Light Armored Vehicle, Logistics1-3

LAV-L: General
Date of first acceptance 1985 Total acceptances 109 by 2003
Manufacturer General Motors Canada Crew
3 men:
  • Commander in hull left front
  • Driver in hull left front
  • Cargo handler in hull rear
LAV-L: Dimensions
Combat weight 28,200lbs
12,800kg
Height 109.0"
276.9cm
Length 254.6"
646.7cm
Width 98.4"
250cm
Tread Front: 85.8"
Rear: 86.8"
Front: 218cm
Rear: 220cm
Wheelbase Front to 2nd axle: 43.3"
Front to 3rd axle: 95.9"
Front to rear axle: 136.8"
Front to 2nd axle: 110cm
Front to 3rd axle: 244cm
Front to rear axle: 347.5cm
Ground clearance 14.9"
37.8cm
LAV-L: Armament
Type Mount Ammunition Traverse Elevation
7.62mm M60 or M240E1 MG Flexible in pintle mount 1,000 rounds Manual Manual
Night vision
Image intensifying periscope for driver and commander
LAV-L: Armor
Assembly
Welding
Hull
Rolled hard homogeneous steel
LAV-L: Automotive
Engine General Motors 6V53T; 6 cylinder, 2 cycle, vee, supercharged diesel
Horsepower Gross: 275@2,800rpm Torque Gross: 586 ft-lb@2,000rpm Fuel capacity 71gal
270L
Transmission Allison MT653, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Steering wheel
Brakes Pneumatic-hydraulic
LAV-L: Suspension
Type Road wheels Shock absorbers
Front 2 axles: Independent coil spring
Rear 2 axles: Torsion bar
4/side On each wheel
LAV-L: Performance
Max level road speed 62mph
100kph
Max water speed 6.5mph
10kph
Max trench 68.4"
165cm
Max grade 60%
Max vertical obstacle 19.7"
50.0cm
Min turning diameter 50.8'
15.5m
Max fording depth Floats Cruising range ~400mi, roads
~640km, roads

The LAV-L featured a raised roof over the cargo compartment and overlapping rear doors with no frame between them. These features allowed easy loading of supplies. The roof featured a large hatch with a folding cover. A 1-ton (900kg) hoist could be attached to the left rear of the roof; it was kept on the hull roof when not in use. The hoist operator was provided with a folding platform on the left side of the hull. The smoke grenade launchers were mounted on the front corners of the raised cargo compartment roof. The vehicle could carry 4,000lb (1800kg) of cargo and 1,440lb (650kg) of ammunition. Early LAV-Ls featured sloped armor on the front of the raised roof section, but later vehicles have vertical armor instead.

The LAV-L underwent upgrades to -A1 and -A2 standard like the LAV-25.

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References

  1. Hunnicutt, R.P. Armored Car: A History of American Wheeled Combat Vehicles. Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 2002. Reprinted from Armored Car, R.P. Hunnicutt ©2002, available from Presidio Press, 505B San Martin Drive, Suite 160, Novato, CA 94945.
  2. D'Angina, James. LAV-25: The Marine Corps' Light Armored Vehicle. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2011.
  3. Estes, Kenneth W. Marines Under Armor. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2000.
Last updated 4 Feb 2018.
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