AV Technology Dragoon Engineer/Maintenance Vehicle
Notes:
This vehicle is based on the LFV-90 Dragoon light combat vehicle chassis.
Several were used by US forces temporarily by the nascent 9th Light Motorized
Infantry Division, and there are rumors of some use by Stryker Brigades, the Air
Force, and light divisions. Kuwait
also employs it as their prime recovery and repair vehicle for light vehicles,
using 70 of them. Other users include Canada (since replaced), Thailand, Turkey,
and Venezuela.
In the EMV
vehicle, the turret is removed and replaced by a raised superstructure and a
crane. The crane can lift 4.54
tons, enough to lift the engine or turret of a Dragoon or similar-sized vehicle,
such as an ASFV; a secondary crane can lift 2.98 tons, and can work together
with the main crane; while either can rotate 360 degrees, but working together,
they can only pivot 190 degrees.
The winch is in the front and has limited capacity at 14.62 tons, or double that
with snatch blocks. Four boom legs are lowered at the center and rear corners of
the vehicle when the crane is in operations.
The EMV is equipped with tools required for field maintenance, and the
rear cargo doors are large to allow standard cargo pallets to be carried
internally. The EMV normally
carries a small (2kW) generator at the right corner of the roof.
A weakness of the Dragoon EMV is that it is normally unarmed.
The Dragoon EMV retains the firing ports of the LFV-90 (two on each side,
and one in the rear). A normal tool set is basic tools, wheeled vehicle tools,
small arms tools, large weapon tools, a 10-ton capacity jack, an air compressor,
power tools, fuel and fluid pumps, a slave cable, a towbar, a snatch block, and
a fold-out tent at the rear where a folding workbench and tarp can be set up. A
flat area at the lowered rear deck can carry a Dragoon, Stryker, V-150 or 300,
or M1117 powerpack. A spare tire is also normally carried on the roof, where it
blocks several hatches, or the rear (where it blocks other hatches), or one each
side. There are numerous boxes, drawers, bins, and under-sear stowage for tools
and spare parts. The Dragoon EMV
has a central tire pressure system, run-flat tires, and puncture resistant
tires. This increases the suspension rating beyond what you would expect from a
4x4 vehicle. The crew has two firing ports in each side and one in the rear
door. In addition, there are six other vision blocks in each side.
The crew is protected by an automatic fire detection and suppression and
a vehicular NBC pack for the crew to plug their NBC masks into.
Appliqué armor cannot normally be fitted due to the large amounts of
projections, the cranes and winch, and ancillary projections; there are not many
flat places to put appliqué. The engine is a Detroit Diesel 6V-53T (a
modification of the powerpack used on the M113A3 and MTVL, as well as several
armored vehicles and trucks) developing 300 horsepower and turbocharged.
The transmission is an Allison MT-653 automatic with a torque convertor.
The Dragoon EMV is propelled when swimming by a pair of small propellers;
alternately, the propellers and their mechanisms can be left off to save weight.
(Stats below are with propellers.) The commander normally sits beside the driver
in behind the bullet resistant windshield.
Dragoon EMVs are
often accompanied by Dragoon ALSVs, with the latter carrying spare parts for the
EMVs.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$84,976 |
D, A |
1.08 tons |
11.66 tons |
5 |
11 |
Passive IR (D) |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
194/98 |
54/27/7 |
350 |
111 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF8 HS4
HF4 |
Cadillac Gage LAV-150S/LAV-300 Commando Recovery Vehicle
Notes:
Built on the LAV-150 and LAV-300 chassis, the two vehicles differ from
each other primarily in size; the LAV-300 hull is about one-and-a-half times the
LAV-150S's hull. Both have a
variety of users in South America, Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia,
as well as Mexico and Turkey, though the LAV-300 version is more used by
countries already using the LAV-300 or 600. Though in both cases the base LAVs
were used as early as the Vietnam War, the CRV variants were not developed until
the 1980s.
In both cases,
the vehicles are armed with a MAG machinegun or equivalent on a commander's
cupola; the LAV-300 carries more ammunition.
They both have a driver and co-driver with vision blocks to the front and
side, and equivalent controls. The
co-driver also has controls to the APU and auxiliary controls for the winch, and
is otherwise a mechanic like the rest of the crew.
The remaining crewman is seated to the rear of the commander's in the
hull, and normally monitors the radios or acts as the crane operator.
On each side of the hull just to the rear of the commander's position is
a large door with a firing port in it, and the rear also has a large door with a
firing port in it. In both cases,
turrets have been replaced with a raised superstructure.
The rear of the deck can carry an entire LAV-150 (or LAV-300) or ASV
engine (or similar-sized engine/powerpack); under the tie-downs is a double
hatchway. Both have A-frame cranes
which can lift 4.54 tons, from the rear to over the front of the vehicle.
When the crane is in use, two jacks are lowered to steady the vehicle.
