The modern armoured car: the asymmetric threat has spurred the demand for 4 x 4 light armoured vehicles capable of carrying from two to six persons far use by combat, combat support and combat service support units. Often these vehicles replace unarmoured light utility vehicles.

Summary

---

Vehicles: armour

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

The modern armoured car: the asymmetric threat has spurred the demand for 4 x 4 light armoured vehicles capable of carrying from two to six persons far use by combat, combat support and combat service support units. Often these vehicles replace unarmoured light utility vehicles.

Two approaches have been adopted to meet the new demand: armouring existing vehicles and developing purpose-built armoured vehicles. The first solution--armouring existing vehicles--is often a temporary expedient as the installation of an armour package significantly reduces payload, mobility and service life. Although neither approach will provide the same level of protection as the more expensive and larger Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (Mrap) vehicle against the improvised explosive devices which are the greatest threat to coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, they offer the advantages of greater strategic and tactical mobility, especially in urban environments.

Over the period of only a few years the AM General Humvee has made the metamorphose from an unarmoured tactical wheeled vehicle to the most numerous factory-built armoured vehicle in service. AM General officials stress that prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom most HMMWV models were not required to have any armour protection. Armament carriers and the hard-shelled ambulance models were designed to provide some degree of protection. The initial M998 production series was fielded from 1985 in 14 variants, including two- and four-door cargo/troop, she...

See the full content of this document

---