Combat 4x4...

[haven]

Vehicles like this Cougar MRAP are proving to provide good protection from IEDs, but they perform poorly off the road.

So military planners are shopping for a vehicle that provides decent protection from small arms, while retaining some off-road capability. Manuacturers are responding with new designs. Here are a few examples.

PMV Survivor 2

Panhard VBR

Otocar Cobra

KMW Dingo

Arzamas Tiger

These photos come from the Deagel.com web site
http://www.deagel.com/collection/Eurosatory-2008_4_3.aspx

 

[sjester]

A couple of weeks ago, east bound I80 southwestern Wyoming I saw a vehicle that looked like a cross between the first picture in this thread and the last one just above this post moving at about 60-65 under its own power. Was not able to take any pictures as I was westbound. Would like to have one in my driveway whatever it was

 

[nmatcek]

I like the Panhard VBR the best

 

[RgrBox]

Now that China's buying Hummer, I wonder what that will mean for the Military contracts?

 

[Ron B]

Now that China's buying Hummer, I wonder what that will mean for the Military contracts?

GM has nothing to do with the military humvee, that's AM General (well...the crappy engines are GM). What we now know as the H1 used to be called the Hummer -- which was basically a dot approved humvee with more comfy interior, ac, and steel doors. GM leased the name in the late 90's and took took over the dealerships/marketing. Then began inflating the price of the newly re-badged H1 and selling the H2 for about what the original Hummer used to cost.

I think the Chinese company that bought Hummer (if the government lets them actually go through with it) has more in common with AM General than GM.

rb

 

[RgrBox]

Thanks for the Info.

RB

 

[Ron B]

Thanks for the Info.

RB

no worries. GM has been on h1 owners' ********-list since the h2 came out.

 

[RgrBox]

no worries. GM has been on h1 owners' ********-list since the h2 came out.

Not a list I would want to be on..

I have been told that the chassies for th eH2/h3 are from the Tahoe or GMC of something??

 

[Sport-Trac 01]

Not a list I would want to be on..

I have been told that the chassies for th eH2/h3 are from the Tahoe or GMC of something??

The H2 is one the Suburban or the Tahoe chassis, the H3 is on the new Canyon/Colorado chassis.

 

[02TahoeMD]

Got to spend some time crawling around under an H2 once, my best guess for the donors would be the Tahoe frame with the Suburban HD axles.

Dunno about the H3....but it would be logical that the Colorado would be the frame donor.

 

[JamesDowning]

The H3 is of the GMT345 platform, derived slightly from the GMT355 platform of the Colorado. The GMT360 is the Trailblazer/Envoy platform, while the GMT370 is the XL version, and the GMT368 I beleive is the SSR.

The H2 is based off the larger frame platform, the GMT820, which is the GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe, and the Escalade. Not sure how many parts the H2 shares, but I imagine there are more than a few shared drivetrain components.

 

[muddyluxury]

The lack of armor decreases wieght, thus increasing speed, there for making it easier to dodge bullets...

Actually, it's probably not a true "combat" vehicle but more of a recon vehicle so the armor isn't really necessary cause it's gonna be driven around looking for stuff, not heading striaght into a fight.

ahh yea, IEDs don't matter how fast you are going I have seen what a few pounds of HME does to a Ford Ranger. I have seen MRAPs lifted off the ground from IEDs. RG-31's turned into complete and total hulks by SVBIEDS, up armored Hummers torn in half IEDs that went through seats of same hummers and blew people 30+ feet from the truck. so using speed instead of Armor is just plain retarted..not to mention 3600 FPS of a standard AK round is a lot faster than that truck could move.

Some of those South African Vics are the base for what we are using now. I know for a fact the engine is a cummins I6 turbo charged. The first versions of the RG31's Middle picture of those previously posted used some sort of 3rd member. The tranny is an Allison of some sort. The new axle's i am not sure what they are. All in all they are awesome trucks. I am not sure how fast they actually go, we never break 15-20kph.

 

[DiploStrat]

Il y a des limites ...

There is no way to armor against all threats. I don't think that an Abrams tank has ever been destroyed by another tank, but they are surely vulnerable to set charges (otherwise known as IEDs).

Almost nothing can withstand a daisy chain.

That said, a lightly armored vehicle, designed to deflect bullets, mines, and RPGs is a better bet than the conventional "Jeep" if you don't control the area. None of these substitutes for a battle tank, but you better be careful driving a tank into narrow streets.

Peace is a far better alternative for overlanding.

 

[RgrBox]

Agreed.. much of what we se in Iraq, and A-Stan is due to the lack of man power over there.. and security..

Here's one of my favorite Combat 4x4s..

RSOV; Ranger Special Operations Vehicle.

http://www.defence.co.kr/bbs/data/landarms8/RSOV-001.jpg
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~jhada/images/rsov2.gif

We didn't have these yet when I was over there.. Since I'm a Land Rover 100 owner, this is my favorite..

RB

 

[DiploStrat]

Soviet Gear

The Soviet army put a lot of work into APCs of various types and the Taliban put a lot of effort into finding ways to destroy them. They shot lots of video of various combinations of mines, RPGs, infantry assault.

Bottom line, a single vehicle, or even a convoy, will always be vulnerable. You increase armor, he increases charge. This has been the history of warfare since the year dot.

That said, some techniques still work:

-- Deflection vs. resistance (shape can be as important as thickness)
-- Speed (get off the "X")
-- Counter attack (assuming you survive the first attack)

Finally, it is always better to take the battle to the other guy, rather than trying to wait for him to disrupt your supply line.

Making peace is still be best alternative.