Special
equipment carried includes an air compressor, basic and wheeled vehicle tools, a
fuel transfer pump, two jacks that can lift up to 15 tons, a workbench, and
slave cables. Small arms and an
abbreviated set of large-caliber tools are carried.
Of course, a large amount of spare parts are carried, in drawers,
lockers, and underseat storage.
Both carry a tent which can be extended to a length of 3 meters to the rear and
as wide as the vehicle; they also carry a folding workbench.
The winch on both can pull 11.25 tons with 61 meters of cable; the
LAV-300 CRV's winch has 100 meters of cable.
The LAV-150S can tow 17 tons; the LAV-300 CRV can tow 22.5 tons.
The LAV-300 CRW has an additional hatch on the roof on the left side,
normally used by the crane operator.
On the hull front, on each side, are a cluster of three smoke grenade
launchers. Both have a 2.5kW APU.
Both have a small computer with tech manuals for most vehicles in the
Army of the country using them.
The LAV-150S CRV
has a Cummins 6 CTA 8.3 turbocharged diesel with a capacity of 206 horsepower.
The LAV-300S has an uprated version of this engine, developing 276
horsepower. Both have automatic
transmission. The LAV-300 CRV does
have a more powerful engine, but is also much heavier, due to extra equipment,
larger size, and heavier armor. The LAV-300 also has fuel tankage only
two-thirds the size of the LAV-150S, and range is correspondingly short.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
LAV-150S CRV |
$154,098 |
D, A |
1.2 tons |
10.89 tons |
4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D, CD, C) |
Enclosed |
LAV-300 CRV |
$161,362 |
D, A |
1.5 tons |
14.97 tons |
4 |
13 |
Passive IR (D, CD, C) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
LAV-150S CRV |
164/83 |
46/23/4 |
303 |
77 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF6 HS3
HR3 |
LAV-300 CRV |
162/82 |
44/22/4 |
200 |
102 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF8 HS5
HR4* |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
LAV-150S CRV |
None |
None |
MAG (C) |
1000x7.62mm |
LAV-300 CRV |
None |
None |
MAG (C) |
1200x7.62mm |
*Floor AV is 4.
FMC M56 Coyote
Notes:
This is a
There is a
control panel added within the HMMWV's cab, which is the two-man type, the rest
of the vehicle being given over to the smoke generator. The Coyote often pulls a
HMMWV-optimized trailer that carries extra fuel and obscurement chemicals, or
sometimes a second smoke generation unit to create an especially dense cloud.
Coyotes are also often deployed in pairs, towing obscurating chemicals.
Some of the chemical obscurements include diesel fuel, standard motor oil
and graphite (produces the dense smoke screen); other ingredients are
classified. The smoke module weight
about 1.46 tons, with 470 liters of fogging compound. Visual range fogging lasts
about 100 minutes, while IR and UV fogging lasts for about 30 minutes.
Other obscurement duration is on the order of about 15-20 minutes.
The standard
190-horsepower M1113 engine is used, along with the same transmission and driver
controls. The driver is in a cab on
the right, while the commander, with controls for the smoke, is on the left.
It is not armed other than whatever weapons the crew is carrying, usually
M4 assault carbines and a few grenades.
There is no armor on the Coyote.
The Coyote is essentially an M1113 HMMWV with the rear area filled up by
the SGS and tank, and more often than not towing a trailer. The Coyote has a GPS
system with a mapping module.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Though small number were used in the Middle East and smaller number used
in Europe, most overseas deployments of the Coyote went to Korea, to deal with
its rugged terrain. The lion's
share, however, stayed in CONUS, used both by MilGov and CivGov.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$804,804 |
D, A |
470 kg |
4.61 tons |
2 |
7 |
Headlights |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
291/147 |
80/41 |
90 |
73 |
Stnd |
W(2) |
HF1 HS1
HR1 |
GDLS/Rheinmetall M93 Fox
NBCRV
Notes: This
vehicle is an updated version of the German Spahpanzer Fuchs, which is the
German’s NBCRV. The first batch was
procured during Desert Shield directly from Rheinmetall as an emergency issue
due to the possibility of Saddam Hussein using chemical weapons in Desert Storm.
They were essentially German vehicles with American electronics, and sent
directly to Saudi Arabia from Germany without testing. Originally equipped with
advanced sensors (though not as advanced as the sensors on the M1135 Stryker
NBCRV), successive upgrades have made it a vehicle as good as the Stryker-based
NBCRV. Nonetheless, in the interests of vehicle commonality, the US Army and
Marines have decided to replace the Fox with the M1135; these replacements are
taking place slowly and have only just begun, so most US Army and Marine units
are still equipped with the M93, including many Stryker Brigades.
