Notes:
This version of the Al-Fahd is a mortar carrier topped by a turret
containing a 120mm breechloaded mortar. Though the Saudis have built quite a few
of these mortar vehicle versions, they have now essentially stopped production
of them, in order to provide as many APCs, IFVs, and Command Vehicle variants as
possible. The Al-Fahd-based AMV is
now the primary turreted mortar in Saudi service.
This vehicle is
a variant of the basic Al-Fahd APC.
Essentially, the turret is similar to those built for various LAV II and LAV III
vehicles as mock-ups. The interior
is, as most such vehicles, full mostly of ammunition and an autoloader for the
mortar. The gun is fed by an
autoloader, but any special rounds or types of rounds out of sequence require
the autoloader to be stopped and the special round to be loaded by hand.
This can require good timing during a long bombardment.
The Mortar Carrier is fully equipped for its mortar mission, including
automatic survey and virtual aiming stakes.
A mortar ballistic computer provided, along with GPS and a computer which
can be used as a map box and to provide blue force and red force information.
For direct fire necessities, the Mortar Carrier has a fire control computer, a
laser rangefinder, and stabilization for the mortar. On the rear deck of the
mortar is a small hatch to load rounds and equipment or discard items; however,
the primary loading and unloading is anticipated to be done by the rear ramp.
On each side of the turret are a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.
Most sorts of 120mm mortar ammunition may be fired, including various
types of GAMP rounds; in addition, there is normally on hand a few HEAT rounds
if any antivehicle fire must be conducted in direct fire.
Though most fire is indirect in support of ground troops, direct fire is
also possible.
The driver is in
the front of the hull; the driver has a night vision block in addition to his
conventional vision blocks. The
hatch may be locked partially open (so it are elevated straight out from the
hull), or locked open completely. The engine is at the center, behind the
driver. Though firing ports can be
fitted, there are none on the Saudi National Guard version. The normal
commander’s station on the right front of the hull is deleted, and replaced with
additional storage for equipment and ammunition. The commander is in the turret,
along with the gunner, with the two loaders in the hull behind/in the turret as
necessary. The commander’s cupola
has all-around vision blocks, and is manually rotatable (rather like an M-113’s
cupola), as well as a separate night vision device (integrated with a wide-angle
vision block) and a reticle rangefinder.
The Mortar
Carrier has a Deutz 10 400-horsepower diesel. The transmission is automatic, and
driver’s controls conventional. The
suspension is 8x8 and of the off-road-type, with the drive being switchable to
8x4 for road use (the four middle wheels being the drive wheels in this case).
The front four wheels are independently steerable from the rear four vehicles,
giving the Mortar Carrier a tight turning radius. The suspension incorporates
conventional hydraulic shock absorbers along with a nitrogen gas spring system
which gives the AF-40-8-1 a very smooth ride.
The nitrogen gas spring system automatically adjusts to smooth out recoil
when weapons are being fired, especially when they are fired on the move.
The Mortar Carrier has an automatic fire detection and suppression
system. Armor is of aluminum (and quite
decent); lugs for ERA are optional, but not standard.
Also not standard is amphibious capability though it is available; in
addition, the Mortar Carrier has the capability of mounting virtually any form
of appliqué armor. The vehicle has NBC overpressure with a collective NBC
backup, and air conditioning.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$1,016,830 |
D, A |
800 kg |
15.51 tons |
5 |
14 |
Passive IR (D,G,C), Thermal Imaging (G), Image Intensification (C) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
208/105 |
58/29/5 |
550 |
148 |
Trtd |
W(6) |
TF10Sp TS6Sp
TR4 HF12Sp
HS5Sp HR3 |
Fire Control* |
Stabilization* |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2/+1 |
Fair/Basic |
120mm Lockheed/Soltam Cardom Gun/Mortar, MAG, MAG (C) |
60x120mm, 2150x7.62mm |
*The Fire Control bonus for the commander’s machinegun is +1, while the
Stabilization is basic. There is no fire control for indirect fire, while
stabilization for indirect fire is Basic.
**Roof armor is AV5.
Kader/GDLS Armored Mortar System (AMS)/LAV
Notes:
The AMS is a vehicle with the same chassis as the LAV-25/LAV II and the
same turret as that of the Al-Fahd Mortar carrier.
