Holland orders Bushmasters

[MARKMILES77]

The Dutch government has announced they have purchased 25 Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles from ADI Australia. 23 of the vehicles will be delivered direct to Afghanistan from Australia for immediate entry into Dutch Army service. ADI technicians will accompany the vehicles to provide in country training and service. The remaining 2 vehicles will be shipped to Holland for training. The standard vehicle is already proof against 9Kg (20lb) antitank mines but some of the vehicles are receiving upgraded mine protection. 12 of the vehicles will receive a remote Weapon station.

[Coldsteel]

Well hooray for our side. But they're not -really- armoured are they? Why stick the RWS on it?

[MARKMILES77]

- Coldsteel

But they're not -really- armoured are they? Why stick the RWS on it?

They most certainly are armoured!

[Coldsteel]

I know they're armoured, I just meant if you stick a RWS on it that it may encourge the vehicle to be used as an APC an it's not really armoured to that level, is it?

[Roy_A_Lingle]

Hi Coldsteel! Hi Folks!

- Coldsteel

I just meant if you stick a RWS on it that it may encourge the vehicle to be used as an APC an it's not really armoured to that level, is it?

Armoured to that level?

Just how much armor must a vehicle have before you call it an APC?

Confuzed.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

[Uhu_Fledermaus]

At the risc of beeing a pain in the proverbial "***"

It's my partial property you fella's talking bout!

The Dutch taxpayers had to cough up something like 25 million Euro's for them tin cans and the best part is that they are shipped directly to the proving ground called Afghanistan


Have fun dudes !


fled

[Coldsteel]

- Roy_A_Lingle

Armoured to that level?

Just how much armor must a vehicle have before you call it an APC?

Confuzed.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

I thought it's name would have said it all, the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle, good for moving troops around and better than an unarmoured transport but not a vehicle you want fight from. I've done a little reading and it seems to be armoured to stop 7.62mm NATO ball not AP, good enough for an ambush but with those windows (anyone know how well they might stand up to repeated hits?) and such, I just can't see a really good reason to put a RWS on it, that was all. I'll shut up now.

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

As the British battlegroup in Helmand Province AF seems to be discovering, a Land Rover doesn't stop bullets as well as steel plate.

[C_Sherman]

- Maple_Leaf_Eh

As the British battlegroup in Helmand Province AF seems to be discovering, a Land Rover doesn't stop bullets as well as steel plate.

We discovered the same thing with HMMWVs in Iraq. Sucks, really. They finally give you a cool-looking ride, and then the nasties punch holes in it...

C

[MARKMILES77]

The original specifications for the Bushmaster were for a vehicle which was proof against 7.62mm ball ammunition. Subsequently I believe the base specifications were upgraded to 7.62mm AP. The vehicles can also have what is called "Internal uparmouring". Presumably this is an internal kevlar lining. In the now defunct Australian magazine "Army" it was mentioned, some years ago, that with internal uparmouring the Bushmaster was resistant to 12.7mm ammunition.

[MARKMILES77]

Bushmaster at Australian Formula One Grand Prix 2007





[IMG]http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w151/MARKMILES77/
Grand%20Prix%202007/IMGP1188.jpg[/IMG]

[MARKMILES77]

[bsmart]

- MARKMILES77

Bushmaster at Australian Formula One Grand Prix 2007

And how did it do in the race?

[buglerbilly]

And how did it do in the race?

It won, it just blew the opposition away!

[David_Clark]

I understand that the Bushmaster, while intended as an infantry mobility vehicle, was found to excede the level of protection provided by M113s and ASLAVs when tested.

However, that may be more of a criticism of the M113s and ASLAVs than praise for the Bushmaster.

I also understand that there is a direct fire support version and that may well have increased armour protection. Personally, if I was travelling in a Bushmaster, I'd be comforted to know that there were a few RWSs to suppress the bad guys.

Great photos - perhaps they could have a Bushmaster race instead of the celebrity dodgem cars.

David