Light Armored Vehicle, Antitank1-5

LAV-AT: General
Date of first acceptance 1987 Total acceptances 115 by 2003
Manufacturer General Motors Canada Crew
4 men:
  • Commander in hull left front
  • Gunner in turret
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Loader in hull left rear
LAV-AT: Dimensions
Combat weight 27,650lbs
12,540kg
Height Launcher erect: 138.5"
Launcher stowed: 123.0
Launcher low stowed: 106.0"
Launcher erect: 351.8cm
Launcher stowed: 312.4cm
Launcher low stowed: 269.2cm
Length 251.6"
639.1cm
Width 98.4"
250cm
Tread Front: 85.8"
Rear: 86.8"
Front: 218cm
Rear: 220cm
Wheelbase Front to 2nd axle: 43.3"
Front to 3rd axle: 95.9"
Front to rear axle: 136.8"
Front to 2nd axle: 110cm
Front to 3rd axle: 244cm
Front to rear axle: 347.5cm
Ground clearance 14.9"
37.8cm
Fire height ~117"
~297cm
LAV-AT: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Max traverse rate Elevation Max elevation rate
Twin TOW missile launcher Targeting head in hull center 16 360° ~35°/sec +35° to -30° 12°/sec
7.62mm M60 or M240E1 MG Flexible in pintle mount 1,000 rounds Manual -- Manual --
Aiming equipment
Daysight/tracker and nightsight for gunner
Night vision
Image intensifying periscope for driver and commander, TOW thermal sight for gunner
LAV-AT: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled hard homogeneous steel
LAV-AT: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6V53T; 6 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee, supercharged diesel
Horsepower Gross: 275@2,800rpm Torque Gross: 586 ft-lb@2,000rpm Fuel capacity 71gal
270L
Transmission Allison MT653, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Steering wheel
Brakes Pneumatic-hydraulic
LAV-AT: Suspension
Type Road wheels Shock absorbers
Front 2 axles: Independent coil spring
Rear 2 axles: Torsion bar
4/side On each wheel
LAV-AT: Performance
Max level road speed 62mph
100kph
Max water speed 6.5mph
10kph
Max trench 68.4"
165cm
Max grade 60%
Max vertical obstacle 19.7"
50.0cm
Min turning diameter 50.8'
15.5m
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~400mi, roads
~640km, roads

The LAV-AT used the "hammerhead" TOW launcher turret originally found on the ITV M901, and mounted it slightly offset to the hull's left rear corner. The deck of the rear hull was redesigned to incorporated a hatch that provided the loader some protection as he attended his duties. The vehicle's fuel tank occupied the same position as that on the LAV-M, on the left-hand side of the hull rear, and likewise smoke grenade launchers were mounted on the hull roof. Missile stowage racks were placed on the right side of the passenger compartment opposite the loader.

The LAV-AT underwent upgrades to -A1 and -A2 standard like the LAV-25.

The various versions of the TOW missile are as follows: BGM-71A from 1970 was the basic version with a 5" (13cm) diameter warhead and a 3,000m (1.86mi) range. BGM-71B from 1976 extended the range to 3,750m (2.33mi). BGM-71C ITOW (Improved TOW) from 1981 used an improved 5" (13cm) warhead and a 265mm (10.4") long standoff probe which allowed the shaped charge penetrator to assume a more efficient shape before it struck the target. BGM-71D TOW 2 from 1983 had a 6" (15cm) diameter warhead and a 345mm (13.6") long standoff probe, along with a new motor and digital guidance strengthened against countermeasures. BGM-71E TOW 2A from 1987 introduced a precursor charge in the standoff probe to defeat explosive reactive armor. BGM-71F TOW 2B from 1991 was a top-attack weapon using two explosively-formed projectiles that penetrated the roof of armored vehicles. TOW 2B lacked a standoff probe.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Armored Car: A History of American Wheeled Combat Vehicles. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 2002. Reprinted from Armored Car, R.P. Hunnicutt ©2002, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Novato, CA 94945.
  2. D'Angina, James. LAV-25: The Marine Corps' Light Armored Vehicle. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2011.
  3. Estes, Kenneth W. Marines Under Armor. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2000.
  4. Hogg, Ian V. The Greenhill Armoured Fighting Vehicles Data Book. London: Greenhill Books, 2000.
  5. Cullen, Tony, and Christopher F. Foss, eds. Jane's AFV Retrofit Systems 1994-95. Seventh ed. Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group, Ltd., 1994.
Last updated 7 Jan 2024.
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