The mission of
the Fox, as other NBCRVs, is to conduct route and area reconnaissance to
determine the levels of CBRN contamination, and relay this information to higher
HQ so the commanders can determine if entering the area with regular troops is
prudent. As such, they carry a very
specialist crew, equipment, computers, and sensors, as well as a more general
sensor suite able to perform detections in a wide area around the vehicle.
Persons in charge of a Fox team often have the equivalent of Master’s
Degrees in Biology and Chemistry, in all but name; their crews are sometimes
educated by the military up to the equivalent of Bachelor’s Degrees, again in
all but name.
The Fox has
automatic sampling gear that constantly checks the air around the vehicle for
chemical, biological, and radiological contamination.
This includes smallpox, anthrax, botulinum toxin, and other common
weaponized biological agents, virtually all gasses and other chemical agents
used by both enemy and friendly forces; and radiological contamination, fallout,
and alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
This can be checked as far down as 20 parts per billion, but this
generally produces false positives and the sensitivity is dialed back quite a
bit. Automatic alarms sound inside the vehicle when contamination is detected,
with readouts telling what has been found and at what strength. This detection
can also be of noxious chemicals such as those resulting from fires with
accelerants, tires, oil fires of various sizes, and other more mundane chemicals
that might affect troop performance.
The Fox can then use sensors with a wider field of view, up to three
kilometers around the vehicle (one grid square on a standard NATO/US military
map). Individual samples may be taken by the use of three remote arms on each
side, which can bring in ground, vegetation, and rock samples to a special
chamber to be tested. (The sensor box is automatically sterilized upon releasing
the sample.) These arms may reach 4
feet down, 4 feet up, and six feet out from the vehicle.
The Fox may detect as little as ten parts of contaminants per billion;
using the automatic sensors at this level of sensitivity will normally produce a
lot of false positives. Most crews
set the threshold much higher. The
Radiac meters can detect presence and strength of alpha, beta, and gamma
radiation; as there is a certain amount of this radiation in nature, thresholds
are normally set high. The Fox’s external sensors are set on a retractable mast.
A part of the
mission is to provide meteorological information, so that clouds of
contamination can be told their movement.
This consists of an anemometer, temperature, and humidity. This may also
be taken out to four kilometers, using optical measurements.
NBC positions may be photographed by the crew and automatically sent to
higher HQ. A separate CCTV with
Image Intensification is linked to a data-capable radio, able to focus on and
transmit pictures within 4 kilometers, or take a wider-angle shot to show
general conditions.
Though the crew
of the Fox carries two sets of MOPP4 suits and four sets of filters for their
masks, their primary protection from CBRN hazards is by staying in the vehicle
and performing their tasks remotely, under the NBC Overpressure and special air
conditioning system of the vehicle.
Most work will be done in MOPP 0. The vehicle is part of a command’s BMS, and
has a GPS set with a mapping system, with inertial navigation backup.
The crew has a
small laptop containing NBC field manuals, tech manuals, and bulletins, as well
as the tech and field manuals on their vehicle.
The driver is in a cab on the front left, with the commander to his
right, surrounded on the right and front with information about contamination,
computer results, meteorological results, and the results of reconnaissance
scans, and a large-capacity hard drive to record them.
There are two clusters of four smoke grenade launchers, similar to those
of M1132 ESV, on either side of the glacis.
On the roof, six flare launchers with a specific color are mounted to
provide an immediate alert to other friendly forces. Though the use of only two
crewmembers in the back might seem to make the rear rather spacious for the
crewmembers, in practice the interior is filled over much of its volume with
various sorts of equipment.
The Fox uses a
Mercedes-Benz OM 402A engine developing 320 horsepower, with an automatic
transmission and a 6x6 suspension.
There are shock absorbers on each wheel, and the wheels are independently
suspended.
The crew and
troop compartments have air conditioning and heating, as well as an automatic
fire detection and suppression system.
The engine compartment and fuel tanks also have an automatic fire
detection and suppression system.
Boxes are mounted on the rear third of the sides and the roof of the Fox to
store vehicle, crew, and troop equipment; nonetheless, most crew and personal
equipment is carried inside the vehicle to prevent contamination.
The Driver and Commander are also full crewmembers, and may add their
expertise to the crew. The Fox has
a small 20kW APU to power instruments when the engine is off.
The third crewmember (or
fourth crewmember, when carried) mans a light machinegun which can be aimed and
fired (but not reloaded) from under armor and hatches closed.
The commander may give contamination warning over the radio, or if
friendly troops are close, via a bullhorn on the roof.
The M93A1 adds
an MM1 mass spectrometer to measure the composition of clouds and smoke that the
Fox encounters. The M93A1 has
angled steel appliqué plates on the sides and front to increase survivability;
lugs for ERA are also added, and MEXAS appliqué composite can be layered on top
of the steel plates. The extra crew
member of the M93 is no longer carried, as the vehicle’s updated computers make
this unnecessary. Most sensors are
automated, and require little more than button pushes to actuate. Distance
sensing is increased to a four-kilometer radius.
