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From: military@cbnews.att.com (Bill Thacker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Dune Buggys
Message-ID: <27071@amdcad.AMD.COM>
Date: 1 Sep 89 08:01:32 GMT
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From: military@cbnews.att.com (Bill Thacker)

In article <27043@amdcad.AMD.COM> Timothy Kuehn writes:
>Supposedly at one time there was a time when dune-buggy's were
>considered for use in combat. Mounted with a recoilless rifle or
>machine gun

Sounds like the XR311 High Mobility Wheeled Vehicle, designed by FMC
in 1970 as a private venture.

Crew: 3
Weight loaded: 2767 kg
Lenght: 4.343m
Width: 1.93m
Height: 1.6m less armament
Turning Radius: 6.51m
Road Speed: 80 mph level, 10 km/hr on 60 degree slope
Acceleration: 0-60 in 12 seconds
Range: 300 miles
Fording: .75 m
Engine: Chrylser OHV V-8, 187HP at 4000 rpm


Yes, it looks like a dune buggy.  It has a tubular steel frame with
integral roll bar, sheet metal body, and removable windshield.  It
can mount a 5000-kg winch, and has a little cargo space behind the
seats (3 mounted side-by-side), plus a load-bearing rear engine deck.

A full-length skid pan is fitted.  It is full-time 4-wheel drive, with
three speeds forward, one reverse, power-assisted steering, 4-wheel
disk brakes, and a sun-roof 8-)   It can tow a trailer, is
air-transportable, and can be air-dropped.

The newest data I have is vintage 1976, so much may have changed. At
that time, ten had been tested by the US Army; four with TOW missiles, 
3 with .50-cal MG's, and 3 with 7.62mm MG's.  The TOW variant was stated
at the time to cost about $50,000.  However, no US orders were placed,
though apparently Israel bought an unspecified number.

Various conversion kits are available:

Crew compartment armor - hardened steel doors, side body panels, toe
	panel, firewall, bulletproof windshield and side windows.
Armored radiator
Armored fuel tank
Top and door kit (waterproof fabric, plastic windows)
Communications gear
High-output alternator
Litter-carrying kit
Jump seat for 2 extra passengers
Explosion-resistant foam-filled fuel tank
Radial ply tires
Bulletproof, foam-filled tires
Extreme climate kits for desert or winter
Tool kit and fire extinguisher

Versions:

Antitank:
 106mm recoilless rifle with six rounds, or
 TOW launcher with ten missiles

Recon:
 .50-cal ring mount, can also mount grenade launcher or 7.62mm MG.

Security/Convoy escort:
 pintle mount for 7.62 mm MGs, 40mm grenade launcher, etc.

Communications:
 ground-to-ground or ground-to-air radios



Reference:  

C.F. Foss, _Jane's World Armored Fighting Vehicles_, St. Martin's Press,
New York, 1976, ISBN 0-312-44047-2, pp 178-179.


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