Bandvagn 206

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US Marines in a Norwegian Bv 206 travelling through snow

Diagram of the Bv 206

This tracked vehicle, a Swedish Hägglunds Bv206, achieves low ground pressure through full-length, wide rubber tracks and a lightweight body. The two sections of the vehicle are articulated, allowing it to keep contact with the ground over broken terrain. The ground pressure is low enough that the vehicle can traverse loose snow without sinking. The fiberglass body is even amphibious, and the vehicle is propelled in water by its tracks.

Bandvagn 206 (Bv 206) is a tracked, all-terrain vehicle developed by Hägglunds (now part of BAE Land Systems) in conjunction with the Swedish Army. It consists of two articulated units, with all four tracks driven and is a development of the Volvo Bv 202. It can carry up to 17 people, although the trailer unit can be adapted for different applications (see Variants section).

Whilst conceived for use on snow, the low ground pressure and powerful engine mean the Bv206 can cope with a wide range of difficult conditions. The Bv206 can also be fitted with a trim vane to give full amphibious capability, with a speed in water of up to 4.7 km/h. Over 11,000 have been produced and they are used in more than 37 countries worldwide.

The total load capacity is 2,250 kg and a trailer of up to 2,500 kg gross weight can also be towed behind the second compartment.

The Bv 206 is also referred to as a Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) pronounced "susvee" in US service. US Military variants include the ambulance variant, the flat-bed cargo carrier, tactical operations center variant, and the standard model. US military models are fitted with a 6-cylinder Mercedes diesel engine and a non-halon fire suppression system since 1997 due to several cases where the front car caught fire and burned to the frame.

Additional users include the American and Australian Antarctic research organizations.

1 Variants
2 External links

[edit] Variants

[edit] Bv 206A

The Bv206A is an ambulance version, which is capable of carrying stretchers in the rear compartment.

[edit] Bv 206F

The BV206F is a fire appliance variant.

[edit] Bv 206S

The Bv206S is an armoured personnel carrier variant of the Bv 206, which provides protection from small arms fire for the occupants. It is in service with the armed forces of France, Germany (200 units ordered), Spain, Italy (189 units) and Sweden (50 units).

The vehicle can carry the driver and 11 combat equipped troops — four in the front compartment and eight in the rear. The Bv 206S can be under slung and air lifted by Boeing CH-47 Chinook and Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters or carried in the C130 Hercules airplane, amongst others.

Canadian troops taking part in Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan made good use of this vehicle, riding over rough moutainous terrain with full combat gear, allowing the men to avoid the exhaustion they would have felt moving on foot at such high altitudes and in such conditions.

[edit] Bv S10

British BV10S on patrol in Afghanistan

Viking (Bv S10) is a larger and fully amphibious armoured version of the Bv206s. The British Royal Marines received their first batch of production Viking All-Terrain Vehicle (Protected), ATV(P), vehicles in July 2003. The Viking has also been ordered for the Dutch Royal Marines, 74 units are to be delivered. The main differences with the older Bv206s' is a more powerful Cummins 5,9L diesel engine, improved ground clearance and newly developed chassis, power train and steering units that give the vehicle considerably enhanced speed and comfort on road and in terrain, as well as greater load carrying capability (up to 5 tons), and the ability to add various modular sub-systems such as add-on armour, weapon-mounts, a load-changer and cargo platforms.

Some 30 British Vikings were deployed to Afghanistan at the end of summer 2006 when the Royal Marines releaved the Parchute Regiment in Helmand province. They have been fitted with anti-RPG cages like those used on armoured vehicles in Iraq, and already their ability to move over rugged terrain at speed is proving invaluable. Another advantage is that they are too light to trigger most of the anti-tank mines types that litter the countryside.

[edit] Other variants

Numerous other variants exist including cargo carrier, fuel carrier, radar, command post and radio relay. The units can easily be customised to meet the specific needs of a customer. Malaysia has 80 units of Bv206, some of which are equipped with Arthur Radar.