GDLS LAV III OPV

     Notes: The LAV III OPV (Observation Post Vehicle) is designed for a FIST team, and is essentially a standard Kodiak externally, except for an additional laser rangefinder and a laser designator which are on the turret; they can move independently of it, and are controlled by the commander/forward observer.  Externally, the OPV can be identified by the plethora of antennas on the roof. It is internally where the OPV has the greatest differences; in addition to the independently trainable extra laser rangefinder and laser designator, the commander/forward observer has his own thermal imager and image intensifier (though they are not in a hunter/killer arrangement with the gunner). Down in the hull lies the greatest difference; the OPV has a computer to compute fire solutions and coordinate airstrikes and naval fires, and a total of two long-range data-capable radios, one radio for communication with aircraft (with data capability), one very long range radio which is used to communicate with ships (and has data-capability), and two short-range radios.  The OPV also carries the equipment to hand-plot fire solutions as well.  The OPV has GPS with an inertial navigation backup, as well as extensive interactive mapping software.  A total of three LCD screens provide information to the hull crew, and two to the commander/forward observer; the driver has one with navigational information and vehicle state.

     Being a variant of the LAV III, the OPV has many features in common with the LAV III. The driver is in his customary place in the front left, and has standard driving controls.  The LAV III OPV is powered by a Caterpillar 3126 turbocharged diesel developing 350 horsepower, coupled to an automatic transmission.  The 8x8 suspension can be switched to 4x8 (with the rear set of wheels providing the power) to improve on-road performance; it is also beefed up to improve off-road performance.  All wheels have antilock brakes and run-flat tires, as well as a traction control system. In the front of the hull is a winch with a capacity of 6804 kg and 100 meters of cable. The LAV III is not amphibious.  The rear ramp is retained, though it is a tight squeeze to get to that ramp. The crew and passengers also have the protection of a collective NBC system, and OPV has a chemical agent detector and a radiation meter.  The OPV is radiologically protected. Armor is still of steel, though it is improved over that of the LAV-25. The OPV has a laser/radar warning receiver to alert the crew when they are being targeted. The crew and troops have air conditioning. each side of the turret are a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.  The OPV can use the MEXAS appliqué armor kit.  It can also be fitted with bar/slat armor around its hull to further foil HE-type rounds (Including HEAT); this acts as spaced armor, and from some angles, gives a sort of “double spaced” effect (the 2D6 normally added to a hit are not added on, and then the hit is reduced by a further 2D6). The ramp is not covered by the bar/slat armor though the area immediately to the right and left of the ramp are – 25% of all rear-quarter hits will hit the bar/slat armor. The OPV employs thermal dampening technology which presents a -2 penalty to those trying to detect it by IR/thermal-based vision devices or when an IR-guided weapon tries to lock on.

*Hull and Turret Roof AV is 3; Hull Floor AV is 5Sp.

**Hull and Turret Roof AV is 3; Hull Floor AV is 5Sp.  See Glossary for Ground Vehicles for special effects of the bar/slat armor, and what is in effect double spaced armor.

***Hull and Turret Roof AV is 5; Hull Floor is 8Sp and has a V-type hull.  (See Glossary for Ground Vehicles for the effects of a V-hull.)

Montreal Locomotive Works Sexton GPO

     Notes: The Sexton GPO (General Purpose Observation) was designed as an FDC vehicle for Sexton batteries, and for use as what we would today call a FISTV, though in World War 2 it was simply called a mobile artillery observation post.  The FDC version was generally deployed one per Sexton battery of eight; the FISTV was deployed at one per artillery battalion and was usually deployed forward with the troops, much like a modern FISTV.  The FDCs stayed in the Canadian and British Armies as long as the Sexton artillery guns remained; the FISTVs were largely replaced by 1944 by crews mounted in jeeps, small trucks, or half-tracks, all of whom made a less-inviting target for the enemy.

     The GPO FDC carried a crew of driver, FDC chief (who manned a Bren during movement or defense), and four “computers” – not computers in the modern sense, but troops specially trained to quickly crunch the numbers, use plotting gear and maps, and come up with firing solutions for the guns.  For this role the FDC has two long-range, one medium-range, and one short-range radios, along with eight field telephones and external and internal hookups for commo wire for the phones.  The FDC has a liberal collection of maps for the combat area at various scales, four plotting boards, and two pairs of standard binoculars.  A map table was provided at the center of the rear area. (The time of service of the GPO FDC was a time when most of the fire solution work was done manually, though the GPO FDC also had two slide rules to help out the math work.)  The FDC has a pintle-mounted Bren at the front, firing over the driver, and one hand-held gun.

     The GPO MAOP is likewise equipped with extra radios, two long-range, one medium range, and one short-range. It also has a field telephone mounted on the rear right side, allowing troops outside to communicate directly with the MAOP crew.  The MAOP is equipped with an extra Bren machinegun on a pintle mount on the right side, as well as a pintle-mounted gun in front firing over the driver, and one hand-held Bren.  Like the FDC, it has a good selection of maps of the battle area, usually at smaller scales to allow for more detailed coordinates to be transmitted to the FDC.  It has one set of artillery plotting gear, including a slide rule; in extremis, it could transmit fire solutions directly to the FDC.  The MAOP has several pairs of standard binoculars, two scissors types of high-powered binoculars, and an optico-mechanical rangefinder.

     Like the Sexton artillery guns, the Sexton GPO is open-topped, though they came with tarps which could be mounted on small bows.  The Sexton GPO was based on the Sexton I chassis, and is equipped with a British (later Canadian)-built engine, a Continental RG-75-C1 gasoline engine developing 400 horsepower, and with a manual transmission and with tillers for steering. The engine is at the rear on an extended chassis deck.  The Sexton used the VVSS suspension pioneered on the M-3 Grant and Lee and made famous by the M-4 Sherman.  There are no shock absorbers, as shock absorption is included in the VVSS suspension.  Most of the 5-man crew is in the open back; however, the driver was in the front of the superstructure on the right side, and had an open window in front of him, with an armored shutter which had a vision slit in it.

     The Australians did not make a Yeremba version of the GPO.