The M93A1P1 adds
the updates of the M93A1, plus bar/slat armor and a CROWS RWS.
The weapons may be aimed, fired, and reloaded from inside the vehicle.
Belly armor is improved, and the tires are run-flat and
puncture-resistant. They also have
central tire pressure regulation.
The engine is replaced with a more powerful one, developing 500 horsepower. The
sensor suite has been judged by defense analysts to be better than that of the
Stryker NBCRV, and many of its sensors are the same as on the M1135. M93A1P1
procurement has been slowed by the introduction of the M1135 Stryker NBCRV, and
in all probability few will actually be deployed; however, many defense analysts
say the M93A1P1 is a better system than the Stryker NBCRV.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M93 Fox NBCRV |
$1,176,256 |
D, G, A |
650 kg |
17 tons |
3+1 |
12 |
Passive IR (D,
C), Image Intensification (C), WL Spotlight, CCTV Camera with Image
Intensification, Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M93A1 Fox NBCRV |
$1,347,046 |
D, G, A |
650 kg |
18.2 tons |
3 |
20 |
Passive IR (D,
C), Image Intensification (C, G), Thermal Imaging (G), WL Spotlight,
CCTV Camera with Image Intensification, Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M93A1 Fox NBCRV
w/MEXAS |
$1,532,974 |
D, G, A |
650 kg |
21 tons
|
3 |
21 |
Passive IR (D,
C), Image Intensification (C, G), Thermal Imaging (G), WL Spotlight,
CCTV Camera with Image Intensification, Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M93A1P1 |
$1,645,018 |
D, G, A |
650 kg |
18.6 tons |
3 |
22 |
Passive IR (D,
C), Image Intensification (C, G), Thermal Imaging (G), WL Spotlight,
CCTV Camera with Image Intensification, Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M93A1P1
w/Bar/Slat |
$1,650,864 |
D, G, A |
650 kg |
19.1 tons |
3 |
23 |
Passive IR (D,
C), Image Intensification (C, G), Thermal Imaging (G), WL Spotlight,
CCTV Camera with Image Intensification, Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M93A1P1
w/Bar/Slat and MEXAS |
$1,664,662 |
D, G, A |
650 kg |
21.9 tons |
3 |
28 |
Passive IR (D,
C), Image Intensification (C, G), Thermal Imaging (G), WL Spotlight,
CCTV Camera with Image Intensification, Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M93 Fox NBCRV |
158/79 |
43/22/4 |
390 |
119 |
Stnd |
W(6) |
HF8
HS5 HR3* |
M93A1 Fox NBCRV |
147/74 |
41/21/4 |
390 |
125 |
Stnd |
W(6) |
HF12Sp
HS11Sp HR7** |
M93A1 Fox NBCRV
w/MEXAS |
132/66 |
37/18/3 |
390 |
133 |
Stnd |
W(6) |
HF18Cp
HS16Cp HR8*** |
M93A1P1 |
204/103 |
57/29/5 |
390 |
185 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF4Sp
TS4Sp TR4Sp
HF12Sp HS11Sp
HR7**** |
M93A1P1
w/Bar/Slat |
200/101 |
56/28/5 |
390 |
187 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF4Sp
TS4Sp TR4Sp
HF13Sp HS13Sp
HR8***** |
M93A1P1
w/Bar/Slat and MEXAS |
179/90 |
50/25/4 |
390 |
214 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF4Sp
TS4Sp TR4Sp
HF20Cp HS17Cp
HR9****** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M93/M93A1 |
+1 |
Basic |
M240 (G) |
4000x.7.62mm |
M93A1P1 |
+2 |
Fair |
M240, Mk 19 (G) |
4000x7.62mm, 1500x40mm |
*Roof AV is 3; Floor AV is 4Sp.
**Roof AV is 3, Floor AV is 4Sp.
***Roof AV is 4, Floor AV is 5Sp.
Hits from certain angles (front and sides) will have a “composite-spaced” armor
effect – divide incoming hits by two for HE-type warhead hits, then subtract
2D6.
****Roof AV is 6, Floor AV is 7Sp.
*****Roof AV is 6, Floor AV is 7Sp.
Hits from certain angles (front and sides) will have a “composite-spaced” armor
effect – divide incoming hits by two for HE-type warhead hits, then subtract
2D6.
GDLS M1132 Stryker ESV
The Stryker ESV
(Engineer Squad Vehicle (often mis-called the “Engineer Support Vehicle” or
“Engineer Service Vehicle”) is a variant of the M1026 ICV often referred to as a
light CEV.
It carries a
squad of combat engineers and has at the front a dozer blade which may be pulled
straight, angled, into a V-shape, or separated into two sections for transport.
