Canadian LAV APC

The LAV APC is a recent development of the Swiss MOWAG family of armoured vehicles that is slated for procurement by the Canadian Army. It's to be built under licence by General Motors Diesel Division, London, Ontario. The LAV APC is designed to fulfill mission requirements calling for tactical mobility for effective use of firepower, sufficient firepower to defeat both soft and armoured targets, battlefield survivability of a standard to enable it to carry out combat missions, and a vehicle that is both affordable and has a well established support base for the future.

The Canadian Army has an initial order for 240 vehicles with plans for a total purchase of some 651. It will replace all APCs in six infantry battalions, three armoured regiments, three artillery regiments and three engineer squadrons. The first of the deliveries are expected in 1998.

The LAV APC is longer and wider than the LAV-25 series of APCs. It has a new hydro-pneumatic suspension and is powered by a 350hp Caterpillar diesel with a transmission affording six forward and one reverse gear, coupled with a two speed transfer case. The Caterpillar diesel engine is an in-line engine in contrast to the 400hp Detroit Diesel 6V53 which is a V-6 design. The in-line engine weighs less than the V-6 and has a smaller footprint which allows a greater flexibility in design configuration. The decision to power the LAV APC with the Caterpillar then, was an engineering one, rather than media reports to the contrary, where the deeper sound of the Caterpillar was reported to be a design specification to give the vehicle an intimidating presence.

TheLAV APC has full time four wheel drive on the rear axles and selective eight wheel drive. For the driver's comfort, the vehicle is equipped with power steering and brakes. The suspension is eight wheel independent-hydra-pneumatic, with height control. The vehicle is capable of 100 km/h with a combat weight of 16,300 kg. It has a crew of three, composed of a vehicle commander, gunner and driver. It can carry seven additional troops for a total of ten personnel. Entry and exit is gained by doors in the rear roof, a rear ramp, driver, gunner and commander hatches in addition to a left side escape hatch. The LAV APC is also equipped with an air conditioning and heater climate control system. Unlike the LAV-25 series of light armoured vehicles, however, the LAV APC is not amphibious.

Visibility for the driver is provided by three M-17 and one DVA thermal periscopes. the vehicle commander has seven M-27 periscopes and one DIM 36T/HIRE thermal imager. The gunner has one M-27 periscope and one DIM 36T/HIRE thermal imager also. The crew compartment has one MIL-B-11352 vision block.

The primary armament of the LAV APC is the M242 25mm chain gun with a thermal imaging sight. Secondary armament is the C6 7.62mm MG mounted coaxially to the main gun. A supplementary C9 5.56mm MG can be pintle mounted. There are also 2 x 76mm smoke and fragmentation grenade launchers in clusters of four per side. The ammunition "ready" load consists of eight 76mm smoke grenades, 440 rounds of 7.62mm, and 210 rounds of 25mm ammunition. Stowed ammunition comprises a further eight smoke grenades, 1,320 rounds of 7.62mm, 210 rounds of 25mm, and 3,200 rounds of 5.56 ammunition.

The LAV APC is readily transportable by air. The standard Canadian load carrying C-130 Hercules can carry one while the U.S. C-5A carries eight, the C-17A carries six, and the C-141 carries two.

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LAV APC

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© Chris Johnson, 1997