Hi all,
still wondering what markings I'll give to my Bradley. Looking at the Concord book I saw a couple of pics of a Bradley stinger vehicle. with fully recognizable markings.
I didn't see any differences from a Infantry version. My questions are : are there any external differences ?
Are the Stingers fired from the TOW launcher or like usually shouldered by an ADA gunner ? I apologize if this second q looks stupid to soem of you !

olivier

Hi Olivier
According to the info you can find here :
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m6.htm
the TOW launcher of the Bradley has been replaced by a 4 round Stinger launcher on the M6 Linebacker. You can find some additionnal Linebacker OIF pictures here :
http://airdefense.bliss.army.mil/adamag/Photo%20Gallery/New%20Linebacker%20Photos.htm
HTH
Frenchy

Hi Frenchy,
thanks for your info but I'm looking for data about the Bradley stinger vehicle which is the transitional solution pending the fielding of the M6.

I'll keep your links as I guess someone will release one day or another a M6 conversion set.
Salut
olivier

OOPS ! So my answer was more stupid than your question

I'll try and do better next time !
Frenchy

Info update (from www.redstone.army.mil) :
"FY 92 Three Bradley STINGER Fighting Vehicles (BSFVs) were fielded to heavy divisions and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) during the year. The BSFV was an interim solution to the void left by cancellation of the Air Defense Antitank System (ADATS). The BSFV consisted of a standard BFV with racks mounted inside to hold STINGER weapon rounds and MANPADS (= Man Portable Air Defense System ) teams to fire them."

There were actually two variants of air defense Bradleys. The first one was just M3A1/A2 CFVs that had the TOW racks removed and the space used to store manpack Stinger missiles. The ADA crewmen in the back had to dismount to fire the weapons. These are the ones that replaced the M163 Vulcan in divisional service and called the Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle.

The BSFV was an interim solution until the purpose -built Linebacker was fully developed. This is the version where the TOW launcher was replaced by the Stinger pod.

Thanks Frenchy and Robin,
this was what I believed.

Maybe, I'll paint my Bradley as an ADA vehicle just for change.

olivier

Look at the launcher and you'll notice four smaller holes (Stingers) instead of the two larger holes in the TOW version.

.

Jeff

That is the M6 LineBacker, not a Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle (BSFV). As stated above, BSFV is simply a standard M2A2 or M3A2 Bradley with the internal TOW storage racks replaced with racks to hold Manpack Stinger missiles. The new Stinger missile box is only on the M6 Linebacker.

Here they are :


Frenchy

Those would be the ones. They go on the right rear of the troop compartment. There are also a few other internal differances, like a Stinger battery storage box and charger on the left side near the ramp lift mechanism, and some other boxes to store Stinger components as well. Externally, they are identical though.

Thanks all of you for your inputs.
M6 definitely is a good conversion idea. I should keep it in mind for a future project.

olivier

Another change to the BSFV is that it has an upgraded Gun Motor to fire more rounds per minute vs the normal BFV. But then again thats not much of a concern for a modeller..the only difference vs BSFV and BFV would be the ADA markings on the bumper codes for the most part.