Dragoon AFV

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The Dragoon 300 AFV was produced by Arrowpointe Corporation during the 1980's. It was based on the automotive components of the US Army's M113 APC's and 5 ton trucks. It resembled a larger V-150 Commando.

Contents 1 History 2 Variants 3 Versions 4 Users 5 Specs

[edit] History

With the end of the Sixties, the military police of the American army expressed the need for a vehicle , able to be carried by the transport aircraft Lockeed C-130 and likely as well to protect the bases as to escort the convoys. The firm Verne Corporation decided nevertheless to build two prototypes of a vehicle which was called Verne Dragoon. The Dragoon is of a very similar configuration to that of Cadillac Gage V-100 and the vehicles 4 X 4 general-purpose of the V-150 range, but it in common has several parts with the tracked transport of troops M-113A2 and the truck M-809 6 X 6 5 Ton.

Dragoon borrows in from the M113A2 its starter, its periscopes, its bilge pumps, its control knobs and its components electric and hydraulic. The case of Dragoon is an entirely welded steel construction, ensuring the crew a protection against the individual weapons of 5,56 and 7,62 mm and against the glares of shell. The driver sat with before left with a man on his line, the compartment crew being in the center; the engine is located at the back of the case on the right (on Cadillac Gage, it is placed on the left), and a passage connects the compartment of the crew to a door opening with the back of the machine. The soldiers enter and leave by two doors located on each side the vehicle, the interior part of these doors folding back itself to form a walk, while the higher part swings on the side. Firing ports with periscopes are arranged on the sides like with the back of the compartment compartment. The diesel engine is coupled with an automatic transmission, having five forward gears and one reverse, and with a of one speed transferbox. With the end of the Sixties, the military police force of the United States Army expressed the need for a vehicle airborne, being able to be conveyed by the transport aircraft Lockeed C-130 and likely as well to protect the bases as to escort the convoys. Cete request was not maintained, but the firm Verne Corporation decided nevertheless to build two prototypes of a vehicle which was called Verne Dragoon. Dragoon is of a very similar configuration to that of Cadillac Gage V-100 and the vehicles 4 X 4 general-purpose of the V-150 range, but it in common has several parts with the tracked transport of troops M-113A2 and the truck M809 6 X 6 of 5 T. Dragoon borrows in particular from the M113A2 its starter, its periscopes, its bilge pumps, its control knobs and its components electric and hydraulic. The case of Dragoon is an entirely welded steel construction, ensuring the crew a protection against the individual weapons of 5,56 and 7,62 mm and against the glares of shell. The driver sat with before left with a man on his line, the compartment crew being in the center; the engine is located at the back of the case on the right (on Cadillac Gage, it is placed on the left), and a passage connects the compartment of the crew to a door opening with the back of the machine. The sodats enter and leave by two doors located on each side the vehicle, the interior part of these doors folding back itself to form a walk, while the higher part swivels on the side. Slits of shooting with a épiscope above are arranged on the sides like with the back of the compartment éqauipage. The diesel engine is coupled with an automatic transmission, having five forward and one reverse gear, and with a one speed transfer case. The Dragoon is completely amphibious, and is propelled in water by its wheels, at a speed of 4,8 km/h, while three bilge pumps absorb water infiltrating by the opening of the doors and the trap doors. Utilised like an armoured personnel carrier, the Dragoon is usually equipped with a turret identical to that of the M-113A2 armed with a machine-gun of 12,7 mm or 7,62 mm assembled on pivot. The vehicle can also receive two-seater turrets carrying a gun of 25 or 90 mm and coaxial and anti-aircraft machine-guns of 7,62 mm. There are more specialized versions including/understanding vehicles of the genius, breakdown service and command vehicles. In 1982, US Army accepted the delivery of six Dragoon and a smaller number was provided to US Navy. The first vehicles were used by the 9th Infantry Division High Technology Test Bed, in two forms: electronic warfare and optical monitoring by video. The electronic warfare version has many aircraft of connection and a hydraulically-operated mast which perhaps lengthened to improve the transmission. US Navy uses its vehicles to patrol in Alaska and in the center of the United States where arsenals containing of the nuclear weapons are.

[edit] Variants

This is the base hull of the LFV-90 Dragoon vehicle (see US light combat vehicles). The hull has some modifications to better suit it for use as an armored personnel carrier, and may have a pintle mount or one of several turrets. The basic APC version is used, in addition to military forces, by several police forces in the US, often with a ramming pole welded to the nose of the vehicle.

The Basic APC is the base vehicle of the line, with two hatches in the front deck for the commander and gunner, a center hatch with a weapon mount directly behind those hatches for the gunner, and a large sliding hatch on the rear deck for the passengers. In addition, there are six firing ports, two on each side and one in the rear, as well as a door in either side of the passenger compartment.