The ESV carries some 30 kg of C4 and some other types of explosive, and
the equivalent of three engineer demo chests, usually contained in lockers and
underseat compartments. It normally tows a trailer designed for the Stryker
carrying more equipment, or even a MICLIC launcher. The ESV’s primary job is to
clear a lane through minefields for following Stryker and other wheeled
vehicles. (The mine plough is too narrow to clear a lane for tanks, though an
APC or IFV such as the M113 series or Bradley series may follow and use
ESV-cleared lanes.) The Combat
Engineers may create or clear tank traps, obstacles, and fill trenches.
They can also dig up large IEDs and disable them, or blow them in place.
The mine plow can be replaced by specialist tools, such as a bucket, an auger, a
mine flail, or a mine roller. The
ESV is not capable of performing an Engineer Breakthrough mission, and cannot,
for example, assault enemy positions and suppress their defenses, unless the
Sappers dismount and assault them directly.
Hard tanks/vehicle obstacles, such as concrete tank traps, but be blown
by the Sapper squad.
The ESV is
designed with special controls to control unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs),
including the XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle, the XM1218 Countermine Mule
(Mule-CM), and the XM1219 Armed Robotic Vehicle-Assault-Light (ARV-A-L) (which
has actually been defunded for budgetary reasons, though the controls remain in
the ESV). The controllers can also
be used to control any future robots that may come into the Army inventory. The
ESV carries a small, folding robot that can be used to detect, and if necessary,
lay explosives to blow the IED or mine in place, with a video-game type
controller used to control the robot. Other major electronic include a BMS with
GPS and an inertial navigation backup, a small computer with Combat Engineer
tech manuals and other literature, and a downlink from the gunner’s station to
the squad leader. There are six manpack radios for the Sappers to communicate
with each other.
A major problem
with the Strykers is the RWS; while the cupola can rotate in as little as 10
seconds, the camera takes 60 seconds to fully rotate. The gunner may use the
reticles printed on each vision block, but this only allows a Fire Control
modifier of +1.
The ESV is equipped with a 350-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine coupled to
an automatic transmission. Some of
the automotive components have redundancies.
The engine used is unusually quiet, and when burning JP8 fuel, also has a
reduced exhaust plume. The Stryker
has ABS and traction control for more positive braking and traction, especially
off-road, and it has a locking differential.
The ABS is on the last three axles, and those wheels also have power
brakes. The tires are run-flat and puncture-resistant.
The ESV is normally 8x8, but can be switched to 8x4 for road use; in this
case, the four rear wheels become the drive wheels.
The Stryker has central tire pressure regulation.
The crew and troop compartments have air conditioning and heating, as
well as an automatic fire detection and suppression system.
The engine compartment and fuel tanks also have an automatic fire
detection and suppression system.
Boxes are mounted on the rear third of the sides of the Stryker to store
vehicle, crew, and troop equipment; nonetheless, like virtually all military
vehicles in the field or combat, crew and troop equipment is often carried
strapped to the top, sides, or glacis.
(Incidentally, this strapped-on equipment can provide some minor
“armor.”)
The base armor
of the Stryker is a steel/ceramic sandwich, giving it the equivalent of spaced
armor over much of its hull. The floor and suspension are also reinforced to
give it enhanced mine and IED protection.
However, the Stryker is almost never seen in combat with its cage of
bar/slat armor, which surrounds the vehicle except for the area of the rear
where the ramp opens and closes (shots at the rear of the Stryker are 20% likely
to hit the cage before they hit the vehicle).
This protection extends to about 30 centimeters above the deck of the
vehicle. The Stryker can also take
a MEXAS composite appliqué armor kit, which can be applied to every face of the
vehicle, to varying degrees. The
bar/slat armor and the MEXAS appliqué armor can be used in conjunction with each
other to provide superior protection to the vehicle, but this does substantially
increase the weight and mobility of the Stryker. IR suppression is also employed
on the Stryker; detection by IR devices, thermal imagers, and FLIRs is one level
more difficult, as is targeting with IR-guided missiles.
The mine plow/tools/trailer negates the radar-absorbent feature of the
Stryker, and this does not apply to the ESV.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
|
M1132 ESV |
$1,186,743 |
D, A |
670 kg |
16.47 tons |
2+6 |
16 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL Spotlight |
Shielded |
M1132 ESV
w/Bar/Slat |
$1,192,589 |
D, A |
670 kg |
16.97 tons |
2+6 |
16 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL Spotlight |
Shielded |
M1132 ESV
w/MEXAS |
$1,209,266 |
D, A |
670 kg |
18.77 tons |
2+6 |
20 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL Spotlight |
Shielded |
M1132 ESV
w/MEXAS & Bar/Slat |
$1,221,007 |
D, A |
670 kg |
19.27 tons |
2+6 |
22 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL Spotlight |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M1132 ESV |
165/83 |
46/23 |
201 |
132 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF9Sp HS6Sp
HR6 (1) |
M1132 ESV
w/Bar/Slat |
162/82 |
44/22 |
201 |
134 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF10Sp HS8Sp
HR8Sp (2) |
M1132 ESV
w/MEXAS |
150/75 |
41/21 |
201 |
141 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF15Cp HS10Cp
HR7Sp (3) |
M1132 ESV
w/MEXAS & Bar/Slat |
147/74 |
41/21 |
201 |
143 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF15Cp HS12Cp
HR8Sp (4) |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M1132 ESV (All) |
+2 |
Fair |
M2HB (G), 2xJavelin ATGM Launchers (G) |
2000x.50, 2xJavelin Missiles, 30 kg C4, 3xEngineer Demo Chests |
(1) Roof AV is 3; Floor AV is 4Sp.
