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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
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The M-ATV Discussion Thread
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 03:49 AM UTC
There has been a lot of traffic on this forum regarding the Oshkosh M-ATV and it's variants lately due to the new releases by Kinetic and Panda kits. I figured I would start this thread to be a depository of information regarding the M-ATV, not just the specific kits as we already have those threads but just general pictures and information all in one place. Please feel free to post any M-ATV information, pictures or questions here.

I will start with some pictures of the beds of Gen 1 M-ATV's and the modifications that were made to them. Due to lack of interior stowage in the M-ATV, all ammo and equipment had to be stowed in the bed or, if they had them, in turret bustle racks. This lead to crews fabricating walls for the bed so they could better pile their gear in the back.

I saw many methods trying to do this, but the most common was plywood, cammo net, and HESCO barriers as those materials were the most common and easiest to work with.

Brand new M-ATV, one of the first in country with no modifications.



This belongs to an RCP, this one has plywood.



From the same RCP, this one has a unique custom metal walls with built in door. Only one I ever saw like this.



One of our trucks with Anti RPG netting and Camo netting wall



Our local ETT Teams trucks all had plywood bolted to the outside



Same truck as above.




jwest21
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:01 AM UTC
That's interesting- I saw a few pictures of the sides on the bed, but I didn't realize it was just plain old unpainted plywood.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:04 AM UTC
Those are pretty interesting. Was the back enclosed as well, or left open?
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:10 AM UTC
First I will address acronyms and Army speak likely to be seen in this thread. I won't spell out exactly what it is, but I'll spell out what it means so you can google. If it's not on this list, google or ask. I'll update as we go if I need to.

MRAP - Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
M-ATV - MRAP All Terrain Vehicle
HESCO - www.hesco.com
CROWS II - Common Remotely Operated Weapons System
Boomerang - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang_(countermeasure)
DUKE http://www.hmmwvinscale.com/crewdukecounteriedsystem.htm
M240B/240 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M240_machine_gun
M2/M2HB/.50/Ma Duce
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2HB
Mk-19
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_19_grenade_launcher
Eagle Mount - Secondary pintle mount for another weapon, typically an M240 or M249 SAW

TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Those are pretty interesting. Was the back enclosed as well, or left open?


In my experience, always left open, though that first RCP truck seems to have it enclosed. That's the only time I've ever seen it enclosed though.
SEDimmick
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:26 AM UTC
Whats up with the Antenna mount on the drivers side rear? Looks like it has a flexible neck on it like a straw.

Also how common is the CROWS setup on the M-ATV? I'm planning on building mine with one, and I've only seen one or two photos and it was a destroyed vehicle.

seb43
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:32 AM UTC
Great addition
Maybe you should ask a moderator to turn on the blog action.
If not this will disappear in the black hole.
Milo start a parallel build on the 2 kits.
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:35 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Whats up with the Antenna mount on the drivers side rear? Looks like it has a flexible neck on it like a straw.

Also how common is the CROWS setup on the M-ATV? I'm planning on building mine with one, and I've only seen one or two photos and it was a destroyed vehicle.



As I recall those are for Harris radios, but I'm not a commo guy so I could be wrong. Maybe someone else could chime in.
pascalbausset
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:40 AM UTC
Steve, thanks for sharing these information.

The anti RPG net is a Q-Net from Qinetiq

http://www.qinetiq.com/what/products/Pages/RPG-defeat-protection-q-net.aspx
pascalbausset
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 04:58 AM UTC
Any informations about this passenger side antenna ?



I remember that we are speacking from that some time ago, but I don't retrieve the post.
TIA
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 05:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Any informations about this passenger side antenna ?



I remember that we are speacking from that some time ago, but I don't retrieve the post.
TIA


Part of the DUKE CREW system.
pascalbausset
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 05:07 AM UTC
THX Steve,have someone mor detailled pics from this antenna ?

TIA
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 05:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

THX Steve,have someone mor detailled pics from this antenna ?

TIA


Best I got


Frenchy
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 07:05 AM UTC
M-ATV + CROWS 2



USMC M-ATV + M327 Mortar :



Frenchy
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 07:21 AM UTC
Another thing of note that you see a lot is the Ibis Tek tow bar. These things were being mounted on every M-ATV in our squadron and can be seen in virtually every M-ATV picture you see these days. Great piece of gear.



http://www.ibistek.com/military_products/tow-bars.php
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 07:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Great addition
Maybe you should ask a moderator to turn on the blog action.
If not this will disappear in the black hole.
Milo start a parallel build on the 2 kits.


