Arrowpointe Dragoon TOW Vehicle
Notes: This is a
Dragoon basic APC with the rear area taken up by a turntable-mounted TOW
launcher and ammunition.
The driver and commander are in the front, with the driver on the right and
commander beside him. They have a
small bullet-resistant windshield in front of them, and vision blocks to the
sides. Vision blocks are also
present in front of the hatches for use when the vehicle is buttoned up. They
have hatches above them and can also reach their stations through the troop
compartment. Their hatches have
night vision blocks, which can be removed and replaced with an armored block.
The driver has a conventional control set, though he has power brakes.
The driver and commander have electrically-powered raising and lowering
of their seats.
The crew may
enter and exit through wide doors on either side, and they have three hatches on
the hull deck.
The hatch design for the gunner is
similar to the Dragoon Armored Mortar Carrier, with the sliding hatch being
replaced with two large hatches opening right and left.
The two firing ports on each side and
one in the rear are retained. These are not true firing ports, but merely
shuttered openings in the hull. The gunner has a folding seat on a stand under
his gunner’s position. The Dragoon TOW Vehicle has air conditioning as standard.
The Dragoon TOW Vehicle has a heater, and this heater has a booster for
the driver/commander compartment.
The Dragoon TOW
Vehicle borrows the starter, vision blocks, bilge pumps, control knobs and
electrical and hydraulic components from the M113A2 APC; automotively, many
components are the same as on the M809 medium truck, particularly in the
suspension. The engine of the
Dragoon is a Detroit Diesel 6V-53T 300-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine
(again, a modified version of that of the M113), coupled to an automatic
transmission. The Dragoon TOW Vehicle has a flood-type Halon fire suppression
system, but this must be manually triggered.
There is one for the troop/front compartment and one for the engine
compartment. The suspension is 4x4
and of the off-road-type, and the Dragoon TOW Vehicle has run-flat tires and
central tire pressure regulation.
Armor is moderate, but angling of the front and sides helps the situation,
giving it protection greater than might be expected for such a vehicle.
Armor is acceptable for such a vehicle, though appliqué armor kits are
available. All Dragoon TOW Vehicles
and variants have a front-mounted winch with a capacity of 5 tons and 53.34
meters of cable. The Dragoon TOW
Vehicle is amphibious, powered by wheel rotation in the water, and steered by
the front wheels as if on land.
Bilge pumps must be turned on before entering the water, but other than that,
there is no preparation required for amphibious operations (and turning on the
bilge pumps only requires the flipping of a switch by the driver).
The driver may also fully inflate the tires using the central tire
inflation system before amphibious operations to increase flotation, an
operation that requires only 15 seconds. Amphibious speed is slow, and
amphibious steering response is sluggish.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The US 9th ID is the
only US unit to have the Dragoon TOW Vehicle in any large numbers, with them
being taken into regular service in that unit.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Dragoon TOW Vehicle |
$59,768 |
D, A |
606 kg |
11 tons |
3 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G) |
Enclosed |
(With Applique) |
$61,267 |
D, A |
606 kg |
11.4 tons |
3 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Dragoon TOW Vehicle |
216/110 |
60/30/3 |
350 |
158 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF8 HS4
HF4 |
(With Applique) |
211/106 |
59/30/3 |
350 |
158 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF10Sp HS4
HF4* |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
None |
TOW II Launcher, M2HB |
6xTOW II ATGM, 600x.50BMG |
*Floor AV is 4Sp.
HMMWV LOSAT
Notes:
The HMMWV LOSAT (Line-Of-Sight Anti-Tank) is a HMMWV M1044A1 modified to
carry a quadruple Hypervelocity Missile System over the roof in a fairing.
It is otherwise like the M1044A1, with its Kevlar armor panels and
a winch in the front
bumper, with 60 meters of cable and a capacity of 2.7 tons.
The LOSAT system is used by pointing the HMMWV in the general direction
of the target, with aiming done with a mast-mounted sight coupled to night
vision and telescopic-vision devices. Guidance is fire-and-forget once missiles
are launched; lock-on is by laser designation and a computerized tracking system
onboard the missile. Aiming and designation are done via a downlink to the MMS
to the gunner in a station in the rear seat of the HMMWV. To the gunner’s rear
are a rack of reload missiles. The HMMWV LOSAT also commonly towed an armored
trailer based on the HMMWV suspension and cargo box, carrying eight reload
missiles.