The mine plow can protect the front depending on how it is situated – it
has an AV of 10Sp.
(2) The bar/slat armor provides a sort of “double spaced armor” effect depending
upon the face it hits – if the front or sides are hit, 4D6 damage is removed
from the hit’s penetration if the Stryker is hit by HE-type rounds.
The rear face’s bar/slat armor protects the rear face only on 20% of hits
– the rest of rear face hits have only an AV of 6.
The front of the ESV does not have bar/slat armor – the plow or tools
prevent this. Roof AV is 3, Floor AV is 4Sp. The mine plow can protect the front
depending on how it is situated – it has an AV of 10Sp.
(3) Roof AV is 4, Floor AV is 5Sp.
Hits from certain angles (front and sides) will have a “composite-spaced” armor
effect – divide incoming hits by two for HE-type warhead hits, then subtract
2D6. The mine plow can protect the front depending on how it is situated – it
has an AV of 10Sp.
(4) Roof AV is 4, Floor AV is 5Sp.
Hits from certain angles (front and sides) will have a “spaced-composite-spaced”
effect – divide incoming hits by two for HE-type warhead hits, then subtract
4D6. The front of the ESV does not have bar/slat armor – the plow or tools
prevent this. The mine plow can protect the front depending on how it is
situated – it has an AV of 10Sp.
GDLS M1135 Stryker NBCRV
Notes: The M1135
was designed to replace the M93 Fox NBCRV, first in Stryker Brigades, and later
in the general US Army and Marines.
As of this writing (10 Nov 16), the M1135 is just being fielded in numbers in
Stryker Brigades. The New Iraqi
Army has also ordered some 50 M1135s, and about a third of their batch has been
built so far, but problems with the ISIS occupation of their country have
prevented them from being delivered.
(The US Army has downsized their order from 417 to 307 to keep in line
with budget cuts.) The job of the M1135, as other NBCRVs, is to conduct route
and area reconnaissance to determine the levels of CBRN contamination, and relay
this information to higher HQ so the commanders can determine if entering the
area with regular troops is prudent.
As such, they carry a very specialist crew, equipment, computers, and
sensors, as well as a more general sensor suite able to perform detections in a
wide area around the vehicle.
Persons in charge of an M1135 team often have the equivalent of Masters Degrees
in Biology and Chemistry, in all but name; their crews are sometimes educated by
the military up to the equivalent of Bachelors Degrees, again in all but name.
Reconnaissance
by the M1135 usually starts by the collection of air samples of an area while
the vehicle moves throughout the terrain. These air samples can be automatically
checked for radioactivity, fallout, preliminary chemical contamination results,
and some types of biological contamination. Internal alarms sound when something
is found, with readouts telling what has been found and at what strength. This
is done through the use of a CBMS (Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer) and a
Radiac Meter. These instruments can
be intensified in sensitivity is a finding is reached, to determine exact types
of contamination. This detection
can also be of noxious chemicals such as those resulting from fires with
accelerants, tires, oil fires of various sizes, and other more mundane chemicals
that might affect troop performance.
The M1135 can then use sensors with a wider field of view, up to four
kilometers around the vehicle (one grid square on a standard NATO/US military
map). This is the JSLSCAD stand-off
detector. Biological detections are augmented by the JBPDS (Joint Biological
Point Detection System), allowing the specific disease or biological
contamination to be determined (especially smallpox, anthrax, and botulinum
toxins, though some 20 total microorganisms can be detected and identified.
Individual samples may be taken by the use of three remote arms on each side,
which can bring in ground, vegetation, and rock samples to a special chamber to
be tested. (The sensor box is automatically sterilized upon releasing the
sample.) These arms may reach 4
feet down, 4 feet up, and six feet out from the vehicle.
The M1135 may detect as little as five parts of contaminants per billion;
using the automatic sensors at this level of sensitivity will normally produce a
lot of false positives. Most crews
set the threshold much higher. The
Radiac meters can detect presence and strength of alpha, beta, and gamma
radiation; as there is a certain amount of this radiation in nature, thresholds
are normally set high.
A part of the
mission is to provide meteorological information, so that clouds of
contamination can be told their movement.
