RH-ALAN LOV

     Notes: These LOV-OP variants are based on the Torpedo HV TK-130 T7 4x4 medium truck, with an armored shell added. The LOV series began development in 1992 and was first seen in a parade in 1995, along with other members of the LOV family.  The LOV-OP APCs have been relegated to Reserve status, but these variants remain in active service. So far, the LOV family is used only by Croatia, and has been offered for export. Interest is lowered somewhat by the LOV-OP being slightly underpowered, and RH-ALAN is considering putting more powerful engines in the LOV series. The driver is in the front left, with a rather small bullet resistant front windshield and left side windshield. He has an overhead hatch to access his compartment; he can also get in by going through the troop compartment or by using a door on the left side. The driver’s position is raised somewhat above the rest of the hull. The driver’s position has no provision for night vision, but he is normally issued a set of night vision goggles (included in the cost below). The commander is to his right; he has vision blocks to his front and a door in the hull to his right. He also has a periscope which can be traversed to the front, right and the left.  The gunner’s position, in the center of the troop compartment, has a raisable seat and an overhead hatch.  The position is surrounded by low AV2 gun shields to all sides except the front; they also go lower on the sides toward the front.  The gun has only limited traverse and is moved side to side primarily by rotating the cupola.  The gunner has no vision blocks and must peek over the gun shields to observe his surroundings.  The troop compartment has a pair of large overhead hatches over the rear of the compartment and two doors in the rear of the hull.  On each side of the hull at the front of the flat troop compartment roof is a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers which fire forwards and slightly to the sides.

     The LOV-OP is powered by a Deutz BT6L 9125 turbocharged diesel engine developing 132 horsepower, and coupled to a manual transmission.  The driver has conventional controls.  The suspension is 4x4 (switchable to 4x2 for road use) and has run-flat tires.  The LOV is a bit underpowered, but the vehicle’s light weight mitigates this to an extent. A winch is mounted just behind the driver and commander’s positions, and the cable leads out through the bottom front. It has a 5.1-ton capacity and 38 meters of cable, and is primarily meant for self-recovery. The front and sides of the vehicle have moderate armor sloping, helping protect the vehicle a little more.  Armor slopes upwards and downwards from the center of the vehicle’s sides and front.  The floor and roof have additional armor reinforcement for protection against land mines and IEDs.

     The LOV-ABK vehicle is the Croatian equivalent to the BRDM-2-RKhb, being an NBC reconnaissance vehicle.  It is not fitted with the marking pennants of that vehicle, but is equipped with an optical chemical sniffer, a Geiger counter, airlocks to bring samples inside the vehicle, remote claws to take samples, and a chemistry set to analyze samples.  The LOV-ABK is equipped with an NBC overpressure system and radiation shielding as well as a special air conditioning and heating system. 

     The LOV-ED is an electronic warfare variant of the LOV armored personnel carrier.  The vehicle is equipped with radio and radar jammers that cause all enemy radio and radar use rolls within 700 meters to be jammed with ECM 3.  Also in the vehicle is equipment to intercept radio transmissions as with ELINT 2.

     The LOV-IZV reconnaissance vehicle is a LOV armored personnel carrier with additional weapons, a land navigation system, and extra communications equipment.  The LOV-IZV has an extra weapon mount by the commander's hatch for an antimateriel rifle, an 8-barrel 60mm rocket launcher, and an extra weapon mount near by the center roof hatch for a grenade launcher.  At least 2 short range and one long range radio are carried. 

*Roof AV is 3; floor AV is 4.