The HMMWV
chassis has a 190-horsepower Cummins turbodiesel engine coupled to an automatic
transmission. The suspension is switchable from 4x4 to 4x2 for more efficient
road use. The engine is built for power instead of speed and has considerable
torque. Fording is 0.76 meters when unmodified, though an extended exhaust kit
can be added which increases fording to 1.52 meters, literally over the heads of
the seated occupants.
The HMMWV has the
ability to accelerate to 50 kmh in 8 seconds and climb 60% slopes or negotiate
40% side slopes.
The HMMWV-LOSAT
never got beyond the LRIP prototype stage and was never type-standardized,
though the LOSAT missiles themselves were type-standardized.
Only 12 advanced prototype HMMWV-LOSATs were produced, and though tests
were successful, the program was terminated along with the rest of the Ground
Combat Vehicle program.
Twilight 2000
Notes: This vehicle does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Merc 2000 Notes:
This vehicle was first seen in service in 2007.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$365,406 |
D, G, A |
198 kg |
5.08 tons |
3 |
8 |
Passive IR (G), Image Intensification (G), FLIR (G) |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
268/134 |
74/38 |
95 |
55 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF2 HS2
HR2 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
None |
4xMGM-166A LOSAT Launchers |
8xLOSAT |
HMMWV TOW Carrier M1046A1
Notes:
This is a standard Armored Weapons Carrier HMMWV fitted with a TOW launch
system and supplemental armor consisting of Kevlar panels.
The rear area is fitted with racks for TOW missiles and a ground-mount
system to be used if necessary or the situation permitted this. The TOW missile
system is fitted with a Thermal Imager, and the gunner stands in the open top
hatch of the HMMWV to aim and fire his weapon, and to guide the missile to its
target. Generally, the gunner is accompanied by a loader who takes the missiles
from the back via a large hatch in the rear or through the gunner’s hatch. The
driver remains in his seat, ready to evade incoming fire. The TOW missile system
is mounted beside the gunner’s hatch on the HMMWV.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$83,458 |
D, G, A |
286 kg |
5.04 tons |
3 |
7 |
Passive IR (G), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Open |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
269/136 |
74/38 |
95 |
55 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF2 HS2
HR2 |
Fire Control |
Armament |
Ammunition |
None |
TOW Launcher |
10 x TOW ATGM |
LAV-150 TUA
Notes: This is a
LAV-150 fitted with a hammerhead mount for a TOW weapons system, similar to that
mounted on the M901 ITV. It is a
rare system.
The normal
LAV-150 gunner’s position is removed on the TUA, being replaced with a variant
of the M901 ITV twin TOW launcher, this elevates for firing and lowers flat
against the top of the hull for reloading. The LAV-150 chassis is not large and
there is not a lot of room for reloads or for the crew to work. There are no
weapons mounted for close fighting and defense depends upon the crew’s personal
weapons. The firing ports are deleted on the TUA, bring plated over. Six smoke
grenade launchers are found on each side of the vehicle.
The driver of
the LAV-150 TUS is on the front right, and commander beside him on the left.
Originally, the driver and commander were to have the same type of vision
blocks as on the M-113, but they were judged too vulnerable and were removed on
production versions, replaced with special vision blocks which offered more
protection. In the upper glacis plate on the driver’s and commander’s side are
further vision blocks. The driver has essentially conventional controls in his
compartment, as well as controls for the bilge pump.
Above the driver’s and commander’s position are two hatches; the
commander and driver may raise their seats to see out of the hatches.
The commander’s position has no armament; he primarily reads maps and
handles navigation, as he does not have the best view of the surrounding
situation. The troops enter and exit through a side hatch on both sides of the
vehicle; the commander and gunner could also get to their positions through the
troop compartment. The side hatches are actually clamshell doors, with a step in
the lower door to help exit. There
is also a small door in the rear of the vehicle on the right; this entry was a
bit narrow, and is a two-piece door like those on the sides, but only half the
width.
The engine is a
202-horsepower Cummins diesel, coupled to a manual transmission. The axles are
taken from the M44 2.5-ton truck.
The tires are specially designed by Cadillac Gage and are run-flat and designed
to run even in heavy mud without bogging down.
The tires are also puncture resistant.
The front has a 10-ton-capacity winch in it, and the vehicle carries a
5-ton snatch block to increase the winching power.
The vehicle is fully amphibious, requiring only that bilge pumps be
turned on.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$82,515 |
D, A |
476 kg |
10.3 tons |
4 |
9 |
Passive IR (D), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
169/86 |
47/24/4 |
303 |
104 |
CiH |
W(3) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF7
HS4 HR3 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
None |
Twin TOW II launcher |
8xTOW II |
Notes: The
LAV-300 TUA (TOW Under Armor is a 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle manufactured by
Cadillac Gage, but was not adopted by the US Army.