This consists of an anemometer, temperature, and humidity. This may also
be taken out to four kilometers, using optical measurements.
NBC positions may be photographed by the crew and automatically sent to
higher HQ. A separate CCTV with
Image Intensification is linked to a data-capable radio, able to focus on and
transmit pictures within 4 kilometers, of take a wider-angle shot to show
general conditions.
Though the crew
of the M1135 carries two sets of MOPP4 suits and four sets of filters for their
masks, their primary protection from CBRN hazards is by staying in the vehicle
and performing their tasks remotely, under the NBC Overpressure and special air
conditioning system of the vehicle.
Most work will be done in MOPP 0. The vehicle is part of a command’s BMS, and
has a GPS set with a mapping system, with inertial navigation backup.
A major problem with the
Strykers is the RWS; though the cupola can rotate can rotate in as little as 10
seconds, the camera takes 60 seconds to fully rotate. The Gunner may use the
reticles printed on each vision block, but this only allows a Fire Control
modifier of +2 (by slewing the laser rangefinder with the weapon).
The ESV is equipped with a Caterpillar 3126 350-horsepower turbocharged diesel
engine coupled to an Allison MD-3066P automatic transmission.
Some of the automotive components have redundancies.
The engine used is unusually quiet, and when burning JP8 fuel, also has a
reduced exhaust plume. The Stryker
has ABS and traction control for more positive braking and traction, especially
off-road, and it has a locking differential.
The ABS is on the last three axles, and those wheels also have power
brakes. The tires are run-flat and puncture-resistant.
The ESV is normally 8x8, but can be switched to 8x4 for road use; in this
case, the four rear wheels become the drive wheels.
The Stryker has central tire pressure regulation.
The crew and troop compartments have air conditioning and heating, as
well as an automatic fire detection and suppression system.
The engine compartment and fuel tanks also have an automatic fire
detection and suppression system.
Boxes are mounted on the rear third of the sides of the Stryker to store
vehicle, crew, and troop equipment; nonetheless, most crew and personal
equipment is carried inside the vehicle to prevent contamination.
The Driver and Commander are also full crewmembers, and may add their
expertise to the crew. The M1135
has a small 20kW APU to power instruments when the engine is off.
The crew has a
small laptop containing NBC field manuals, tech manuals, and bulletins, as well
as the tech and field manuals on their vehicle.
The driver is in a cab on the front left, with the commander to his
right, surrounded on the right and front with information about contamination,
computer results, meteorological results, and the results of reconnaissance
scans, and a large-capacity hard drive to record them.
The gunner’s role is filled by one of the two rear crewmembers, with a
downlinked screen for firing the RWS-mounted machinegun.
This gun may be aimed, fired, and loaded without opening a hatch.
There are two clusters of four smoke grenade launchers, similar to those
of M1132 ESV, on either side of the RWS.
On the roof, six flare launchers with a specific color are mounted to
provide an immediate alert to other friendly forces.
The RWS has the same shortcomings as that of the ESV’s RWS, though it
does not carry Javelin ATGMs.
Though the use of only two crewmembers in the back might seem to make the rear
rather spacious for the crewmembers, in practice the interior is filled over
much of its volume with various sorts of equipment.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M1135 NBCRV |
$1,194,224 |
D, A |
500 kg |
19.35 tons |
4 |
19 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C, Cam), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL
Spotlight. Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M1135 NBCRV
w/Bar/Slat |
$3,198,401 |
D, A |
500 kg |
19.85 tons |
4 |
25 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C, Cam), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL
Spotlight. Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M1135 NBCRV
w/MEXAS |
$3,239,738 |
D, A |
500 kg |
21.65 tons |
4 |
26 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C, Cam), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL
Spotlight. Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
M1135 NBCRV
w/MEXAS & Bar/Slat |
$3,239,324 |
D, A |
500 kg |
22.15 tons |
4 |
26 |
Passive IR (C),
Image Intensification (D, G, C, Cam), Thermal Imaging (G, C), WL
Spotlight. Automatic CBRN Sensors |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M1135 NBCRV |
145/74 |
39/20 |
201 |
139 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF9Sp HS6Sp
HR6 (1) |
M1135 NBCRV
w/Bar/Slat |
142/72 |
38/19 |
201 |
141 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF9Sp HS8Sp
HR8Sp (2) |
M1135 NBCRV
w/MEXAS |
137/69 |
37/18 |
201 |
156 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF15Cp HS10Cp
HR7Sp (3) |
M1135 NBCRV
w/MEXAS & Bar/Slat |
134/68 |
37/17 |
201 |
158 |
CiH |
W(8) |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF17Cp HS12Cp
HR8Sp (4) |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M1135 ESV (All) |
+2 |
Fair |
M2HB (G) |
2000x.50 |
(1) Roof AV is 3; Floor AV is 4Sp.
The mine plow can protect the front depending on how it is situated – it has an
AV of 10Sp.
