Combat vehicles: The do-it-all vehicle

11/02/2016By Redaktion

Bundesheer Gefechtsfahrzeuge Hägglund

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The question: "What is a Hagglunds?", sometimes produces curious answers at the local pub. "A Nordic combined skier, but isn't it called Hagglövs or something?". "A breed of dog." Specialists know more: "A track-laying vehicle with trailer", "a special thing for Arctic researchers". Hardly anyone has a clear picture of this ultimate all-terrain vehicle, even though variations of the Hagglunds can be found in use by the armed forces of 38 countries worldwide. It has been built over 11,700 times since 1974, making it the most successful vehicle of its kind. Numerous civilian versions of the Hagglunds can be found around the globe - and the Austrian Armed Forces are getting them now.

But! Hagglunds is not equal to Hagglunds. While the original military Bandvagn (Swedish for tracked vehicle) the Bv202 from Volvo was already replaced by the successful model Bv206 Hagglunds in the 1970s, similar vehicle concepts like the Nasu from the Finnish company Sisu and the Bronco from ST-Kinetics in Singapore are still used regionally in both military and civilian areas. East of the Urals, a conceptually similar vehicle is used, the Vityaz from the company Ishimbaitransmash. A behemoth, about twice as long and heavy as a Viking (see picture below) and used by the Russian Armed Forces as a tactical nuclear weapon carrier, as well as by Gazprom for pipeline service.

Example Austria: Even the Austrian Armed Forces procured a Bv206D in 1994 for testing purposes. The vehicle examined at the Army Driving School was equipped with the 6-cylinder diesel engine from Steyr of the Bv206S and has been in service since December 5, 1997. The vehicle is (and remains) a one-off. (Picture above: Test vehicle demo with 120mm mortar trailer)

Example Germany: In the German Armed Forces, the all-terrain transport vehicle Bv206D has been in use since 1984, and nearly 400 Bv206 vehicles are now in service. The "Husky" (German name) is appreciated in airborne and mountain infantry units, and is used in various versions as an ammunition and cargo vehicle, as well as a radio and command vehicle.

The further developed type BvS10, originally developed and built for the British Royal Marines Commandos (BvS10 ATV(P) Viking), will now also be used in addition to the UK, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Austria.

The incredible off-road capability of the armored all-terrain/amphibious/articulated vehicle is due to its configuration. Two "vehicle parts" are connected by hydraulic articulation steering which changes the position of the front and rear carriages relative to each other - the vehicle tandem pushes and pulls itself to a certain extent. The drive over all four caterpillar tracks also provides astonishing speed in the water (up to 5 km/h).

On June 30, 2016, the delivery company BAE Systems Hagglunds published on their website the Government-to-Government deal between Sweden and Austria, announcing the production of 32 systems for the Austrian Armed Forces.

On National Day, a BV10AT version will be on display at the Austrian Armed Forces showcase at the Mountain Troops theme area on Schottengasse, and afterwards the Bandvagn will be tested for its mountain combat capability by the 24er unit.

Info: AB Hägglund & Sons was a Swedish arms company founded in 1899, and since 2005 it belongs to the US conglomerate BAE Systems Land and Armaments under the name BAE Systems Land Systems Hägglunds.

Volvo Bandvagn 202 from Sweden. The original of the military AATTAVs (armoured all terrain tracked articulated vehicle) Produced from 1964 to 1981.