LASIV "(Light Assault & Security Infantry Vehicle) "Escorpion"
During the mid 90īs, Chile started a big weapons deal with USA and Europe, to replace their Armyīs WWII vintage systems. In addition to US supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley vehicles to boost the power of the armor units, a light wheeled infantry vehicle was sought to improve infantry units mobility and protection in urban enviroments and/or soft terrains, were the heavier vehicles were unable to operate. Many vehicles were tested, and the final decision favored the french VAB, chosen over the swiss Piranha and the spanish BMR. The vehicle was named LASIV (Light Assault & Security Infantry Vehicle) "Escorpion"
Only 54 vehicles were delivered before the Twilight War, since France were needed of those vehicles to cover their own Army needs. All of Chilean vehicles were used in their original camo scheme in the following duties, only in chilean capitol, Santiago:
- convoy escorts
- protection of the Presidential Palace and Military HQ
- riot control vehicles
- anti terrorist operations against the chilean communist guerrilla strongholds.
Since the original weapons were insuficient to provide enough firepower to fullfil all the previously named duties, the Chilean Army modified the vehicles adding a bow mounted turret with a .50" and .30" MG, 2 pin mounted M60 MG in the center and an aft pin mounted .30" MG. The .30" MG were taken from old M24 Chaffee light tanks and M3 halftracks.
This vehicle belongs to the 1st Infantry Regiment "Buin", operating as security vehicle in Santiago downtown in 2006
Comments welcome
Best Regards
