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Background – AVGPs and the Wheeled LAV Life
Extension Project |
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DND's Depot Level Inspection & Repair and the Wheeled LAV Life Extension
During 20 years of CF service, AVGPs were upgraded and
modified as needed but repeated deployments took their toll. A parallel of the M113's APC-LE, the WLAV Life Extension
incorporated chassis improvements including wider tires (Michelin XMLs) and stronger torsion bars (allowing
a 900kg increase to gross weight). Minimal refurbishing was done to the Cougars which were returned to the Reserves. The Husky ARV fleet would receive a more thorough upgrade.[1]
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WLAV-LE "... best laid schemes ... Gang aft agley"
The goal of WLAV-LE was to 're-role' Grizzly ISCs. Some had become gun tractors and 43
life-extended Grizzly were to remain ISCs. The remaining Grizzlys were to become 81 ambulances, 74
command posts, 68 Mobile Repair Team vehicles, 23 AD air defence variants, 10 RRB Radio
Re-Broadcast carriers, and 6 mine-detection types. [2] The re-roled AVGP proved not mobile enough for MRT or
mine-detector duties and too small to be ambulances. DND plans relied heavily on 'Extended Platform'
conversions to provide the AVGPs with the same interior space as the larger Bisons.[3]
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'Brizzly' CP Conversion – "A little off the top but leave it longer at the back, okay?"
The AVGP ambulance was cancelled but another 'EP' conversion was pursued most vigorously – the
Grizzly CP. Better known as the 'Brizzly', this conversion grafted the entire rear compartment
of a Bison CP on to the AVGP's shorter hull. The conversion worked (as far as internal space was concerned)
but the short wheelbase 'Brizzly' was top-heavy. With that weight distributed over six axles, the
'Brizzly' was unwieldy and intractable.
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Air Defence Variant – 'Wolverine', a Long-Clawed Canadian Mutant
The Air Defence Grizzly was more concept than vehicle. A prototype Very Short-Range Air Defence vehicle
was produced to carry Javelin S-15 missiles and their team. There were to be 23 VSHORAD Grizzlys
(unofficially known as 'Wolverine' ) but, when the Javelin was retired, the Grizzly AD was
dropped too. That was a blessing by all accounts. 'Wolverine' had roof-hatches to fire single
shoulder-launched Javelin but no provision to use triple-shot, pedestal-mount Javelin LMLs.[4] Without
that multiple launcher, Grizzly ADs would be all but useless.
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Learning Edition – or the WLAV-LE Lessons Learned
Initially, WLAV-LE was part of the APC-LE. When both projects ran over budget, proposed variants were cut. In
the case of WLAV-LE, emphasis shifted to the newer 8x8 Bison. [4] Having refurbished the AVGPs,
the CF almost immediately pensioned them off. Some are on loan to the African Union and 44 turretless Cougars [5] were sold to Uruguay. The
remainder sit for sale or are on offer as gate-guardians. Unfortunately, the restore-then-retire phenomenon isn't
unique to WLAV-LE. DND cries 'poor', but it has few incentives to handle disposals efficiently.[6]
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[1] This Wheeled LAV-LE also covered the 8x8 Bison fleet. ( See: Cougar and Husky pages for WLAV-LE details specific to those types.)
'Baseline' upgrades for the Grizzly and Husky fleets were aimed at improving reliability and
increased parts commonality with "LAV 2s" – 8x8 Bison and Coyote. This included heavier
Coyote-type torsion bars and steering box, and Bison-style fuel pumps and exhaust system.
[2] Numbers for planned conversions shifted over time. The final plan for Grizzly re-roles were 52 're-lifed'
ISCs, 80 'Brizzly' CPs, 70 MRTs, 24 VSHORAD ('Wolverines'), 20 Unit Access Node (Signals) vehicles, 18
artillery gun tractors, and 10 RRB vehicles. Most were cancelled.
[3] Two 'Extended Platform' AVGP conversion projects – the 'Brizzly' CP and the proposed ambulance
also had Bison-style hydraulic rear ramps. The 'Wolverine' had twin swinging rear doors (note that
standard, turreted Grizzlys were also used as ad hoc air defence vehicles).
[4] The Javelin's Lightweight Multiple Launcher consisted of the tripod base holding the aiming unit and
three launch tube clips at a time. The LML pedestal both simplified aiming and sped firing. The LML being too heavy
to be easily man-portable was moot on a 'Wolverine'.
[5] Changes also had to be made to Bison 're-role' plans to accommodate AVGP shortfalls –
the 60 Bison mortar carriers were abandoned.
[6] DSAL ( Disposal, Sales, Artefacts, & Loans) contracts sales to private specialists but proceeds go back to General
Revenue not DND.
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