ADI Bushmaster

ADI Bushmaster APC (Australia)

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Box shaped hull with vertical front with horizontal louvres, bonnet slopes gently up to large one piece windscreen which slopes well to rear, horizontal roof extends to vertical hull rear

• Hull sides are vertical with distinct step above road wheels. Large side window towards front and three smaller ones to rear. Mounted on either side of hull at rear is a replacement wheel and tyre

• Single circular roof hatch over forward part of roof on which a 7.62mm MG or similar weapon can be mounted, four rectangular roof hatches over rear troop compartment

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SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: 2 + 7 Armament: 1 x 7.62mm MG (typical) Ammunition: 1000 rounds (typical) Length: 7.02m Width: 2.50m Height: 2.65m Ground clearance: 0.47m Weight, combat: 14,000kg Weight, empty: 11,300kg Power-to-weight ratio: 21.42hp/tonne Ground pressure: Not available Engine: Caterpillar 3126 ATAAC 6-cylinder diesel developing 300hp at 2400rpm Maximum road speed: 120km/h Maximum road range: 1000km Fuel capacity: 3851 Fording: 1.20m Vertical obstacle: 0.44m Trench: n/available Gradient: 60% Side slope: 40°/o Armour: Classified Armour type: Steel NBC system: No Night vision equipment: No

DEVELOPMENT

Following an international competition, in early 1999 the Australian Army placed a contract with ADI for the supply of 340 Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV) and first production vehicles are expected to be delivered in the year 2000.

The hull of the Bushmaster is of all welded steel armour which provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire, shell splinters and mines. The powerpack, consisting of a diesel engine coupled to a fully automatic transmission, is mounted at the front of the vehicle with the driver and commander to the rear.

The infantry are seated on individual seats that run down each side of the hull rear facing inwards. Entry is via a large door in the hull rear. The troop compartment is provided with seven large bullet proof windows, three each side and one in the rear door, each of these windows has a firing port.

Standard equipment includes power steering, air conditioning system, cooled water supply system and hydraulically operated 10 tonne winch. A 7.62mm or 5.56mm machine gun can be mounted on the roof of the vehicle above the commander's and driver's positions.

VARIANTS

Projected variants include:Ambulance Command post OPPOSITE PAGE: Mortar carrier Direct fire weapons jOp ieft: Repair (fitters) Bushmaster IMV Engineer (assault pioneer)

Top right: STATUS Bushmaster IMV Entering production for the Bottom left: Australian Army and A,r Force. Bushmaster IMV

MANUFACTURER Bottom right:

ADI Limited, Bendigo, Australia. Bushmaster IMV

KEY RECOGNITION FEATURES

• Box-type hull, sloping glacis plate with large bullet-proof window in front of driver with smaller window each side

• Lower hull sides vertical with door between roadwheels, upper part of hull slopes inwards, vertical hull rear with door opening to right

• Horizontal roof with armament mounted centre, exhaust pipe and silencer mounted on each side of upper part of hull sides

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: Configuration: Armament: Length: Width: Height with turret: Height to hull top: Ground clearance: Wheelbase: Weight, combat: Weight, unloaded: Power-to-weight ratio: Engine:

Maximum road speed: Maximum road range: Fuel capacity: Fording: Vertical obstacle: Trench: Gradient: Side slope: Armour type: Armour: NBC system: Night vision equipment: 2+10 4x4 See text 5.05m 2.5m 2.84m 2.06m 0.4m 3.003m 10,700kq 9,750kg 16.82hp/tonne Chrysler V-8 water-cooled petrol developing 180bhp at 4,000rpm 100km/hr 500 to 900km 248 lit Amphibious 0.4m Not applicable 60% 40% Steel 12.7mm (maximum) Optional Optional

DEVELOPMENT

In 1976 the Engineering Division of Beherman Demoen obtained a licence to produce an improved version of the Irish Timoney (4x4) APC. In 1977 the Belgian Government ordered Mexico.

123 vehicles, 43 for the Belgian Air Force for airfield protection and 80 for the Belgian gendarmerie, delivered between 1978 and 1981. Five vehicles were also delivered to Argentina, and more recently most of the Belgian vehicles have been transferred to Mexico. Further development of BDX resulted in the Vickers Defence Systems Valkyr, only two of these were sold to Kuwait before the Iraqi invasion.

The driver sits far front with engine to rear. Behind this is troop compartment with entry doors sides and rear. Variety of weapons can be mounted on roof including turret with twin 7.62mm MGs or turret with twin MILAN ATGWs in ready-tolaunch position.

The BDX is fully amphibious, propelled by its wheels. Waterjets, NBC system, smoke grenade dischargers, airconditioning system and front-mounted dozer blade available as optional extras. As an option the petrol engine fitted to all production vehicles could be replaced by the more fuel efficient Detroit Diesel Model 4V-53T developing 180hp at 2,800rpm.

VARIANTS

Gendarmerie order comprised 41 APCs without turret, 26 with dozer blade and 13 81mm mortar carriers. Technology Investments built 10 Timoney APCs for Irish Army, five Mk 4s and five Mk 6s.

STATUS

Production complete. In service with Argentina, Belgium and

MANUFACTURER

Beherman Demoen Engineering (BDX), Mechelen, Belgium.

Top left: BOX with twin 7.62mm turret Above: BOX with twin 7.62mm MG turret Left: BOX without armament

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