Oh Happy Day! At least 10 years too late. Hopefully there will be video released of their destruction. Got to feel sorry for the NZ Army Museum though - 2 Armoured Pinzgauers - "Gee, Thanks? - we'll put them in the 'You can't be serious' display".
New Zealand Army
- Thread starter Whiskyjack
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- army artilery gunner new zealand sas
Novascotiaboy
Active Member
A Janes report on further Japanese Bushmasters notes NZ operating 5 units.
Japan takes delivery of four more Bushmaster vehicles | Jane's 360
Japan takes delivery of four more Bushmaster vehicles | Jane's 360
t68
Well-Known Member
I wonder where they came from as I'm under the impression the Bushmaster line is closed and gearing up for Hawkei PMV-L
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
From what I remember, the AusGov had placed additional orders for the Bushmaster, even after the first order had been fulfilled. IIRC it was partially to provide some spares and attrition replacements once the line closed, and partially as a jobs/political booster to keep the line in Bendigo open longer. I do seem to recall seeing satellite images of a base parking lot with lines of Bushmasters just sitting there.
Given Thales seemed to be spruking a new variant only a few months back, one would have to assume the production line is at least still in place even if it isn't currently active...
Defence boss reveals legal investigation into 2004 SAS raid
The SAS provoked a fight with the Taliban LOL isn't that what they were deployed for and how dare they kick in doors.
The SAS provoked a fight with the Taliban LOL isn't that what they were deployed for and how dare they kick in doors.
They have just announced the new MR6 model with various improvements and upgrades so would assume the lines not closed. Hopefully we got this variant and not just a trade for the older type but either way still an improvement, especially for SF mobility.
I wonder if of the 5 perhaps 4 are for SF direct and 1 is for test and eval for a follow on purchase for wider army. Would be a viable option considering armoured pinz at least are on their way out and therefore our armoured requirements will again need re-assesment.
40 deg south
Well-Known Member
Eurosatory 2018: Hirtenberger increases first round accuracy by the GRAM | Jane's 360
A minor update, via Janes, of a mortar-related announcement from Eurosatory, the big French military expo that has just ended.
40 deg south
Well-Known Member
40 deg south
Well-Known Member
Album ~ Exercise SOUTHERN KATIPO 17 - Joint Forces News
Just noticed that Gordon Arthur, Asia-Pacific rep for Shephard Media, has put up a photo album from the most recent Southern Katipo.
Just noticed that Gordon Arthur, Asia-Pacific rep for Shephard Media, has put up a photo album from the most recent Southern Katipo.
If they are donating a couple to the museum then I wonder what the chances of giving a few to police? Say a couple each to the STG units for overall organic police use. NZLAV no doubt triggers the flower powers oversensitivities in those higher risk situations sending them into fetal lockdowns.
I wouldnt even bother giving them to the police they are well and truly stuffed, Police are better off waiting for the replacement Protective Mobility Capability project.
Yea I just highly doubt they will even get a look in on that project, the public will lacks even for the military nevermind the police so perhaps a backdoor approach of "re-purposed excess government vehicles" aqquired at zero outlay, painted out of olive drab and sold as specialist police vehicles would be more pallatable to the general (at least vocal) public initially at least until more entrenched as a capability set through exposure, even if only minimal.
The police got stick for just rolling out a few patrol cars in maori themed livery as a political, financial and devisive hair brained waste of resources (even though it was'nt) so imagine even a few armoured vehicles in police hands and the impending furor? Pinz are not exactly the most intimadating vehicles as well (to the untrained eye merely scooby doos mystery van) and TBH would have a comparitively easier life as opposed to bashing around the training area smashing axles or climbing features combat laden so at least a seemingly "harmless" entry level candidate to set the precedence.
Them 20 LAVs are still sitting in storage at Trentham waiting for a buyer. Seems that NZG is having a problem offloading them. Maybe they should suck the prune and refigure them for another role, such as ambos etc.
For Sale: Defence vehicles sit idle waiting for a buyer
For Sale: Defence vehicles sit idle waiting for a buyer
Do the NZLAV have much life left in them?
If not, what is the likelihood of NZ following Oz and moving to Boxer?
Regards,
Massive
I believe that they have been parked up most of the time, but Cadredave will know more. I don't think NZ will follow Aus and move to the Boxer. However I would like to see the current NZLAV turret replaced with the Lance turret if and when the NZLAV have their MLU. I also would like to see those 20 that they can't sell be returreted with the Cockerill 105mm turret. There is a project at the moment determining whether to undertake an MLU or retire and acquire a new platform / capability.
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
Would the Australian LAV fleet once retired provide a decent source of spare parts?
I think even minus those 20 QAMR still has the numbers, including enough for the other roles already as compared to the old M113 fleet of @70 (in which we had ambos, fitters, mortars etc) so a fleet of 85 NZLAV should in theory suffice if we have indeed reverted back to the battlefeild taxi days and Sqn org of old. Numbers for these extra roles would not be big ie say 3 ambos, 4 mortars so no massive increase and some roles are already incorporated such as HQ, FO, recon etc.
At the moment I think they have @20 hulls in each sqn plus HQ and recon so actual QA would have @ 50 LAV. Combat school also has a few plus workshops and a few others so in reality they can re-role within the numbers they have (use) so I guess it more comes down to re-engineering these hulls into the dedicated roles from the base model.
Perhaps a re-established FSV variant in the fire support role could be added as you say but apparently the 25mm cannon on every vehicle was the trade off for the loss of the scorpions fire power so the peaceniks will pull that angle. As you say though if the vehicles are just sitting there gathering cobwebs, getting older and de-valueing anyway then we may as well put them to use so why not although I think one of the original problems was, like navy, a crewing issue as in getting/having/keeping enough qualified crew to keep the wheels turning on the larger more technical fleet.
@Massive Just going off our penchant for holding onto equipment well past used by date and given NZLAVs relative "youth" coupled with our trouble to even sell 20 nevermind 105 I think a MLU would/should be the call. Tagging our fleet onto the end of Canadas LAV6.0 programme and line would be the less risky option whilst still affording us tangible benefits for the future fleet, obviously with NZ specific requirements, be that good or bad (ie more or less). Knowing our politicians could range anywhere from a full upgraded firepower and driveline package to minimal new set of tyres and a fresh lick of paint and voila, new and improved.
Boxer is also a larger beast than even our current LAV so if we did not use NZLAV in afghan (arguably our most oppourtune mission to do so) for so long due to terrain, size, complexity etc would going "bigger and better" actually be a plus or a minus realistically for what we do going off historic ops? Plusses and minuses for us I would suspect.
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