APC Development and related topics.

[MarkSheppard]

https://twitter.com/nicholadrummond/...U67hM5tKw&s=19

Very nice near top shot of:

Family portrait. From bottom left clockwise: Boxer drone mothership, Boxer NEMO 120 mm mortar, Boxer IFV with Samson turret, Boxer RCH155, Boxer bridgelayer with 22-metre MLC 50 bridge, Boxer IFV with RCT30 turret, Boxer repair & recovery, and Boxer EW / C2 vehicle.

In case icons need touching up, etc.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

For my Marine Buddy...

USMC Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle 30mm Autocannon (ARV-30) is to START a 2yr. competition to see who'll get the production contract.

So "GD" vs. Textron with 500 UNITS at stake with production to run from mid 2026 to 2032.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defe...rototype_.html

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Officially in service this month the M117 GUARDIAN 250 units completely refurbished from USA stocks.

It has...
"It is equipped with an advanced armor system from IBD Deisenroth Engineering, a German firm known for its modular expandable armor packages. This includes ceramic composite applique armor for the exterior and a spall liner for the interior, offering robust protection against small arms fire, mine blasts, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The vehicle can transport up to eight infantry soldiers."

"The M1117 is fitted with a one-man non-stabilized turret which is armed with a 40mm automatic grenade launcher (MK19 MOD 3) and a .50-caliber machine gun (M2/M48) . This turret provides a full 360° rotation and can elevate up to 45°, allowing for versatile and effective firepower deployment."
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defe...nian_army.html

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day (Just a good legitimate day for a GOOD brew. ) because today internationally everyone is Irish and because he says so (Posted under duress this dude got a temper! OUCH!!! -see what I mean!?!)

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

Officially in service this month the M117 GUARDIAN 250 units completely refurbished from USA stocks.

It has...
"It is equipped with an advanced armor system from IBD Deisenroth Engineering, a German firm known for its modular expandable armor packages. This includes ceramic composite applique armor for the exterior and a spall liner for the interior, offering robust protection against small arms fire, mine blasts, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The vehicle can transport up to eight infantry soldiers."

and do you think all of those "up to eight infantry soldiers" would be all on the inside/ all on the outside of both?

They keep doing things the game cannot handle as protected under armour carry capacity or carry capacity outside on the hull is determined by unitclass. It's one or the other not both

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y87TN7gro50


"Hold on tight boys this is gonna get bumpy" ( FOR ALL 9 OF THEM )

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

A team of 4 Commander, Driver, Gunner and 1 more internally.

UPDATE: Went back to review the Army Rec. ref. from my last post. I count 8 Ukrainian troops externally using hand and foot holds on the side of the vehicle. CARRY 012 (?)

These when first introduced were designed for MP and Security reasons.

The RECON role would come later.

The following is a post operational update on the M1117 GUARDIAN approved for public release in MAR. 21, 2001.

Pages 6-8 are pertinent to this discussion. I've "cherry picked" the following as they somewhat exceeded my expectations of this vehicle.

Page 6 Bottom:
"The vehicle provides protection from .50 caliber armor piercing rounds to the crew compartments and ammo storage areas.13 It provides airburst..."

Page 7 as it continues from "It provides airburst" as above: ..."protection from 60mm rounds at ten meters, and 155mm rounds at fifteen meters. Anti-tank mine protection is provided for up to twelve-pound blasts at each wheel and four pounds in the center of the vehicle." (That's really good for a vehicle of that size.)

Same Page in continuation:
"The vehicle mounts a fully enclosed Up Gunned Weapons Station (UGWS)
(Figure 3) 14 and is also referred to as the 40/50
turret." And...
"The M36E2 sight allows the gunner to engage targets at the MK19 maximum effective range of 2200 meters during day or night engagements. Turret improvements over the standard UGWS provide increased survivability and a reduced silhouette. Two banks of four electrically operated smoke grenade launchers are mounted on either side of the turret, firing forwards. "
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA387741.pdf

The history section starting on Page 20 I found very interesting especially on the British use of their LAV's in particular in OPS in N. Ireland.

Andy might find it interesting as I believe he served during the "Troubles".

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

A team of 4 Commander, Driver, Gunner and 1 more internally.

UPDATE: Went back to review the Army Rec. ref. from my last post. I count 8 Ukrainian troops externally using hand and foot holds on the side of the vehicle. CARRY 012 (?)
Regards,
Pat

Count again. You forgot the guy on the front then there are four hanging off the left side and four more on the right side

It matters little either way. The Ukrainian version is getting a higher carry cap than any of the other nations that use it

I may give this unit it'S own formation and unitclass as it is ( so far ) only being used by 425th Assault Battalion and it appears NOT in a scouting capacity

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Missed that 9th guy, thought he was the gunner.

Regards,
Pat

[WilliamB]

I just ran across this on MSN, a new version of the Bradley equiped with the Iron Fist active protection system.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...3f3add05&ei=45

[MarkSheppard]

Sweden just announced a day or so ago that they're giving Ukraine all of their Pansarbandvagn 302 (pbv 302) APCs.

[DRG]

I was sure I had already put those into the UKR OOB but and put a guesstimate as to start date in Ukraine and end date in Sweden. The 302 adds another ammo type Ukraine does not use so guessing they might replace the 20mm AKAN with something else but I will wait and see with that but it APPEARS the 302 was the only vehicle left using that 20mm gun so their might be plenty of ammo to send along and we'll have to wait and see if the Ukrainians slap reactive bricks on the 302...

We'll also have to wait and see if "all" 302's means the EPbv 3022 FO as well..... guessing "probably"

https://www.government.se/press-rele...ritised-needs/

To further strengthen Ukraine’s air defence, the support package will also include the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (RB 99-AMRAAM),