WEAPONS OF THE ADF

A = tracked or wheeled amoured vehicles. A Vehicles B vehicles = wheeled, lightly or non-armoured vehicles generally used for logistic tasks. Pics Brian Hartigan, ADF and UK MoD

ASLAV

CHARACTERISTICS The Australian Light Armoured (ASLAV) is an eight-wheel vehicle that Weight 13.5 tonne has been modifi ed to deal with ’s Length 6.57m harsh conditions. Modifi cations include Width 2.77m the widest wheels and tyres available. Its four front wheels are used for Height 2.43m steering, via a truck-like steering Crew Three – with up to wheel, while 4x4- or 8x8-wheel-drive is six passengers selectable. Transmission is automatic. Despite being designed as an PERFORMANCE BRIAN HARTIGAN and sporting two Engine Detroit Diesel 6V 53T boat-style propellers at the back, Speed 100km/hr CONTACT believes Australian are no longer capable of ‘swimming’ because of their weight in battle-ready confi guration. Operational 600km ASLAV is said to be reliable, relatively cheap to maintain and with an ability to self-deploy range quickly over long distances. ARMAMENT ASLAV-25 (pictured) is fi tted with an electric turret and 25mm Bushmaster , 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun coupled to thermal optics and integrated laser range fi nder. Other variants without the turret or chain gun, such as command vehicles and APCs, can be 2 x 7.62mm MAG58 fi tted with remote weapon stations. 76mm smoke-grenade launchers With run-fl at tyres, small-arms resistant armour, internal spall protection, a counter IED electronics suite and an automatic fi re-suppression system, crew and passenger survivability is optimised. Much development and modifi cation to the original US LAV-25 – itself developed from the Piranha – was undertaken for and in Australia. Variants of the ASLAV include reconnaissance, personnel carrier, command, surveillance,

LEADING SEAMAN ANDREW DAKIN CHARACTERISTICS , fi tter and recovery vehicles. The fl eet is supplemented by nine advanced gunnery simulators known as crew procedural Weight 62 tonne trainers, which signifi cantly reduce the cost of training ASLAV crews and maintaining their Length 7.93m hull combat readiness. M1A1 Abrams 9.83m gun forward Width 3.65m The M1A1 Abrams main battle is a key component of the Australian Height 2.89m Army’s combined-arms team. It is fully air-conditioned and can store up Abrams is fi tted with advanced , which provides Crew Four – commander, gunner, Bushmaster to 250l of drinking water and a three-day substantial defence against conventional weapons and improvised loader and driver supply of food. explosive devices. PERFORMANCE Bushmaster carries one complete The engine is a gas turbine (jet) engine – which can burn a range of fuels, Engine Honeywell AGT1500C turbine spare wheel, but all fi tted wheels have run though Australia uses diesel by default – coupled to an automatic gearbox. fl at-tyre inserts, allowing them to continue Fuel and ammunition reside in separate compartments to protect Power 1119kw (1500shp) travelling with multiple punctures. A central the crew from the risk of the tank’s own ammunition exploding if the tank Speed 72km/hr highway tyre-infl ation system allows the drive to is damaged. 48km/hr cross-country vary tyre pressures to cope with changing When the ADF purchased 59 refurbished American , it also Range 400km+ ground conditions, from pristine highway purchased the tank, urban survivability kit, which greatly enhances the to soft sand. Abram’s survivability in complex terrain. ARMAMENT Bushmaster uses an armoured v-shaped Abrams is fi tted with an on-board digital fi re-control computer – 120mm M256 smooth-bore cannon hull to protect its passengers from compensating for climatic conditions and vehicle movement – that enables landmines and IEDs, the shape acting the gunner to ‘point and shoot’ to engage targets quickly, out to 2500m 12.7mm (.50 cal) M2HB QCB machine gun to defl ect an upward blast away from or more. This capability coupled with an advanced sensor suite, allows the 2 x 7.62mm MAG58 machine gun CHARACTERISTICS BRIAN HARTIGAN the vehicle. Abrams to engage targets at extended ranges, day or night, even in adverse 66mm smoke grenade launchers Weight 12.5 tonne Its welded one-piece shell is designed weather conditions. The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle to protect troops against all small arms To support the Abrams, the ADF also procured seven M88A2 HERCULES Length 7.18m (PMV) is an Australian designed and produced fi re. Windows also provide a similar level of (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) Width 2.48m blast-resistant vehicle that can rapidly deploy up ballistic protection. armoured recovery vehicles. HERCULES is a fully-tracked heavy-armoured Height 2.65m to 10 battle-ready troops in all environments. Fuel and hydraulic tanks are positioned vehicle which performs hoisting, winching and towing as part of recovery It has been credited with saving many outside the crew compartment to reduce operations and evacuation of heavy tanks and other combat vehicles. Crew One Australian lives in , with no fatalities the risk of fi re. A protected emergency fuel Abrams is also supported by Heavy Tank Transporters to fulfi l its long- PERFORMANCE to date despite a large number of IED strikes. tank gives the vehicle extra capacity to range logistics requirements. Engine Caterpillar 3126E Bushmaster’s cabin design gives it fl exibility to escape an incident in the event that the A range of simulators have also been procured to assist in training and serve in a variety of roles and confi gurations. main fuel tank is ruptured. crew preparedness. Range 800km In basic confi guration, Bushmaster is designed The vehicle can be fi tted with a remote- Speed 100km/hr to carry and sustain a nine-man . controlled weapon station.

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