ASLAV - Light Armoured Vehicle 8x8.

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The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle, ASLAV-25, is a wheeled, eight wheel drive (8x8), amphibious vehicle from the Diesel Division, General Motors (DDGM) of Canada. The one pictured above has been under evaluation by the Australian Army for about three years. It must have done its stuff, because the design has been adopted by the Australian Army. DDGM has contracted British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) to fit-out and finish the ASLAV at its South Australia plant. This includes air-conditioning and fitting the widest wheels and tyres to suit Australian conditions.

DDGM reports that over 4000 Light Armoured Vehicles have been sold world-wide including 1500 to the Canadian Army, 800 to the US Marine Corps, 1300 to the Saudi Arabia National Guard, 600 to the Saudi Army. Australia has ordered 112, including 4 recovery vehicles and 6 fitters vehicles.

Wheeled armoured vehicles are attractive compared to tracked vehicles because of their reliability, low maintenance costs and ability to transport themselves quickly over long distances.

Amphibious Capability.

Propulsion in the water comes from two neatly mounted propellers, one each side. Top speed afloat is a handy 11kph. The turret is perfectly balanced so it can be traversed and the gun fired while in the water.

There is a tiny rudder behind each propeller and it is hard to credit that these are large enough, although they are directly in the propeller flow. In fact the rudders gain considerable assistance from the front four steering road wheels.

Getting into the water is rarely a problem for an amphibious vehicle but getting out can be altogether more difficult. Partly for this reason, each ASLAV is fitted with a 15,000lb hydraulic self-recovery winch mounted behind a front hatch.

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ASLAV-25 Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle (Type-1), Manufacturer's Specifications 1996.

• armoured amphibian, 3 crew + 6 troops
• loa: 6527mm, width: 2620mm, height: 2692mm
• turning radius: 7.75m
• performance: max' speed 100kph; afloat 10kph; range 660km
• trench crossing: 2m; maximum grade: 60%; max' side slope: 30%
• weight: 11,680kg (unladen), combat: 13,200kg
• Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V53T
• transmission: Allison MT653 auto' transmission, 5 fwd, 1 rev; transfer case 8x8 or 8x4; front four wheels steer; differentials: 4 (LSD) + 1 water drive
• afloat: 2 propellers, 4 rudders,
• suspension: 8 wheel independent
• tyres: Michelin XML
• winch: 15,000lb dynamic pull, hydraulic winch, front mounted
• armament (light armoured reconnaissance model):
  primary: M242 25mm chain gun, with thermal imaging sight
  secondary: M240 7.62mm machine gun, co-axial to the main gun
  supplementary: MAG58 7.62mm machine gun, pintle mounting on roof
  ancillary: two clusters of four 76mm smoke grenade launchers
• armour: steel hull protects against small-arms fire, mines, and high-explosive air-bursts at 10m
• Also available as:
  • Type II vehicles:
    • ASLAV-PC: personnel carrier, crew of 2 + 7 assault troops
    • ASLAV-S: surveillance vehicle - Army RASIT ground surveillance radar and additional observation equipment, crew of 4 plus 2 troops
    • ASLAV-C: command vehicle - crew of 5 + 2 troops
    • ASLAV-A: ambulance - crew of 3 + up to 6 patients
  • Type III vehicles:
    • ASLAV-R: recovery vehicle, inc' 50,000lb winch, can tow another ASLAV, crew of 3
    • ASLAV-F: fitters vehicle, inc' crane, crew of 3
• rrp: p.o.a. :-)

See the Military Vehicles, Australian Military or GM pages