Bandvagn 206 Bv 206 Armoured All Terrain Vehicle | |
---|---|
![]() US M973 SUSV | |
Type | All-terrain vehicle |
Place of origin | Sweden |
Service history | |
Used by | Seeoperators |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Hägglund & Söner (1980–1997) Alvis plc (1997–2004) BAE Systems Hägglunds (2004–) |
Produced | 1980– |
No. built | 11,000+ (as of 2017)[1] |
Variants | Seevariants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) |
Length | 6.9 m (22 ft 8 in) |
Width | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) |
Height | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) |
Crew | Driver + 5 passengers (front car) |
Passengers | 11 passengers (rear car) |
Main armament | Heavy machine gun on ring mount |
Secondary armament | Smoke grenade launchers (front), mortars (back) |
Engine | 2.8L 99 kWFord Cologne V6 99 kW (132 hp) |
Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) (roads) 5 km/h (3.1 mph) (water) |
Bandvagn 206 (bv 206) (meaning"Tracked Vehicle 206" in English) is atracked articulated, all-terrain carrier initially developed and manufactured by the Swedish companyHägglund & Söner, and subsequently byBAE Systems Hägglunds, for theSwedish Army. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered. It can carry up to 17 people, 6 in the front compartment, 11 in the rear. The trailer unit can be adapted for different uses (see Variants section).
Development of the bv 206 all-terrain articulated tracked carrier began in 1974. Three batches of trial vehicles were delivered by Hägglund & Söner between 1976 and 1978. The first production examples were delivered to the Swedish Defence Administration in 1980.
In 1997 the military vehicles business of Hägglund & Söner was acquired byAlvis plc, becomingAlvis Hägglunds. In turn, in 2004, Alvis became part ofBAE Systems, with the business becomingBAE Systems Hägglunds.
Like its predecessor, theVolvo Bv 202, the bv 206 is designed to carry troops and equipment through snow andbog-lands in northernSweden. The lowground pressure enables the bv 206 to cope with a wide range of difficult conditions. It is fullyamphibious, with a speed in water of up to 4.7 kilometres per hour (2.9 mph). Over 11,000 units have been produced and they are used in more than 37 countries worldwide.
The total load capacity is 2,250 kilograms (4,960 lb). A trailer of up to 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) gross weight can be towed behind the second compartment.
The bv 206 is referred to as aSmall Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) pronounced "susvee" inUnited States service.U.S. military variants include the standard model (M973), a tactical operations center variant (M1065), an ambulance variant (M1066) and a flat-bed cargo carrier (M1067). U.S. military models are fitted with a 6-cylinderMercedesdiesel engine and a non-halonfire suppression system since 1997 due to several cases where the front car caught fire and burned to the frame.
Users include the American andAustralian Antarctic research organizations andBritish,Icelandic andCanadian search and rescue services. They are also used for search and rescue services in the Austrian alpine region. The bv 206 was used in combat by theCanadian Army duringOperation Anaconda. TheSingapore Armed Forces uses the bv 206, and recently transferred several of them to the Singapore Civil Defense Force for use as a firefighting platform.
Decommissioned units have been purchased by private owners and rented as transports, particularly inAlberta, Canada, to access remote oil wells, as well as cut blocks which need to be reforested bytree planting.
The bv 206 is used inAntarctica,Brazil,Canada,Chile,China,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Greece,Ireland,Israel,Indonesia,Italy,Lithuania,Latvia,Malaysia,Mexico, theNetherlands,New Zealand,Norway,Pakistan,Singapore,[citation needed]South Korea,Spain,Sweden,Thailand,Ukraine, theUnited Kingdom, and theUnited States.
The Bv 206A is an ambulance version, which is capable of carrying stretchers in the rear compartment.
The Bv 206F is a fire appliance variant.
The RaBv 2061 (RadioBandvagn 2061) is a Swedish Army communications/command version, fitted with radio equipment and workplaces for staff members.
The PvBv 2062 (PansarvärnsBandvagn 2062) is a Swedish Army anti-tank vehicle, an open top version of the Bv 206 armed with a 90 mmPvpj 1110 recoilless anti-tank gun.
The PvBv 2063 (PansarvärnsBandvagn 2063) is another Swedish Army anti-tank vehicle, similar to the PvBv 2062, but fitted with the launch system for anATGM, either theTOW (Rbs 55) or the BoforsBILL (Rbs 56).
Signalist version of the Bv 206 with radio relay capability. The vehicle is outfitted with mission specific equipment that allows it to fill different functions in the Swedish military telecommunications networkTelenät 2000. It was used on the brigade and divisional echelons of the Swedish Army.[2]
The Bv 206S is anarmoured personnel carrier variant of the bv 206, which provides protection from small arms fire for the occupants. It is in service with the armed forces ofFrance,Germany (379 bv 206D/S ordered),Spain,Netherlands,Italy (158 units),Sweden (93 units),Greece (Bv 208) andSingapore (300 units), which has replaced it with theBronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier.
Using aSteyr M1-"Monoblock" engine (6-cylinder, 130 kW),[3] the vehicle can carry the driver and 12 combat-equipped troops — four in the front compartment and eight in the rear. The bv 206S can be underslung and airlifted by BoeingCH-47 Chinook and SikorskyCH-53E Super Stallion helicopters or carried in theC-130 Hercules airplane, amongst others.
Canadian troops taking part inOperation Anaconda in Afghanistan made good use of this vehicle, riding over rough mountainous terrain with full combat gear, allowing the men to avoid the exhaustion they would have felt moving on foot at such high altitudes and in such conditions.
The UK is looking to replace its bv 206Ds by 2020.[4]
Produced in Russia under license from Hägglunds by theGAZ Group at the Zavolzhsky Plant Of Caterpillar Tractors. Uses a 6-cylinder Steyr M16 turbodiesel engine.[5][6][failed verification]
TheBvS 10, not to be confused with the bv 206 or bv 206S, is a much larger but still fully amphibious armoured vehicle based upon the characteristic twin-cab, articulated steering system typical of Hägglunds all-terrain vehicles. It is equipped with a 6-cylinderSteyr M1 engine with 200 kW.[7] It was originally designed for the BritishRoyal Marines Commandos and named All Terrain Vehicle (Protected) - ATV(P) VIKING.
It is in service with theRoyal Marines Armoured Support Group and theRoyal Netherlands Marine Corps. TheFrench Army have recently ordered 130 Bvs10s. TheAustrian Armed Forces 32 BvS10AUT represents the most modern variant with full vehicle and crew protection and a .50 calibre remote-controlled weapon station. It is also planned for the Italian Army.
The BvS 10 Beowulf is essentially an unarmored version of the BvS 10 Viking.
Other variants exist including mortar carrier, cargo carrier, fuel carrier, radar and command post. The units can easily be customized to meet customer requirements.
Similar vehicles with the bv 206 ATV include:
... came out to meet the lifeboat in the station's all-terrain launching vehicle, a Hägglunds Bandvagn (BV) 206.