New Armoured Truck for the CF
 

I saw on CTV News Net that the Canadians have received new Armoured Heavy Support Vehicles (AHSVS) in Afghanistan, based on the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/070525-1.htm

There's 80 of them at one million apiece!!

Just crawled in the cab of the wrecker today to have a look. They are bigger machine then the 10 tons we have, weighs in over 30 ton dry. Doors and windows over 3 inches thick.

John..
Sure don't look too blast proof,from the picture shown..The whole under gear is exposed,but probably blast plates would be installed at field level..
:remember :support

Actros
 

Nothing is really blast proof, but you can mitigate the effects of a blast. I recommend all interested parties go to the CASR webpage for some info on the truck and its protection package (paste the fol URL in the browser address window: - add www.sfu.ca/casr/bg-ahsvs-project.htm and sfu.ca/casr/doc-dnd-ahsvs-actros.htm).

As for the cost of the truck - what price do place on your life? I am sure our soldiers (particularly the transport folks who seem to get a lot of attention from the bad guys won't quibble over the cost of the truck...). Besides, the cost is a bit of a red herring. Dividing the number of vehicles by the project price does not tell the real story - it leaves out a lot of detail such as program costs, other equipment costs (trailers/PLS/SEVs/pods of various natures) and the associated ILS costs. There is no argument that these vehicles are expensive, but again, I ask, if it were your butt on the line, would you quibble?

Heavy Trucks In Ottawa
 

Here are some shots of the Actros as it was on display during the CANSEC exposition this past week.

Info board:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2926.jpg

This shot shows just how BIG this beast is - I am a shade over 6ft3in tall and am standing on the second step of the observation deck.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2896.jpg

Cab shot:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2897.jpg

Door shot - note the arty fuze plug style door handle:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2927.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2931.jpg

Steering gear:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2928.jpg

Haib station:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2932.jpg

Winch:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2934.jpg

Tires (massive as one would expect)
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2933.jpg

Long shot:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2937.jpg

We were not permitted to go inside the cab, but I can only imagine how luxurious the Mercedes folks made the cab for the driver and pax.

Msvs
 

There were some contenders for the medium truck project including this offering from MAN:

Lil fella:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2924.jpg

Cab interior:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2922.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2923.jpg

Flat rack system:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2938.jpg

Rear shot:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2939.jpg

Here is how they compare in size (note that the MAN is closer to the camera):
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2940.jpg

The Stewart and Stevenson offering:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2905.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2908.jpg

Armoured Combat Vehicle Contenders
 

As seen at CANSEC:

US Armd Security Vehicle
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2913.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2914.jpg

International:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2916.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/100_2900.jpg

I did not get shots of all the vehicles on display - I actually had to work at this exposition this year...spare the pity!

Reference: Contenders for the MLVW replacement (the MSVS [Medium Support Vehicle System])

From now 'til the end of May, the competing vehicles will be tested by 18 selected soldiers at LFCTA TC Meaford. These guys will be shortly signing non-disclosure conditions, and the M106 hangar and surrounding compound will be off limits.

With camera in hand, I shall be lurking about on-base, gleaning what info might be gained.

Rob: was CANSEC at CSDH?

Cansec
 

[QUOTE Rob: was CANSEC at CSDH?[/QUOTE]

Jon,

The exposition main site was in the Ottawa Congress Centre with overflow in and around Cartier Square Drill Hall - much to the chagrin to the peaceniks and pinkos who run (down) city hall, which is next door.

Next Spring CANSEC will be held at or near Lansdowne Park - providing more opportunities for driving new mil vehicles.

Let's hope your trials drivers pick better than the gunners who trialed and chose the Giat 105mm POS.

Cheers,

......."much to the chagrin to the peaceniks and pinkos who run (down) city hall, ....."

Tazer 'em,the devil take 'em and send them to 'Gitmo....!!

Rob...
Were you not out there laying on a taste of military hickory,,,????

and your next assignment is to square off those %#*^$(@&*&*%$* fiends that are ramming our fisher friends that are battling those murderous seals that are killing our cod...man ..woman and little Tommy cod..

Watch this and learn the truth..

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=G8sz-cT0btQ

:remember :drunk: :support

Gone to the Dark Side
 

Et tu, Alex?!? Fishers? It's time to quit listening to CBC Radio Canada. I believe the majority of fishermen are MEN. Fishers are furry little hellions that look good skinned and draped off lovely ladies...

Get yer carcass out to the barn for some refresher training.

All have of course noticed that despite the Canadian media's headlong rush to expunge gender specific terms a la Orwell's Newspeak, there is one glaring omission: Gunman. It's easier for the Liberals to foist ever more oppressive gun control legislation, without debate in the House of Commons, of course, if the population has first been indoctrinated in the equation, Guns=Violence=Men.
I took a Vancouver Sun editor to task years ago for their continuing usage of this very gender specific term. His response? He couldn't come up with another term for Gunman! I resisted the urge to challenge his credentials to be the editor of a large city newspaper and came up with several alternatives: criminal, perpetrator, bad actor, for example. Of course, my suggestions were ignored and they continue to use Gunman to this day.
Rant over, Derek.

Liberal Speak
 

Rant continues - different vein: It's all liberal generated dross designed to change the face of their Canada. Let's tale "Non-custodial fathers" as an example of this tripe. These are the men who are totally responsible for their children (so said every family court I've been forced to endure), but are not permitted to exercise that responsibility - except thru the wallet.

It is not surprising that most editors in Canada can't generate enough brain power to see through the smokescreen of liberalism - most papers in our nation are controlled by liberal friendly interests....what the hell has this to do with trucks? Nothing, but it felt good to rant...