Bison

Notes: This vehicle, like the LAV-25, is based on the MOWAG Piranha chassis. It is basically a more heavily armored LAV, with the turret removed and the roofline raised. There is a driver's hatch on the front left deck, commander's hatch behind that, and two large hatches on the center deck. There is a large stand on the rear deck for carrying of outsize cargoes. The rear of the hull has a drop ramp with a door in it. In the front of the hull is a winch with a capacity of 6.8 tons and 100 meters of cable. The Bison has propellers for amphibious movement with rudders for steering in the water. There are a number of variants.

Externally, the Bison Ambulance is almost identical to the Bison APC, except for the large stowage boxes on the upper hull sides and the air conditioning unit on the rear deck stand. Internally, the Bison Ambulance is configured to carry medical supplies and patients. The Bison Ambulance carries a refrigerator, an 80-liter water tank, a respirator, a defibrillator, at least one doctor's medical bag, and at least two stretchers, as well as lockers for supplies.

The Bison Command Post Vehicle is externally similar to the Bison APC. Inside, the vehicle is fitted with extra radios, at least one short range, 2 medium range, and one long-range radio. Also fitted is a GPS/land navigation system, and battle management computer. On the rear of the vehicle is a tent to expand the work area to double the area.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle was in common use in Canada during the Twilight War; some of them were also used by the US Marines, and a dozen were sold to the Texas Army National Guard for use in urban drug raids; these were used as regular personnel carriers during the war. Another user was Australia, who calls them the ASLAV-PC. The Bison CPVs were the primary command vehicle of Canadian forces, were used in a limited amount by the US Marines, and, fitted with extra ground-to-air radios, were the vehicle of choice for Canadian FALO teams.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Bison APC

$40,927

D, A

2 tons

12.94 tons

2+9

5

Passive IR

Enclosed

Bison Ambulance

$47,284

D, A

1.5 tons

13.44 tons

3+8 Sitting or 4 Stretchers

7

Passive IR

Enclosed

Bison CPV

$78,977

D, A

1.7 tons

13.24 tons

5

7

Passive IR

Enclosed

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Bison APC

213/128

60/20/5

300

102

Stnd

W(6)

HF6 HS4 HR3

Bison Ambulance

207/124

60/20/5

300

102

Stnd

W(6)

HF6 HS4 HR3

Bison CPV

180/108

60/15/5

300

108

Stnd

W(6)

HF6 HS4 HR3

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Bison APC

None

None

L-6 (C)

1620x7.62mm

Bison Ambulance/CPV

None

None

L-6 (C)

1000x7.62mm

Grizzly

Notes: Like the LAV-25, the Grizzly is based on the MOWAG Piranha; however, the Grizzly is based on the 6x6 rather than the 8x8 version of that vehicle. They also predate the LAV-25 in Canadian service by about a half a decade, being first seen in service in 1979. The Grizzly is otherwise similar to the LAV-25, except for its turret, which is smaller and less heavily armed. There is a driver’s hatch on the front left deck, a commander’s hatch on the turret deck (which just as often as not has a weapons mount), two doors on the rear of the hull, and two hatches on the rear deck. There are two firing ports on each side of the passenger compartment. The turret of the Grizzly is the same turret as fitted on some versions of the LAV-150 and LAV-300. Like the LAV-25, the Grizzly can be fitted with the LAST appliqué armor kit.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$69,285

D, A

900 kg

10.5 tons

3+6

3

Passive IR

Enclosed

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

207/124

67/40/7

204

79

Trtd

W(5)

TF4 TS3 TR3 HF6 HS4 HR3

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+1

Fair

M-2HB, L-6, (Some) L-6 (C)

1000x.50BMG, 4400x7.62N

Kodiak

Notes: This is the Canadian version of the Piranha Category III armored personnel carrier in 8x8 configuration. It is basically a LAV-25 with upgraded armor and electronics. The hull is longer and wider to accommodate more passengers and crew, and a more powerful engine is installed to cope with the added weight. The Kodiak is fitted with antilock brakes and is unlikely to skid during a fast stop or turn. The Kodiak is fitted with better night vision, an 8-ton capacity winch in the front, air conditioning, heating, arctic engine and fuel heating, and usually has frequency hopping radios. In addition, the Kodiak has a threat-warning receiver that alerts the crew when they are being targeted by enemy lasers or scanned by enemy radar.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The Kodiak was developed to replace the LAV-25 in Canadian service. A few examples of these vehicles were tested by the US Marines and taken into service.

Merc 2000 Notes: The Kodiak began replacing the LAV-25 in Canadian and (partially) in US Marine service in 2006.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$305,090

D, A

2.68 tons

16.5 tons

3+8

5

Thermal Imaging, Image Intensification

Shielded

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

160/96

35/15/3

300

102

Trtd

W(6)

TF7Sp TS6Sp TR6 HF9Sp HS5Sp HR4

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+3

Good

25mm Chaingun, L-6

845x25mm, 2175x7.62N

LAV-25

Notes: This is a Canadian design adapted for use by the US Marines. They were developed from the chassis of the MOWAG Piranha 8x8 version to fulfill the requirements of the US Marines, but Canada soon found themselves using them, then the US Army, then Australia and Saudi Arabia. There are two firing ports in each side and two in the rear face; these firing ports may take the M-16 and its variants, the Steyr AUG and its variants, the M-249, or the MAG machinegun. An optional commander’s machinegun mount is available; this is not normally fitted to US LAV-25s, but other countries normally have it.

The LAV-L is turretless and has a raised superstructure. It is used as an armored truck of sorts, i.e., a logistics carrier. It is used by the US Marines. The commander has a pintle mount for an M-60 machinegun, and there are 4 smoke grenade launchers on each side of the hull. There are large hatches on the rear roof for cargo access, as well as a crane with a capacity of 550 kg over the left rear wheel. There are also large doors on the back of the vehicle, large enough for forklifts to load the vehicle. Removable seats may be added if the vehicle is to be used as a personnel carrier. Some of these vehicles have a drop ramp instead of the rear doors.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

LAV-25

$232,263

D, A

1.86 tons

12.79 tons

3+6

5

Passive IR

Enclosed

LAV-L

$41,230

D, A

2.47 tons

12 tons

3

3

Passive IR

Enclosed

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

LAV-25

167/102

40/15/4

300

85

Trtd

W(6)

TF6 TS4 TR4 HF6 HS4 HR4

LAV-L

190/114

55/25/5

300

94

Stnd

W(6)

HF6 HF4 HR4

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

LAV-25

+1

Basic

25mm ChainGun, L-6

630x25mm, 1620x7.62mm

LAV-L

None

None

M-60E2 or L-6

1000x7.62mm