Reply With QuoteThey are the 4x4 and 6x6 versions of the Force Protection Cougar.Originally Posted by CMN
How long until servicing becomes an issue? With such a plethora of vehicles, I don't imagine the MoD has done something sensible and required levels of inter-changeability between various vehicles?
Also, the Ridgeback and Mastiff 2 sure look deceptively similar.
They are the 4x4 and 6x6 versions of the Force Protection Cougar.
Panther, Ridgback and Husky, three vehicles that are similar to large parts. Why this "jumble" of vehicles, must cost in maintenance and logistics.
New photo gallery for Op Panther's Claw, via MoD Media Ops;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1118771...7621274314588/
The vehicles have very specialised roles. One single vehicle couldn't perform the roles of all three vehicles so it's necessary to buy a number of different ones. Beyond the fact that they all have four wheels and a bit of armour, there is very little similarity between them.
We bought Panther several years ago, they're only recently come into service. The MoD bought them as a scouting and command vehicle, but they'll be used in Afghanistan for force protection (patrolling around bases and protecting convoys). They don't have much space for transporting other people or equipment due to the large amounts of electronics and communication equipment necessary for their scout role.
Ridgeback and Husky have been bough specifically for Afghanistan. Ridgeback's to be used as a troop carrier (seats in the back, more armour) and Husky is for transporting equipment in theflat-bed on the back, to places where Ridgeback is too big and heavy to access.
Ed:-
Great photos les. Wish the MoD did high-res
I was thinking the same. The hires must exist somewhere.
Ok, Ridgeback is logical in that they (UK) use the Mastiff and Wolfhound. But why not a Panther with a flat-bed instead of a Husky, but there is probably a reason for this. Just that more vehicle types require more money for logistics, money that otherwise could have been used for more vehicles. (always a balance)
Taken from Parliamentary discussion:
http://www.publications.parliament.u...90615w0002.htm
The vehicle offered by IVECO would have been a variant of the MLV upon which Panther is based (albeit Panther has extensive UK specific modifications).Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Navistar Defence Husky was selected for the Tactical Support Vehicle: Medium requirement; and what other tenders for the contract for that requirement were received. [279646]
Mr. Quentin Davies: The Navistar Defence vehicle which forms the base for Husky was selected for the Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) Medium requirement because it met or exceeded all of the key user requirements, and the very demanding delivery schedule, while also providing the best overall value for money.
11 companies returned expressions of interest, of which six were within the scope of the TSV Medium. The six expressions of interest were from Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Navistar Defence, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Renault Trucks Defense and Penman Engineering Ltd.
Vehicles like Ridgback and Husky are being bought in the knowledge that they will probably have a very short life within British service because they are purchased to meet urgent requirements within current operations and will probably be disposed of afterwards. These requirements are specific to current operations and the cost and support infrastructures are handled differently from the 'domestic' fleet of vehicles which were in service before Operation Herrick because they are surpluss to requirement outside of Afghanistan.
The accumulated unit cost difference between the Navistar Husky and Iveco MLVs was possibly greater than the saving that could be made from using Panther's support infrastructure, which would have to be expanded at a cost anyway due to the sudden increase in the number of vehicles dependant on it, or it might simply be that Iveco couldn't deliver the required amount of vehicles in the time frame we set out for them.
Nice one some good pics there
See I reckon heres where we may be missing a trick. I know that we shouldn't prepare to fight the last war, and that any new conflict is going to be different. But I reckon we need to keep the PPVs on in storage once Afghan is done. A lot of people have seen whats happened there and in Iraq, and you can bet that they've taken the idea of the IED onboard. Next time we get involved in some COIN somewhere, guess whats going to happen? So having Mastiff and Ridgeback and so on on hand after Afghan, would not be a bad call!
on spiegelonline.de today: (42 Commando, IIRC)
2:27 is that a body flying through the air, around 15m high?? o_O
Now that is a great image, love the setup on that rifle also.on spiegelonline.de today: (42 Commando, IIRC)
Weird - they seem to be wearing ECBA in that otherwise exceedingly ally photo.
That photo was taken years ago, like 2006 I think.
Posting Permissions
