BvS 10
Encyclopedia
The BvS 10 is an All Terrain Armoured Vehicle produced by BAE Systems
Land Systems Hagglunds of Sweden. This vehicle, referred to as the All Terrain Vehicle (protected) - ATV(P) or VIKING by the UK forces
, was originally developed as a collaboration between industry - Hägglunds Vehicle AB - and the UK Ministry of Defence
(MoD) on behalf of the Royal Marines
.
The BvS 10 is similar to, but distinct from, the Bv 206 or Bv 206S. It is a much larger and fully amphibious armoured vehicle
based upon the characteristic twin-cab, articulated steering system typical of Hägglunds all-terrain vehicles. The main differences from the older Bv206s are 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.
RM, before the Royal Marines
accepted 108 vehicles into service, with delivery commencing in 2005. The Royal Marines Armoured Support Company took the vehicle on operations for the first time in Afghanistan
in September 2006, prior to the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group
being formed in December 2007.
helicopter
, either complete or in two separate front and rear component parts and are also fully amphibious; being capable of swimming in varying sea-states with a full load of passengers and stores.
UK Viking vehicle variants are used as amphibious
armoured all-terrain vehicles for troop transport and as vehicle repair recovery vehicles.
, were deployed to Afghanistan at the end of summer 2006 when the Royal Marines relieved the Parachute Regiment in Helmand province. Their low ground pressure is not enough to trigger most of the anti-tank mines in use in Afghanistan, but they have proved vulnerable to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as they do not have a v-shaped hull or substantial under-body armour. Less than two years after being launched, Vikings are being withdrawn in favour of the Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) Bronco
- known as WARTHOG within the UK military.
In July 2011 a landing craft from RFA Cardigan Bay
landed two Vikings and Royal Marines of 539 Assault Squadron in Somaliland
. They penetrated several miles of "bandit country" to meet up with an important clan chief and take him back to Cardigan Bay for a meeting with MI6 and Foreign Office officials. This was part of Exercise Somaliland Cougar, an operation to train Somali coastguards in anti-piracy techniques and to establish relationships with tribal leaders.
placed an order with BAE Hägglunds for a further 21 units, some of which are to be used as an equipment transporter for the new Watchkeeper
unmanned aerial vehicle
.
Additionally on 26 June 2008 the MoD
announced the purchase of an additional 14 Viking BvS 10 vehicles at a cost of £14 million.
The UK Ministry of Defence ordered 108 Vikings from BAE Systems, Land Systems Hagglunds (formerly Alvis Hagglunds), in three variants – Troop Carrier (TCV), Command Vehicle (CV) and repair Recovery Vehicle (RCV).
In June 2008, the UK MoD placed an order for a further 14 Viking vehicles, including nine repair recovery vehicles, one command vehicle and four troop carriers, for deployment to Afghanistan. In January 2009, nine more vehicles were ordered.
, 74 units are to be delivered.
in support of the EUFOR
peacekeeping mission in the region. The marines will function as the eyes and ears of an Irish battalion. This will be the first operational deployment of the BvS 10 Viking in Dutch service after exercises in Norway and the UK.
As part of the Dutch ISAF
contribution, a Royal Netherlands Marine Corps company has been deployed to the province of Uruzgan in Afghanistan since July 2009. Several BvS 10 Vikings have been modified with slat armour for this mission.
. This is a historic order, as it is the first French order for military equipment from the United Kingdom
in decades. In placing the order, France broke with their tradition of supporting domestic products, in this case the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier
, built jointly by ST Kinetics and Thales
.
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
Land Systems Hagglunds of Sweden. This vehicle, referred to as the All Terrain Vehicle (protected) - ATV(P) or VIKING by the UK forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, was originally developed as a collaboration between industry - Hägglunds Vehicle AB - and the UK Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
(MoD) on behalf of the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
.
The BvS 10 is similar to, but distinct from, the Bv 206 or Bv 206S. It is a much larger and fully amphibious armoured vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
based upon the characteristic twin-cab, articulated steering system typical of Hägglunds all-terrain vehicles. The main differences from the older Bv206s are 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.
Royal Marines
Originally designed for the British Royal Marines and named VIKING, the vehicle underwent an extensive trials and development programme from 2001-2004, led by Major Jez Hermer MBEMBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
RM, before the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
accepted 108 vehicles into service, with delivery commencing in 2005. The Royal Marines Armoured Support Company took the vehicle on operations for the first time in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in September 2006, prior to the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group
Royal Marines Armoured Support Group
The current Royal Marines Armoured Support Group is an element of the Royal Marines which operates the Viking BvS 10, All Terrain Vehicle. It is the successor to the Royal Marines Armoured Support Company, and is in effect on permanent loan from operational command of 3 Commando Brigade to the...
being formed in December 2007.