I was thinking maybe we start these threads and get them tacked like they are in the Soviet forums. I'll start a MaxxPro one sometime soon as well, then a Cougar, then RG-31Mk5E etc.. ad nauseum. If there is interest that is. There are lots of people on this forum with intimate personal knowledge of these vehicles and I'd love it if they would also contribute.
tankfixer
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 09:26 PM UTC
I know the Cougar since I work for the company that built them. This is our company website and the Cat IA2. http://www.forceprotection.net/products/cougar_4x4/
pascalbausset
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Posted: Friday, February 10, 2012 - 10:01 PM UTC
I finally find on my HD good pics from the front CREW DUKE system antenna :

AJLaFleche
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Posted: Saturday, February 11, 2012 - 03:00 AM UTC
Steve,
What an excellent idea and execution! Great detail shots and info . As so many of us, I have one of these in the stash and your info wil be invaluable.
many thanks.
Al
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 - 06:23 AM UTC
Here are links to some of the excellent build blogs and other M-ATV related threads on this site.

Objective Gunner Protection Kit Super Thread

http://armorama.com/forums/188710&page=1

Build Blogs

http://armorama.com/forums/188570&page=1

http://armorama.com/forums/184705&page=1

http://armorama.com/forums/188363&page=1

http://armorama.com/forums/187564&page=1

http://armorama.com/forums/186401&page=1

http://armorama.com/forums/184520&page=1

TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 - 07:35 AM UTC
Great resource for tracking the progress of the real M-ATV's updates
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/M-ATV-A-Win-at-Last-for-Oshkosh-05602/


SPARK Kits

Found at the above link:

Quoted Text

March 5/10: Oshkosh Defense announces 3 awards valued at more than $35 million in total for M-ATV upgrades and in-theater support.

They include 2 awards totaling more than 6,400 M-ATV Self Protection Adaptive Roller Kits (SPARKS) upgraded interface brackets. The brackets allow soldiers to attach advance mine rollers to the vehicles. The US government has requested changes to SPARKS, and the new brackets will allow the upgraded systems to be fitted on M-ATVs. Upgrade kits will be shipped to the Defense Distribution Depot Red River in Texarkana, TX, in June 2010. The government will then ship the brackets to receiving units in theater for installation.

Those installations will be supported by an expanded roster of field service representatives (FSR) in-theater. A 3rd contract will place 18 additional Oshkosh in Afghanistan, and 6 in Iraq, at bases that require them. U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) manages these contracts.


Spark Brackets, it seems the M-ATV has a proprietary bracket. I've found one good picture.



For the standard bracket that is the same for the Cougar, and MaxxPro, see below. This part is included on the Legends MaxxPro kit FYI.









newtonk
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Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 - 07:40 AM UTC
Great thread, thank you for that.

Any chance of close ups of the anti-RPG netting, please? Would be good to have in the event an after-market company release it as an option on a kit.

Again, thank you.

Kylie
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 - 07:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Great thread, thank you for that.

Any chance of close ups of the anti-RPG netting, please? Would be good to have in the event an after-market company release it as an option on a kit.

Again, thank you.

Kylie


That I can do, no problem. It is a netting with metal octagonal cubes. The frame is aluminum with the nets attached via fabric and Velcro I believe. No idea how one would reproduce this in 1/35th scale... This same netting is now being used for the Cougar, MaxxPro, RG-31, and Polish Roosomak. It works very well at catching RPG's.











Dimitar
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Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 - 08:34 AM UTC
What a great thread!!! Together with the one on O-GPK!!! Very useful. They should be pinned on top.
Thank you, Steve, and all other guys who contribute to these reference topics!

Cheers!
TacticalSquirrel
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Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 - 12:37 PM UTC

Quoted Text

What a great thread!!! Together with the one on O-GPK!!! Very useful. They should be pinned on top.
Thank you, Steve, and all other guys who contribute to these reference topics!

Cheers!

Thanks, I enjoy doing it, brings back the good memories of deployment. If a mod would move it to the Modern USA forum and tack it I'd be all for it.
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