The Dragoon ACV (Armored Command Vehicle) is a Dragoon basic APC set up to be a command post carrier. In this variant, the Dragoon carries a folding worktable, at least three radios, a camouflage net, various drawers and lockers for equipment, and a 3 kW generator to run the vehicle with the engine off. The pintle-mounted machinegun is retained.

The Dragoon ALSV (Armored Logistics Support Vehicle) is a Dragoon APC fitted out as an armored truck of sorts. The load area in this vehicle is open-topped, and there is a materiel-handling crane with a capacity of 1 ton. It can carry standard NATO pallets and containers, as well as several makes of civilian ones. This vehicle is normally used to carry bulk cargo like ammunition and spare parts to forward elements, and is often found accompanying Dragoon EMVs on their rounds.

The Dragoon ASV (Armored Security Vehicle), also known as the Patroller, is the version of the Dragoon APC that is in service with several US law enforcement agencies. The vehicle is a little higher to allow standing, and the weapon mount is replaced with a rotating box that carries the surveillance equipment. The windows are larger, as are the firing ports and vision blocks. The vehicle is equipped with several surveillance devices, including a low-light TV, VCR, computer, shotgun microphone, and night vision gear. Many of these vehicles are equipped with pole-mounted ramming blocks mounted on the nose of the vehicle. Sirens and flashing lights complete the modifications.

The LFV-40 (Light Forces Vehicle) is a Dragoon APC with a one-man turret mounted on the deck behind the driver's hatch. This turret is armed with a heavy machinegun and an automatic grenade launcher. The LFV-50 is the same as the LFV-40, but the turret is armed with a heavy and light machinegun.

The Dragoon MGTS (Multi-Gun Turret System) is a Dragoon APC fitted with a two-man turret armed with Bushmaster Chain Gun in one of three calibers and a machinegun, as well as a commander's machinegun.

[edit] Versions

• Dragoon 300 [20mm Turret] - Fitted with two-man turret armed with 20mm cannon.
• Dragoon 300 [25mm Turret] - Fitted with two-man turret armed with bushmaster M242 25mm cannon.
• Dragoon 300 [25mm Turret Variant 1] - Fitted with 25mm KBA cannon in overhead mount.
• Dragoon 300 [90mm Turret] - Fitted with two-man turret armed with 90mm gun.
• Dragoon 300 Recoilless Rifle carrier] - Version armed with multiple recoilless rifles.
• Dragoon 300 ACV - Command vehicle version.
• Dragoon 300 LERO - Obsevation vehicle.
• Dragoon 300 Trailblazer - SIGINT version.
• Dragoon LFV-40 - Fitted with 1M turret armed with 50cal HMG & 40mm grenade launcher.
• Dragoon LFV-50 - Fitted with 1M turret armed with 50cal HMG and 7.62mm LMG.
• Dragoon LFV-90 - Fitted with two-man turret armed with 90mmm gun.
• Dragoon LFV-APC - Armoured personnel carrier version.
• Dragoon LFV-MEWS - Electronic warfare version fitted with Teampack.
• Dragoon LFV-RMD - Dragoon converted into remotely controlled mine detector.
• Patroller - Version produced for use by Police Agencies.
• Patroller [Variant 1] Police version fitted with ram device.

[edit] Users

The USA, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuelan (acquired 42 Dragoon 300, 25 Dragoon 300 APC, 21 Dragoon 300 MC, 2 Dragoon RV and 11 Dragoon 300 CP).

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[edit] Specs

Crew ; 3 + 6 men Weight 12.700 kg Speed 116 km/h Autonomy 885 km Equipment Broad ranges of accessories can be delivered with the vehicle. at only . The dragoon, completely amphibian, are propelled in water by its wheels, at a speed of 4,8 km/h, while three bilge pumps absorb water infiltrating by the opening of the doors and the trap doors. Utilsé like simple vehicle armoured personnel carrier, Dragoon is usually equipped with a turret identical to that of the M-113A2 armed with a machine-gun of 12,7 mm or 7,62 mm assembled on pivot. The vehicle can also receive two-seater turrets carrying a gun of 25 or 90 mm and coaxial and anti-aircraft machine-guns of 7,62 mm. There are more specialized versions including/understanding vehicles of the genius, breakdown service and command vehicles. In 1982, US Army accepted the delivery of six Dragoon and a smaller number was provided to US Navy. The first vehicles are used by the 9th Infantry Division High Technology Test Bed, in two forms: electronic war and optical monitoring by video. The electronic version war has many aircraft of connection and a hydraulically-operated mast which perhaps lengthened to improve the transmission. US Navy uses its vehicles to patrol in Alaska and in the center of the United States where arsenals containing of the nuclear weapons are.

Alternatives: A vast range of models was developed, command vehicle, carries mortar etc. Armament Gun of 20 mm and or a machine-gun of 7,62 mm Country Users The USA, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela.

Crew 3 + 6 men Shielding ? mm Weight 12.700 kg Speed 116 km/h Autonomy 885 km Equipment Broad ranges of accessories can be delivered with the vehicle.