Bison

Bison Armoured Vehicle

The Bison is an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle originally designed as an infantry section carrier. The Bisons are now being converted into support variants for the new Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III). These variants will include Ambulance, Electronic Warfare, Mobile Repair Team, Maintenance and Recovery, and NBC Reconnaissance. The new variants are equipped with an upgrade in engine power, new torsion bars, fittings for add-on armour, air conditioning, and the VRS respirator system for NBC defence. Delivery of the upgraded vehicles will take place in stages from 2002-2008.

The Bison represents a second generation of Mowag LAVs. In the early 1990s, the CF purchased 199 Bison as APCs for training the Reserves. As an 8x8 vehicle, Bison offered both improved tractability and a slightly enlarged rear compartment than the earlier 6x6 grizzly APCs. Almost as soon as the new Bison were issued to Reserve units, they were transferred to the Regular Force for use on peacekeeping duties. The first overseas mission was to Somalia where a Royal Canadian Dragoon squadron assisted the Airborne Regiment.

The Bison was considered a great success and were retained by the Regular Force (Bison were shipped directly from Somalia to Bosnia). As an infantry carrier, the Bison had many advantages over the 6x6 Grizzly beyond the new 8x8’s extra space (eg: a hydraulic rear ramp to speed troop loading and egress, the raised commander’s position, etc.). As always, there is a cost for a benefit. The Bison’s boxy rear hull has nearly-vertical sides which are far more vulnerable to hostile fire than the well-sloped armour of the frontal arc (side stowage bins help compensate by absorbing what cannot be deflected). And, that raised commander’s position with its single machinegun is only possible because, unlike a Grizzly, Bison have no turret of any kind.

Variants: 32 Bison Ambulances 32 Bison Mobile Repair Team vehicles 32 Bison Recovery vehicles 25 Bison Electronic Warfare vehicles 4 Bison NBC Reconnaissance vehicles Armament: 7.62mm C6 machine gun (C6) Command Post: C9A1 machine gun Ambulance: Nil Other variants: 2006-05-30 All except ambulance: 76-mm grenade launcher (2 clusters of 4 launchers)

Specifications: Crew: 2 (driver and commander) Length: 6.5 m Width: 2.6 m Height: 2.6 m Weight: 13 tonnes Maximum speed: Land: 100 km/h, Water: 10 km/h Range: 650 km Engine: 275 hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T two-cycle turbo-charged diesel Transmission: Allison 5 speed MT653 Maximum grade: 60% Drive: full-time 4-wheel, selective 8-wheel Entered service: 1990

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