The AMS has increased greatly in number in the Saudi National Guard; the
Saudis decided to use their Al-Fahds for other purposes, and it was also felt
that a mortar vehicle did not need to be protected or as large as the Al-Fahd.
The idea was, in essence, that a mortar vehicle would be behind the main
fighting forces and not as subject to direct combat as other vehicles.
So far, only the Saudis and the US Marines use the AMS; they are being
made in Canada to Saudi and Marine specifications.
The Australians are trialing them, but no orders have yet to be put
forth.
As the AMS has
virtually the same turret as the Al-Fahd Mortar carrier, it shares the same
features in the turret as that vehicle.
The turret also incorporates an attitude sensor to detect vehicle cant
when firing. The interior is, as most such vehicles, full mostly of ammunition
and an autoloader for the mortar.
The gun is fed by an autoloader, but any special rounds or types of rounds out
of sequence require the autoloader to be stopped and the special round to be
loaded by hand. This can require
good timing during a long bombardment.
The Mortar Carrier is fully equipped for its mortar mission, including
automatic survey and virtual aiming stakes.
A Delco mortar ballistic computer provided, interfaced with the GPS
(along with an inertial navigation backup) and a computer which can be used as a
mapping module and to provide blue force and red force information (for the US
Marines, this is a full BMS). For direct fire necessities, the Mortar Carrier
has a fire control computer, a laser rangefinder, and stabilization for the
mortar. On the rear deck of the mortar is a small hatch to load rounds and
equipment or discard items; however, the primary loading and unloading is
anticipated to be done by the rear ramp.
On each side of the turret are a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.
The commander and gunner have hatches on the turret roof. The commander’s
cupola has all-around vision blocks, and is manually rotatable (rather like an
M-113’s cupola), as well as a separate night vision device (integrated with a
wide-angle vision block) and a reticle rangefinder.
The mortar has a sustained fire rate of 8 rounds per 3 minutes, and
bursts of 4 rounds per minute and a three-rounds in 15 seconds burst.
The driver is in
the front of the hull; the driver has a night vision block in addition to his
conventional vision blocks. The
hatch may be locked partially open (so it are elevated straight out from the
hull), or locked open completely. The engine is at the center, behind the
driver. Though firing ports can be
fitted, there are none on the Saudi National Guard version. The normal
commander’s station on the right front of the hull is deleted, and replaced with
additional storage for equipment and ammunition. The commander is in the turret,
along with the gunner, with the two loaders in the hull behind/in the turret as
necessary. The commander’s cupola
has all-around vision blocks, and is manually rotatable (rather like an M-113’s
cupola), as well as a separate night vision device (integrated with a wide-angle
vision block) and a reticle rangefinder. Unlike the LAV-25, the AMS has full
overpressure with a vehicular NBC system for backup.
The LAV II hull
has an 8x8
suspension with front and rear sets of wheels with independent steering, giving
the LAV-25 a surprisingly small turning radius.
For standard road use, the LAV-25 normally uses only the four rear wheels
as drive wheels, switching to 8-wheel drive off road.
The LAV-25 is amphibious with a minimum of preparation (about 2 minutes),
and is propelled in the water by propellers and steered by rudders.
Power is provided by the standard LAV II engine, the Detroit Diesel 6V53T
275-horsepower turbocharged diesel.
This is coupled to an automatic transmission and the driver has a conventional
drive control setup. The rear ramp
is retained, and is used not only for crew entry and exit, but for ammunition
replenishment. A small hatch on the roof can be used to fight from or to load
gear, or to replenish ammunition more directly. The AMS can take virtually form
of appliqué and reactive armor.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$660,208 |
D, A |
400 kg |
15 tons |
4 |
13 |
Passive IR (D,G,C), Thermal Imaging (G), Image Intensification (C) |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
158/79 |
44/21/6 |
300 |
101 |
Trtd |
W(6) |
TF10Sp TS6Sp
TR4 HF6
HS4 HR4 |
Fire Control* |
Stabilization* |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2/+1 |
Fair/Basic |
120mm Lockheed/Soltam Cardom gun/mortar, MAG, MAG (C) |
50x120mm, 1620x7.62mm |
*The Fire Control bonus for the commander’s machinegun is +1, while the
Stabilization is basic.