Mystery Lynx

Mike Baker · #1 16-12-11, 09:30

Two days ago I saw what I am 99% sure were two Lynx armoured recce vehicles on a flatbed in Colwood, BC (a suburb of Victoria). I got stuck at a red light and didn't see exactly where they went, but I last saw them headed in the direction of the base. Anybody have any idea why two retired APCs would be transported towards a Navy base on an island which doesn't have a single armoured unit?

Mike

rob love · #2 16-12-11, 13:57

Can't say about the Lynx, but I have heard the surplus M113s are all heading out that way to be scrapped. There is a discussion on it over at gun nuts.
I have seen batches of them heading down the TransCanada on flatbeds. Everything from UN white examples to some fairly pristine upgraded examples. I guess the international sales hoped for on these did not materialize.

RHClarke · #3 16-12-11, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob love

Can't say about the Lynx, but I have heard the surplus M113s are all heading out that way to be scrapped. There is a discussion on it over at gun nuts.
I have seen batches of them heading down the TransCanada on flatbeds. Everything from UN white examples to some fairly pristine upgraded examples. I guess the international sales hoped for on these did not materialize.

Or maybe ITAR and Controlled Goods legislation had their way...

rob love · #4 16-12-11, 19:09

Certainly those programs have limited the sales to some countries, and to civilians. But the push these days is really onto wheeled vehicles with high speed. No country is lining up for 40 year old armoured personal carriers that are in need of major upgrade. Some discussions I have read show that a few of the countries that might want them, don't have the cash to maintain them, much less upgrade them to todays standards.

We had the TLAVs (M113 upgraded) with the Soucy rubber tracks overseas. They seemed to perform quite well overall. But one must realize that the hulls are stripped bare, cut up, extensions added, new powerpacks added, and a host of other additions not for posting on the internet. So to some country that is worried that they cannot afford the $20K expense to replace the track every 8.000 miles, upgrades are a pipe dream.

Not sure why the hulks have to be transported all the way to BC for disposal.......raw metal going to China perhaps?

DanJahn · #5 17-12-11, 05:05

Hello group.

We at the Canadian Military Education Centre and Museum in Chilliwack, B.C. have also heard of APC's heading for Victoria to be scrapped.

Dan

Lynn Eades · #6 17-12-11, 05:51

James Swan won the disposal tender for about 50 of them in New Zealand. Big Brother stopped closure and they re appeared, (probably)as some variation of these.