The AVGP (Armoured Vehicle General Purpose)

Three AFVs, based on the same chassis, were ordered by the Canadian army back in 1976. These were Cougar (fire-support), Husky (ARV) and the Grizzly, an APC. The latter was probably the closest to the six-wheeled version of the Swiss MOWAG Piranha I, on which the vehicles were based. The Grizzly entered service in 1978 but was gradually retired until 2005, being replaced by the LAV III.

Development & design of the Grizzly

The Grizzly was to be used as an alternative to the M113 for the regular infantry battalions and reserve units. It had a three-man crew and could carry 5-6 infantrymen. It had a Cadillac-Gage 1 metre turret mounting a .50 (12.7 mm) BMG and a 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machine gun. The troops can exit through the rear doors or the roof hatches.



Otherwise, the basic configuration was basically the same as the two other related vehicles, with a 6x6 chassis and sloped welded steel hull. The driver was in front of the vehicle, with a hatch with three vision sights. The central one could be swapped for a night vision sight. The maximum armor thickness for the hull was 10 mm (0.39 in), which provided protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. For mobility, the Grizzly was given a Detroit Diesel 6V53T diesel, which developed 275 hp for a maximum road speed of 100 km/h (60 mph). In water, it could reach a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph) thanks to the two propellers. The vehicle had a 600 km range. It was able to climb a 60% gradient, 30% side slope, 0.8 m vertical step, and a trench about 80 cm wide.

The driver sat in the front left part of the hull. When the infantry soldiers were inside the vehicle, the gunner was seated behind the driver, working on the radio. The commander sat in the turret, manning the turret. However, when the infantry troop dismounted, the commander would accompany them. The gunner would then occupy the turret and the vehicle could act as infantry support or withdraw.

The Cadillac-Gage 1 metre turret was designed for armored vehicles, denominated after its 1-meter turret ring. It was originally armed with a 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machine gun (0.3') and 12.7 mm machine gun (0.5' or cal. 50). The only variant of the Canadian AVGP to mount this turret was the Grizzly. It was the smallest possible to keep the vehicle's interior large enough for the soldiers. When these vehicles were made available to African Union peace-keeping forces operating in Sudan, the latter had to seek permission from the US Government in order to ship them with theses turrets. The other vehicle using it (in US service) was the M1117 4x4 Armored Security Vehicle.


Closeup of the Cadillac Gage 1 meter turret, here with a grenade launcher on the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle.

Active service

In service, the majority saw their water propulsion removed. The Wheeled LAV Life Extension project saw conversions of the Grizzly (and Husky) into support variants (Command Post, Mobile Repair Team Vehicle). These variants were to be the Command Post (80), Radio Relay (10), Unit Access Nodes (20), Very Short Air Defence (24), Artillery Gun Tractor (18) and Mobile Repair Team (70). But this project was canceled in 2005. In May 2007, the Edmonton Police Service received a single, unarmed Grizzly from the Army.

In June 2005, the Canadian government announced the loan of 105 AVGPs (100 Grizzlys and 5 Huskys) to African peacekeepers in the Darfur region of Sudan. This was a low-intensity conflict, for which the vehicle was of the right size and capability. Civilian contractors were called on to maintain the vehicles. Since US-manufactured or licensed parts were used (mostly the turret), permission was to be required to loan the vehicles. At first, they were to be shipped without their CG turrets, and they arrived in Senegal in late summer 2005, the turrets being shipped later, on November 18, 2005. The loan was originally planned for one year, but it was extended, and transferred from the African Union to the United Nations.

According to Amnesty International, soldiers who used the loaned vehicles had little time for training but gained experience. One of these vehicles was destroyed by an RPG. A second one was damaged when ramming a more heavily armed but unarmored technical. In 2009, Uruguay purchased 98 Grizzlys (and 5 Huskys) previously on loan with the AMIS/UNAMID mission in Darfur.


Front view of a Grizzly at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum

Sources & Links

The AVGP series on Wikipedia
The Grizzly on CASR.ca
The Grizzly on Warwheels.net
On Canadiansoldiers.com

AVGP Grizzly specifications
Dimensions (L-W-H)	5.97 x 2.53 x 2.53 m 19'6" x 8'3" x 8'3"
Total weight, battle ready	10.5 tons
Crew	2+6 (driver, commander, gunner, infantrymen)
Propulsion	Detroit Diesel 6V53T Turbodiesel, 275 hp
Suspension	6x6 independent coil springs
Speed (road)	100 km/h (60 mph)
Range	600 km (350 mi)
Armament	0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine-gun 0.3 in (7.62 mm) machine-gun
Armor	6 mm sides to 10 mm front (0.24-0.4 in)
Total production	265

AVGP Grizzly with IFOR (Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina).


Grizzly in peace-keeping operations with the UN. Formerly these were used by the AMIS mission.


AVGP Grizzly in green livery.

Gallery

Grizzly interior view with the turret removed

AVGP Grizzly during an exercise

Grizzly important features - Source: Canadiansoldiers.com