Panama and Kuwait adopted it. The vehicle uses a modified M901 ITV
hammerhead TOW launcher system; this is the same launcher as mounted on the
LAV-150 TUA above.
The LAV-300 has
a driver’s position on the front right, with a hatch above him and three vision
blocks to the front and one to each side.
The center front vision block can be replaced with a night vision block.
The commander has a cupola to the rear of the driver, with a weapon mount
on a pintle. The normal LAV-300 firing ports are deleted and plated over. In the
sides of the vehicle, at about the center of the vehicle on the right side, is a
hatch in the sides of the hull, similar to those on a LAV-150. At the rear is a
ramp, normally used for loading of ammunition. On the roof near the rear on each
side are banks or clusters of four smoke grenade launchers.
The LAV-300 is
powered by a 270-horsepower Cummins VT-504 turbocharged diesel engine, coupled
to an automatic transmission. The
suspension is 6x6 and of an off-road type, with puncture-resistant tires (though
they are not run-flat). Ground clearance is decent and the floor armor is
strengthened as a measure against mines. The LAV-300 can have added appliqué
armor. The LAV-300 is amphibious
after turning on bilge pumps and erecting a trim vane (5 minutes), but
amphibious speed is quite slow.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
LAV-300 TUA |
$187,136 |
D, A |
459 kg |
15.33 tons |
4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Enclosed |
With Applique |
$189,937 |
D, A |
459 kg |
15.83 tons |
4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
LAV-300 TUA |
157/79 |
43/22/1 |
435 |
141 |
CiH |
W(4) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF8
HS5 HR4* |
With Applique |
153/77 |
42/22/1 |
435 |
141 |
CiH |
W(4) |
TF2 TS2
TR2 HF10Sp
HS6Sp HR4** |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
None |
Twin TOW launcher, MAG (C) |
10xTOW II ATGM, 2000x7.62mm |
*Floor AV is 4.
**Hull Roof AV is 3; Floor AV is 5Sp.
M233A1
Notes: This was
the US Army's solution to making TOW ATGM launchers more mobile before the
advent of the M901A1, and it is still being used by many countries.
It is basically a standard M113A1 with a stand for a TOW II ATGM launcher
in the passenger area, and racks for reload missiles.
The TOW launcher may be raised and lowered through the deck hatch, which
is enlarged for this role. The
gunner must put his head and chest outside the vehicle to aim and fire the
launcher. In Israeli service, this
vehicle is also used with the MAPATS launcher.
The engine
chosen for the M113A1 series, including the M233A1, was the General Motors 6V53,
which developed 212 horsepower, and was coupled to an automatic transmission.
On the M233A1, a
separate, temperature-sensitive mechanism heated the coolant before it
circulated through the engine and also supplied heat to an exchanger in the
battery box as appropriate.
At the center front of
the M113 is a small cupola for the commander; this is rotated by the commander
simply unlocking the cupola and pulling him around in whichever direction
desired. The cupola has periscopic
vision blocks for all-around vision when buttoned up, and a platform with a seat
that can be raised and lowered as necessary.
The driver’s position is
in the left front of the hull; his hatch is above him, to the front and left of
the commander’s cupola. The driver
has vision blocks that cover everything except the rear and part of the
right-side arcs, and the front one can be easily removed and replaced with a
passive IR periscope. The seat for
the driver can be raised and lowered so that the driver may drive with his head
outside the hatch or buttoned up.
The controls consist of a gearshift, a gas pedal, and a pair of tillers to steer
and brake the vehicle using differential steering.
The M233A1 is amphibious
with a minimum of preparation (the trim vane must be lowered to its swimming
configuration, which takes no more than 15 seconds) – but the M233A1 must
already have rubber track skirts installed.
These bolt onto the sides of the M233A1 over the top part of the tracks;
when the M233A1 enters the water, an air bubble forms over the top of the tracks
to give the M233A1 the extra buoyancy needed for it to float.
Propulsion is by the movement of its tracks.
