The Cadillac Gage LAV-600, also known as the V-600,Army Weaponry and Equipment, Page 469. Army: The Magazine of Landpower. Volume 36, Issue No 10. October 1986. is an American light armored 6×6 wheeled vehicle, derived from the LAV-300. Developed by

Cadillac Gage Textron Marine & Land Systems, formerly Cadillac Gage, is an American military contractor that manufactures armored vehicles, turrets, advanced marine craft, surface effect ships, and other weapon systems. It is owned by Textron, and was formed ...

as a private venture project, the LAV-600 offers superior firepower and mobility to the LAV-300, normally being equipped with a 105mm main gun. The vehicle was actively being marketed at the time for countries that want to purchase a wheeled fire support vehicle as an alternative to tracked fire support vehicles at a cheaper price. As of 2020, it is not being marketed by Textron since it was never mass-produced.

History

The LAV-600 was developed as a private venture by

targeting the export market. The first prototype of the LAV-600 was built in 1985 and development was announced on the same year. It was first known as LAV-300 A1. Gunnery trials carried out with the 105 mm gun were very successful. These trials included firing the gun at all angles of elevation and firing with the turret traversed 90 degrees to the vehicle's centerline, the results of both being satisfactory. Mobility and firepower trials were carried out in late 1988 in Egypt as a potential customer. When production of the vehicle was reorganized and placed at New Orleans, its name changed from the V-600 to the LAV-600 in 1994. In 1989, the LAV-600 was reported to be considered by the US military as a candidate for the Armored Gun System program alongside Teledyne Continental AGS, FMC's CCVL and the IKV 91-105. In 1999, the LAV-300 was considered alongside the LAV-600 to be selected for the US Army's Brigade Combat Team. The M1117 was chosen instead. Due to this, Textron decided to discontinue marketing in 2000. In 2010, Federal Defense Industries announced that they entered into an agreement with Textron Marine & Land Systems in order to provide authorized aftermarket parts, support and other types of assistance for the LAV-600 since FDI maintains a technical library for spare parts.

Design

The LAV-600 uses many components of the LAV-300, and also several improved components, including heavier armor, better vision devices and weapons. The vehicle holds a four-person crew, consisting of a driver, loader, gunner and commander. Powered by a turbocharged 6CTA 8.3

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which Combustion, ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to Mechanics, mechanical Compr ...

providing a power output of , the LAV-600 includes an Allison fully automatic transmission with six forward gears. The vehicle can travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and has a range of 600 km. It has a weight of 18,500 kg with a length of 6.30 m, a width of 2.667 m and a height of 2.74 m. Inclusion of low observable technologies for reconnaissance operations are also supported, such as minimization of infrared signatures, acoustic signatures and seismic signatures. A

Halon Halon may refer to: * Haloalkane, or halogenoalkane, a group of chemical compounds consisting of alkanes with linked halogens (in particular, bromine-containing haloalkanes) * Halomethane compounds: ** Halon 10001 (iodomethane) ** Halon 1001 (bromo ...

fire detection and suppression system can be used for the vehicle. The LAV-600 is designed to allow it to be air-transported using

C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 w ...

aircraft.

Armament

The complete power operated, low recoil force

gun turret A gun turret (or simply turret) is a mounting platform from which weapons can be fired that affords protection, visibility and ability to turn and aim. A modern gun turret is generally a rotatable weapon mount that houses the crew or mechanis ...

of the

Stingray light tank The Stingray, sometimes known as the Commando Stingray, is a light tank produced by Textron Marine & Land Systems division (formerly Cadillac Gage). The Stingray was a private venture project aimed at foreign countries. As of 2020, Textron has ...

is used on the LAV-600. This incorporates a BAE Systems RO Defence 105 mm M-68 gun ( L7) as the primary weapon of the LAV-600. A computerized

fire control system A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a Director (military), director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs th ...

is used for this weapon, with the power operated winch mounted at the front of the hull. The gunner's sight has an Optic-Electronic M36E1 day/night sight, which can be optionally replaced with the M36E1 SIRE day/night sight incorporating an integral laser rangefinder or an unspecified thermal sight. The turret has a traverse arc of 360 degrees. As the auxiliary weapon, it is fitted with a FN M240 machine gun. This can be replaced by a 12.7 mm M2 HB machine gun and another mounted on the roof. 16 smoke grenades are carried for Peak Engineering Number 12 smoke grenade launchers mounted on each side of the turret.

Protection

The hull and turret are of welded cadloy armored steel which provides protection against hits from up to 7.62 mm ammunition and artillery shell splinters. The vehicle's armor can withstand impacts from up to 7.62mm ammunition and offers protection against

land mine A land mine, or landmine, is an explosive weapon often concealed under or camouflaged on the ground, and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near it. Land mines are divided into two types: anti-tank mines, wh ...

s and fragmentation

hand grenade A grenade is a small explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a Shell (projectile), shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A mod ...

s. Armor plates can be fitted on to the hull for additional protection against ballistic impacts.

Equipment

Optionally, run-flat inserts can be used on the tires with a central tire pressure system. The LAV-600 features an optional nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system.

References