portion (like the Bv-206, the Nasu has a front section with the engine and most of the drive train, driver, commander, and some of the crewmembers, and a rear cargo section) grew by about a meter and became taller.  The rear section was also lengthened a bit, primarily to increase its utility when not being used as a general APC. A general beefing-up of the suspension also raised the profile of the Nasu a bit.  Some light Kevlar armor was also added; the Nasu can generally stave off most small arms rounds and shell fragments.  The Nasu also has the capability to tow a special tracked trailer behind it to carry more cargo; this trailer is partially motorized, and can carry 2.5 tons, but cuts the Nasu’s speed in half.  The tracks of the Nasu were widened to 620 millimeters.  The Nasu is also fully amphibious without preparation other than switching on a bilge pump. Though the Nasu has more engine power, it is also much heavier than a Bv-206, and this negates most of the Nasu’s power advantage in the speed and agility departments; nonetheless, the Nasu has an almost unmatched power ratio among tracked armored vehicles.  The commander has a hatch in the roof over his seat that has a pintle weapon mount; a special mount can be fitted that allows the mounting of an ATGM (usually a TOW launcher).

     An appliqué armor kit was developed for the Nasu that effectively doubles the armor protection to most faces of the vehicle. Command, signals, and ambulance version also exist, as well as a version used as a carrier for a 120mm mortar.

 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

NA-110

$15,610

D, A

1.95 tons

5.25 tons

2+15*

4

Headlights

Shielded

NA-110 (w/Appliqué)

$17,686

D, A

1.65 tons

5.85 tons

2+15*

4

Headlights

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

NA-110

192/134

42/31/4

280

90

Stnd

T3

HF2  HS2  HR2

NA-110

176/123

39/28/4

280

98

Stnd

T3

HF4  HS4  HR4

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

NA-110

None

None

NSVT (C)

500x12.7mm

*Six in the front section, 9 in the rear.

**top and belly armor are 2.