(2) The bar/slat armor provides a sort of “double spaced armor” effect depending
upon the face it hits – if the front or sides are hit, 4D6 damage is removed
from the hit’s penetration if the Stryker is hit by HE-type rounds.
The rear face’s bar/slat armor protects the rear face only on 20% of hits
– the rest of rear face hits have only an AV of 6.
The front of the ESV does not have bar/slat armor – the plow or tools
prevent this. Roof AV is 3, Floor AV is 4Sp. The mine plow can protect the front
depending on how it is situated – it has an AV of 10Sp.
(3) Roof AV is 4, Floor AV is 5Sp.
Hits from certain angles (front and sides) will have a “composite-spaced” armor
effect – divide incoming hits by two for HE-type warhead hits, then subtract
2D6. The mine plow can protect the front depending on how it is situated – it
has an AV of 10Sp.
(4) Roof AV is 4, Floor AV is 5Sp.
Hits from certain angles (front and sides) will have a “spaced-composite-spaced”
effect – divide incoming hits by two for HE-type warhead hits, then subtract
4D6. The front of the ESV does not have bar/slat armor – the plow or tools
prevent this. The mine plow can protect the front depending on how it is
situated – it has an AV of 10Sp.
Oshkosh MATV Engineer
Notes: This
MRAP-type vehicle is based on the standard MATV (Mine-protected All-Terrain
Vehicle) APC. Instead of infantry,
it is modified to carry a combat engineer squad and its equipment.
As such, it carries six passengers plus crew (who are also combat
engineers, copious amounts of C-4 and sometimes other explosives, and the
equivalent of several engineer demo chests, as well as several mines of various
types, a handheld mine detector, and ancillary equipment the squad may need such
as rope, metal banding, plastic ties, wire rope and hemp rope, 2x4 boards of
several lengths, two blast blankets and suchlike.
It also carries an engineer robot, and special electrical interfaces such
as a power station for the robot, and a BMS with GPS.
The MATC Engineer is in use by the US Army, Marines, and Navy, and by the
New Iraqi Army, the Kurdish separatists, and Afghanistan.
There is also hot interest from several other countries, but the MATV is
in stiff competition from South African designs.
The rear hatch
is extra wide, not only for quick ingress and egress, but for the rapid
equipment of the robot and other supplies needed. If necessary, the Engineer
vehicle can mount a mine roller as the front; the controls for the mine roller
are already installed in the driver’s station as standard.
The vehicle is an MRAP, with V-shaped lower hull, spaced armor for the
hull, and blast-resistant seats.
The tires are of the run-flat type and puncture resistant, and the suspension is
independent for all four wheels (Oshkosh calls the suspension the TAK-4
suspension). The MATV engineer has
a compact 20kW APU partially under armor.
The MATV has a turbocharged 370 horsepower intercooled engine with direct
fuel injection. The transmission is
a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The MATV Engineer has on each fender a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.
The crew
consists of the driver and commander, who are in the forward cab, and the
engineer crew. One of the engineer
squad functions as a gunner; normally, he mans a machinegun in an Oshkosh Gunner
Protection Kit, consisting of all around gun shields on a rotating cupola; the
gun shields have bullet-resistant windshields on them for observation.
For the most part, MATV Engineers without RWSs have no vehicle-equipped
night vision, but the commander, driver, and gunner normally wear NODs.
Inside the vehicle with the hatches closed, the MATV has NBC
Overpressure; this is backed by a vehicular NBC system and an air evacuator to
remove contamination present inside the cabin and cab. Air conditioning and
heating are also present. Present in the vehicle is a small computer with combat
engineer manuals and documents to aid the engineers in difficult operations;
this includes tech manuals of the vehicle itself. An RWS is an option, and used
on some Engineer vehicles. On the
right rear is a spare tire of the same type as on the wheels.
Oshkosh says the
MATV Engineer may have in the back nine engineers, but troops say that is
ridiculous and terribly cramped.
Normally, six passengers if the largest recommended size for engineer use; most
units will only carry four troops in the back.
I have used the six-passenger figure below.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
MATV Engineer |
$1,687,256 |
D, G, AvG, A |
2.4 tons |
11.34 tons |
2+6 |
9 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
MATV Engineer with RWS |
$1,838,877 |
D, G, AvG, A |
2.4 tons |
11.4 tons |
2+6 |
11 |
Image Intensification, Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor* |
MATV Engineer |
230/116 |
64/32 |
400 |
132 |
Trtd |
W(3) |
TF5 TS5
TR5 HF8Sp
HS6Sp HR4 |
MATV Engineer with RWS |
229/115 |
63/32 |
400 |
132 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF4Sp TS4Sp
TR4 HF8Sp
HS6Sp HR4 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
MATV Engineer with RWS |
+2 |
Fair |
M2HB, Mk 19 (G) |
2000x.50, 400x40mm |