The Husky Armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) was a two-man crew 6x6 armoured vehicle derived from the Swiss Pirahna in the 1970s, as part of the AVGP family of vehicles designed and built in canada, the other two being the Grizzly and Cougar. The Grizzly was to provided organic mechanical support for the other two in operations. It was found so valuable as being life-extended to still be used as a maintenance and recovery vehicle for a new generation of wheeled AFVs of the 1990s such as the Bison ARV.

Development and Design

The Armoured Vehicle General Purpose program later known as the LAV I signalled a radical change in defence procurements, with the abandon of most tank units, and a forey in to more mobile compositions of brigades and regiments. They were entirely provided with three amphibious armoured fighting vehicles, ordered by the Canadian military in the 1970s, the Grizzly, Cougar and Husky, all based on the 6x6 Swiss Mowag Piranha I. They were the first generation Light Armoured Vehicles produced by General Motors Diesel (later GDLS Canada) with 195 Cougars, 274 Grizzly and eventually, 27 Husky.

Similarities with the Grizzly

Originally, the Husky AVGP was designated "Car, Armoured, Maintenance & Recovery" or "Wheeled Maintenance & Recovery Vehicle". Its main features were the absence of turret, and instead a raised rear compartment used as workshop space ad topped by a roof crane. The hull was still heavily borrowing to the Grizzly ISC and it had an optional GPMG on a rear mounted rotating pintle.

The AVGP Grizzly by contrast was the APC (section of infantry, 3-man crew) pawered by a Cadillac-Gage 1 metre turret with .50 ca HMG/7.62-mm GMPG, ordered in 1977. It saw action with UNPROFOR and Somalia and was deployed with the 8th Canadian Hussars, C Squadron, Royal Canadian Dragoons, 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, 5th Canadian Division Training Centre (CFB Gagetown) until replaced by the LAV III Bison.

Operation Description

The Husky Recovery Vehicle shared a lot of elements, but took longer to create. It had a crew of only two, driver and sole technician (operating both the defensive armament if needed and otherwise operated the Hiab 650-series knuckle-boom hydraulic crane on the roof. Its hoist had a 4500 kg capacity, operated from within the protected hull. It was also extensible to 6.5 m if needeed (19.7 ft). When using it stabilizationw as obtained by plunging into the ground two swing-down hydraulic jacks. They were pivoting from their stowed postion close to the front and rear wheel sets. The engine drove the crane hoist as there was no APU. The Hiab 650-series crane was used for engine lift, vehicle lift to some extent (same vehiocle capacity), and tire changes. This was rounded by a sturdy hydraulic winch forward, with a pull of up to 8,128 kg (18,000 Ibs).

Life extension and projects

WLAV-LE

The Husky ARV was not discarded but instead judged too precious for scrapping, and the WLAV-LE (Wheeled Light Armoured Vehicle Life Extension) Project (former WLAV-LE - CF/DND) was a plan to modernized the 27 Huskies, a full rebuild incuding the following: -Reinforced Chassis and running gear -Engine upgrade -New cable winch for more vertical power for turret pulls -Small hatch to one of main roof hatches for safety Many changed were planned to be implemented on the other AVGPs.

WLAV-LE CASR

The Life-Extended Husky ARV, CASR was a modified WLAV-LE with extra spare & new racks, new mounts for spare tires on the upper hull sides with davit and winch to lower them down. There were Jerrycan storage racks on the upper hull sides and a remotely-operated Protected Weapon Station (RWS) planned to soldier on until until 2015. But the role was ultimatery given to the Bison MRVs and the vehicles were loaned out for use in Darfur.

The vehicles replaced also their Browning C5 GPMG fir the FN C6 GPMG with the RWS and third option but it was likely never fitted base don costs reduction in post cold war years. Also there were no method for mounting spare tires with various chemes proposed, in side-mounted spares portside, or above the marine propeller like on the Cougar. The goal was to have it less exposed to hostile fire during repairs. Ultimately the trim vanes were removed, spares mounted on the Husky's port bows and helping offset the starboard engines for better stability. The only knowns deployment was when five Husky ARVs accompanied 100 Grizzly ISCs, loaned for the African Union Mission in Sudan. The USMC also trialed the AVGP series in 1981, but this went no further.

Gallery

Basic vehicle in the 1980s, in 2-ton camouflage

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Model kit views, no CC photo

Sources

globalsecurity.org
militaryfactory.com
silverhawkauthor.com
olivier.carneau.free.fr
scalemates.com
warwheels.net/HuskyAVGPindex
AVGP wiki
www.casr.ca WLAV
www.casr.ca Darfur
www.casr.ca Husky

Videos

Meet the AVGP Husky: LAV I Armored Recovery Vehicle variant - Sofilein
Can The Husky Run - Trying To Start AVGP Husky For The First Time