Aardvark JSFU Mk 4

     Notes: The JSFU (Joint Service Flail Unit; the "Aardvark" is not the name of the vehicle, it is the name of the company) it a dedicated mine flail vehicle built in Scotland.  Of course, it's purpose is to clear minefields, using it's multiple high-speed flail system.  It is currently used by 11 countries including many NATO countries, Britain, the US, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.  Most of the system is built by Aardvark and the contracts were with that company, but the vehicle chassis itself is built by GKN.  Penman is now building the entire vehicles and systems, as Aardvark Clearmine was acquired by Penman in 2008.

     The mine flails consists of chains with striker tips that are attached to a high-speed rotating drum at about the middle of the vehicle.  The JSFU have been used in many of the mined areas of the world, both in concert with armies and in humanitarian missions to clear minefields no longer needed.  The mine flails strike the ground so hard that there is a 50% chance that the mine will be destroyed without having a chance to detonate; this includes any antihandling devices which may be present.  If a double mine is involved, the chance of detonating the bottom mine is 25%.  The same is true of an IED, though they have only a 25% chance of destroying the IED without a detonation.

     The armored truck above the flails looks unusual, having the cab in the back, a sort of frame and truss system instead of a body, and in front, the flail system.  The flail has 72 chains on it with 66 heavy steel ball tips.  The armor of the frame, trusses, bottom of the cab, and lower sides of the cap are much greater than the top of the cab, though this armor is nothing to sneeze at. The tires are run-flat and puncture resistant. There are doors on either side of the cab; the driver and flail operator view through large windows on the front and sides.  These are armored windows 56 millimeters thick.  The cab has air conditioning and heating and room for the personal effects of the crew.  The engine is a 160-horsepower turbocharged New Holland diesel, with an automatic transmission and conventional driver controls. The suspension is a hybrid, with wheels up front and under the cab and a tracked section in the center of the vehicle. (I have treated at a cross country wheeled vehicle below.)

*Floor armor is 8Sp, as it the armor of the lower half of the sides and front.

GKN Sankey Saxon ARV

     Notes:  This is the recovery vehicle version of the Saxon APC.  The primary differences between the APC and the ARV are the tool collection carried and the winch mounted on the left side.  Most countries that use the Saxon also use the Saxon ARV, though some use other recovery vehicles. The Saxon ARV is due to be replaced by one of the vehicles of the FRES program, but this program is years behind already, and the Saxon ARV will probably soldier on for quite some time.

     The winch is a capstan design that can be led to the front, back, or side, and has a capacity of 5 tons, or 16 tons with block and tackle.  It has 75 meters of cable.  On the left side is a crane able to lift 3.5 tons at a reach of 4 meters. The Saxon ARV carries a welding and cutting set, wheeled vehicle and basic tools, small arms and heavy ordinance tools, and an air compressor.  There is also room inside and on top of the vehicle (or slung on the sides) for a good selection of spare parts. A tent can be erected in the rear of the vehicle to double the workspace.  This vehicle is primarily used for the recovery of wheeled vehicles.  The Saxon ARV carries a ruggedized laptop that is used to store tech manuals and tactics manuals, as well as tech information about their small arms and grenades. and any other weapons they may carry.  It also has a large number of maps, and interfaces with the vehicle's GPS. It can also plot friendly and enemy vehicles, touch is it not a true BMSS.  It does, however, have one data-capable long-range radio.  There cluster of four smoke grenade launchers on either front bumper, and a hand-held spotlight connected to vehicle power by a cable and normally kept at the commanders station, and the crane operator has a similar spotlight at his station.  The commander's cupola has a manually-operated cupola with a pintle-mounted light machinegun. The driver is in the front center, with small bullet resistant windows around him.  He does not have any vehicular NODs, but NODs are often issued to him (this is not included in the cost below).  The commander also is often issued NODs.  The crew has a vehicular collective NBC system, to which they plug their protective masks into.

     The Saxon ARV, like the Saxon, is based on a Bedford M 4x4 truck chassis, much modified for it's role as a recovery vehicle and very different internally and in the hatches on top than a Saxon APC.  This reduces operating parts, because the chassis can use less expensive truck parts. Armor is designed to stop light and medium machinegun rounds and small arms, but it not means to stand up to true antivehicle fire. The Saxon ARV is powered by the same Bedford 500 164-horsepower diesel as the Saxon APC, though alternately it can be powered by a 195-horsepower turbocharged diesel.

     Armor protection is decidedly lacking, though proof from the front against heavy machinegun fire, grenade explosions, and shell splinters.  There is not quite the same protection to the sides, and the rear is lucky to repel medium and light machinegun rounds.