UK variants
The UK currently operates four variants of the vehicle: The Troop Carrying Variant (TCV) capable of carrying 2 crew plus 10 passengers; the Command Variant (CV), which carries 2 crew plus up to 8 passengers with the rear cab being designed as an enhanced digital communications platform, the Repair and Recovery Variant (RRV), carrying 4 specialist maintenance vehicle mechanic crewmen and the Ambulance Variant (AV). The rear cab of the RRV carries a HIAB crane, a full mobile workshop, an air compressor and a 9 tonne capacity capstan winch, together with hydraulic anchors. All three variants are fully air-portable under a CH-47 ChinookCH-47 Chinook
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, either complete or in two separate front and rear component parts and are also fully amphibious; being capable of swimming in varying sea-states with a full load of passengers and stores.
UK Viking vehicle variants are used as amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
armoured all-terrain vehicles for troop transport and as vehicle repair recovery vehicles.
UK deployments
Some 33 British VIKINGs, fitted with slat armourCage armor
Slat armor is a type of vehicle armor designed to protect against anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade attacks...
, were deployed to Afghanistan at the end of summer 2006 when the Royal Marines relieved the Parachute Regiment in Helmand province. Their low ground pressure is not enough to trigger most of the anti-tank mines in use in Afghanistan, but they have proved vulnerable to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as they do not have a v-shaped hull or substantial under-body armour. Less than two years after being launched, Vikings are being withdrawn in favour of the Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) Bronco
Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier
The Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier is a twin chassis multi-purpose articulated tracked carrier jointly developed by ST Kinetics and the Defence Science & Technology Agency for the Singapore Army.-Design:...
- known as WARTHOG within the UK military.
In July 2011 a landing craft from RFA Cardigan Bay
RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009)
RFA Cardigan Bay is a Bay-class landing ship dock of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary . Built by BAE Systems, the ship was dedicated into the RFA at the end of 2006. Cardigan Bay is active as of 2011.-Design and construction:...
landed two Vikings and Royal Marines of 539 Assault Squadron in Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
. They penetrated several miles of "bandit country" to meet up with an important clan chief and take him back to Cardigan Bay for a meeting with MI6 and Foreign Office officials. This was part of Exercise Somaliland Cougar, an operation to train Somali coastguards in anti-piracy techniques and to establish relationships with tribal leaders.
UK follow-on orders
In May 2007 the British Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
placed an order with BAE Hägglunds for a further 21 units, some of which are to be used as an equipment transporter for the new Watchkeeper
Watchkeeper
Watchkeeper WK450 is a £800 million contract awarded in July 2005 to Thales to provide the British Army with an unmanned aerial vehicle for all weather, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance use....
unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
.
Additionally on 26 June 2008 the MoD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
announced the purchase of an additional 14 Viking BvS 10 vehicles at a cost of £14 million.
The UK Ministry of Defence ordered 108 Vikings from BAE Systems, Land Systems Hagglunds (formerly Alvis Hagglunds), in three variants – Troop Carrier (TCV), Command Vehicle (CV) and repair Recovery Vehicle (RCV).
In June 2008, the UK MoD placed an order for a further 14 Viking vehicles, including nine repair recovery vehicles, one command vehicle and four troop carriers, for deployment to Afghanistan. In January 2009, nine more vehicles were ordered.
Netherlands Marine Corps
The BvS 10 has also been ordered for the Netherlands Marine CorpsNetherlands Marine Corps
The Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given...
, 74 units are to be delivered.
Dutch Deployments
On 27 March 2008 the Dutch Parliament decided in favour of sending a 60-men strong Marine reconnaissance unit to ChadChad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
in support of the EUFOR
EUFOR Tchad/RCA
European Union Force Chad/CAR, also EUFOR Tchad/RCA after the French, was the European Union mission in Chad and the Central African Republic , authorized in late 2007. EUFOR Chad/CAR was authorized under the same United Nations Security Council resolution that mandated MINURCAT, a UN force tasked...
peacekeeping mission in the region. The marines will function as the eyes and ears of an Irish battalion. This will be the first operational deployment of the BvS 10 Viking in Dutch service after exercises in Norway and the UK.
As part of the Dutch ISAF
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
contribution, a Royal Netherlands Marine Corps company has been deployed to the province of Uruzgan in Afghanistan since July 2009. Several BvS 10 Vikings have been modified with slat armour for this mission.
French Order
On 18 December 2009, the French Armed Forces placed an initial order for 53 BvS 10 Vikings, with the total order for 129 of the vehicles. Including servicing, the contract is estimated to be worth ₤220 million, and the vehicles will be assembled at the BAE factory in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. This is a historic order, as it is the first French order for military equipment from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in decades. In placing the order, France broke with their tradition of supporting domestic products, in this case the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier
Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier
The Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier is a twin chassis multi-purpose articulated tracked carrier jointly developed by ST Kinetics and the Defence Science & Technology Agency for the Singapore Army.-Design:...
, built jointly by ST Kinetics and Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
.
External links
- Viking (BvS10)Project Details on Army Technology
- Viking BVS10
- Viking (BvS10)Project Details on Deagel.com
- Manufacturer's website
- Video British Bv S10s part of ISAF convoy in southern Afghanistan (source: British Ministry of Defence).