Twilight 2000
Notes: This vehicle was still found in several US National Guard units and in
the Israeli inventories at the time of hostilities, and went to war with those
units.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$200,841 |
D, A |
744 kg |
11.8 tons |
4 |
9 |
Passive IR (D, G) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
130/91 |
36/25/4 |
360 |
124 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF6 HS4
HR4 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
None |
TOW II Launcher |
10xTOW II ATGM |
Notes: The ITV
(Improved TOW Vehicle) is a development of the M113A2 armored personnel carrier
designed to provide mobile antiarmor capability to mechanized infantry
formations. The base M113A2 chassis
is equipped with a roof-mounted twin launcher for TOW missiles; these launchers
are essentially M220 TOW launchers of the ground-mount type fixed into the
vehicular mount. This launcher is a
“hammerhead” mount that may be raised for firing or lowered to allow the
launchers to be reloaded with minimum crew exposure to hostile fire.
The missiles are aimed and fired from a downlinked position inside the
vehicle. The launcher may be
rotated 360 degrees and accepts any type of TOW missile except the TOW III.
The hammerhead mount has been adapted to over a dozen vehicles throughout
the world. Besides the US (who
deployed them in large numbers), the ITV is used by Egypt, Greece, Jordan,
Kuwait, Pakistan, and Thailand.
The engine of
the M901 and M901A1 is the turbocharged 6V53T, which develops 212 horsepower and
has an improved cooling system. The
transmission is also improved, with an additional forward speed.
The M113A2 chassis also added neutral (pivot) steering capability, with
the pivot steering handles being located at the front of the driver’s
compartment above and in front of the tillers; however, most M113A2 series
vehicles have them disconnected as it was found that the vehicle easily throws
tracks under pivot steering, even when simply turning in place.
The M901 and M901A1 also
have a smoke grenade launcher kit; this consists of a pair of four-tube
launchers mounted on either side of the front of the hull, above the fenders.
Originally designed specifically for white or dark smoke vehicular
grenades, these launchers were later modified to permit the use of colored smoke
or IR screening smoke as well. The
grenades are electrically fired, with a control box on the top of the wall of
the engine compartment in front of the commander’s position. The M113-type
commander’s cupola is retained, and is normally fitted with an M60 or M240
machinegun; the M2HB is a bit too large to fit into the allotted space, and
would obstruct the missile launcher’s field of fire.
The primary
difference between the M901 and M901A1 is the variant of M220 launcher used; the
M901 uses the M220A1 launcher, sights, and tracker, while the M901A1 uses the
improved M220A2. This translates as differences in the night vision as well as
differences in the telescopic day vision (3x for the M220A1 and 6x for the
M220A2).
The M901A3 is
based on the better M113A3 chassis, with its 275-horsepower RISE powerpack.
The M901A3 has what
drivers have been wanting for a long time: a conventional steering yoke and a
brake pedal instead of the differential steering and braking system.
This greatly reduced driver fatigue.
The passive IR periscopic sight was replaced with a thermal imager.
An improved neutral steering system was fitted, restoring the pivot steer
capability. Kevlar anti-spalling
liners were fitted to increase protection for the occupants.
Finally, the external fuel cells were made standard equipment on the
M901A3, also greatly increasing crew survivability. The M901A3 has further
upgraded sights, with better night vision and improved 10x range on the
telescopic sights.
Twilight 2000
Notes: These vehicles were beginning to be replaced by the M3 variant of the
Bradley in US service before the Twilight War, but most US stocks were returned
to duty during that conflict. M901A3s do not exist in the Twilight 2000
timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
M901 |
$103,966 |
D, A |
718 kg |
11.7 tons |
4 |
7 |
Passive IR (D,
G) |
Shielded |
M901A1 |
$186,766 |
D, A |
715 kg |
11.79 tons |
4 |
7 |
Passive IR (D),
Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
M901A3 |
$185,848 |
D, A |
725 kg |
12 tons |
4 |
7 |
Thermal Imaging
(D), 2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
M901 |
131/92 |
36/26/4 |
360 |
124 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF6 HS4
HR4 |
M901A1 |
130/91 |
36/25/4 |
360 |
124 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF6 HS4
HR4 |
M901A3 |
158/111 |
44/31 |
360 |
136 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF4
TS4 TR4
HF6 HS5
HR4 |
|
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
M901 |
+2 |
Fair |
Twin M220A1 TOW
Launcher, M60 or M240 (C) |
10xTOW II ATGM,
1000x7.62mm |
M901A1 |
+2 |
Fair |
Twin M220A2 TOW
Launcher, M60 or M240 (C) |
10xTOW II ATGM,
1000x7.62mm |
M901A3 |
+2 |
Fair |
Twin M220A2 TOW
Launcher, M60 or M240 (C) |
10xTOW II ATGM,
1000x7.62mm |