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Background
— CF Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System Project |
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An Armour Protected Heavyweight
The AHSVS was rather a surprise in October of 2006.
Focus had been on the Medium Support Vehicle System but, DND was also shopping for up to 100 heavy vehicles
to augment or replace the overworked HLVW [1] in Afghanistan. Budgeted at $259M,[2] 60 of the trucks would
be armoured.
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On 10 May 2007, the Mercedes-Benz Actros was announced to be
winner of the AHSVS contest. The numbers
shifted slightly: 82 AHSVS were to go directly to Afghanistan beginning in the Fall of 2007 (with options on a
further 26 Actros). CF HSVS will come in four variants: cargo, recovery, tank transporter tractor, and PLS (palletized loading system). Contrary to original
plans, all trucks will have armour cabs – this "Protected Cab" by LMT adds 2,000 kg but gives all-around
protection from rifle fire and blast. LMT's mine-protected floor relies on energy absorption rather
than blast deflection so the cab height isn't increased.[3]
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Actros cabs have no direct connection between gear shifter and transmission, simplifying the floor's mine
protection. As with add-on armour for the HLVW, the LMT cab minimizes the size of the glazed area. [4]
All this contributes to safer transport by road in Afghanistan and an increased carrying capacity for
CF logistics. The 16-ton tractor trailers will be especially well-timed, arriving in-theatre just after the leased Leopard 2 A6M tank.
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DaimlerChrysler (Mercedes-Benz)
Actros 4100 series – Specifications
| Powerplant: |
15.93 L, 330 kW Mercedes Benz OM502LA, V8
turbo-diesel |
| Trans.: |
Mercedes Telligent AutoTrans automatic transmission |
Weights:
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total wt., 93 t (110 t , tractor) , dead
weight 23,000 kg, fifth
wheel load (approx.) 23,000 kg , gross axle load 70,000
kg |
| Size/speed: |
(8x8 tractor) 8.4m L x 2.9m W x 4.02m H, max
speed: 88 km/h |
| Protection: |
cab (sides/ roof): STANAG 4569 level 1, floor: level 3b |
| Variants: |
cargo, cargo (hoist), PLS, recovery, and tank tractor trailer |
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[1] The Heavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled (HLVW) trucks date back to 1992. HLVWs are spry compared with the
medium-weight MLVWs but the heavy trucks have borne the brunt of most Afghanistan road supply in since the CF
moved south to operate in/around Kandahar. The 12 'fifth-wheel' AHSVS tractors and their seven-axle Doll trailers will
replace equivalent Tropco
systems leased from the Dutch Army.
[2] The DND press release says that DaimlerChrysler AG was awarded an $87M contract to provide 82 armoured
heavy support vehicles.
[3] The "Protected Cab" is flat-bottomed. The design relies on "a sandwich of armour and
shock-absorbing material" together with shock- attenuating fittings (eg: seats are wall- rather than
floor-mounted to avoid transfering shock to occupants). Land Mobility Technologies, located in Pretoria,
developed the cab for Daimler Chrysler. LMT also developed a 20 person container with the same features as the
cab.
[4] There is a sensible trend towards reduced window area, lowering the weight of needed ballistic glass and
lessening vulnerability. The side glazing of the 'Protected Cab' slopes upwards at the rear a concept
associated with Israel's Pasan Sasa (as on their MTVR add-ons).
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