Al-Qaswa Logistic Vehicle
Encyclopedia
Al-Qaswa is an armoured personnel carrier (APC)
designed and manufactured in Pakistan
by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT)
. The design is a modernised version of the M113-A2-Mk1
APC.
Designed for logistics roles, the vehicle can carry 6 tonnes of military supplies in its cargo compartment across all types of cross-country terrain (see Geography of Pakistan
). The vehicle platform can also be adapted for use in other roles such as missile launcher, radar station, ambulance
, maintenance vehicle, etc.
Related development
Related lists
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
designed and manufactured in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT)
Heavy Industries Taxila
Heavy Industries Taxila is the backbone of Pakistan's engineering industry for the Pakistan Armed Forces, being a combination of multiple industries that has grown into a large military complex since 1980. It consists of six major production units and their support facilities, staffed by over 6500...
. The design is a modernised version of the M113-A2-Mk1
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
APC.
Designed for logistics roles, the vehicle can carry 6 tonnes of military supplies in its cargo compartment across all types of cross-country terrain (see Geography of Pakistan
Geography of Pakistan
The geography of Pakistan is a profound blend of landscapes varying from plains to deserts, forests, hills, and plateaus ranging from the coastal areas of the Arabian Sea in the south to the mountains of the Karakoram range in the north...
). The vehicle platform can also be adapted for use in other roles such as missile launcher, radar station, ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
, maintenance vehicle, etc.
Development
The Al Qaswa logistic vehicle was developed by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) who have considerable experience in the design, development and production of armoured fighting vehicles.The first prototype of the Alb Qaswa was completed in 2002 but as far as it is known the vehicle has yet to enter quantity production.This is the latest in an increasing number of variants of the BAE Systems, US Combat Systems M113 which have been developed in Pakistan to meet local operational requirements. HIT has also developed the Talha APC of which 44 have already been supplied to Iraq.Some of these vehicles have five dual rubber tyred road wheels either side while other versions, such as the Al Qaswa logistic vehicle has six road wheels either side which gives the vehicle greater volume and payload.Design
The Al Qaswa is based on a stretched BAE Systems, US Combat Systems, M113A2/M113A3 series armoured personnel carrier chassis with a modified rear. The baseline M113 has five road wheel stations either side while the Al Qaswa has a total of six for increased volume and payload.The hull of the Al Qaswa is of all welded aluminium armour plate which provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters.The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left side and has a single piece hatch cover above his position. In front of this are day vision periscopes. The centre day periscope can be replaced by a passive night-driving device.The power pack is to the right of the driver with the air entry and exit louvres in the roof. The commander is seated to the rear of the driver in a raised compartment and is provided with cupola with a single piece hatch cover and periscopes. A large rectangular door is provided in the left side of the hull for the commander and this opens to the rear.A 12.7 mm machine gun can be mounted on the forward part of the cupola for local and air defence purposes. A back of electrically operated smoke grenade launchers are mounted either side of the hull front and these cover the frontal arc.The diesel fuel tanks are to the rear of the engine compartment and to the right of the commanders position.See also
- Armoured personnel carrierArmoured personnel carrierAn armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
- Heavy Industries TaxilaHeavy Industries TaxilaHeavy Industries Taxila is the backbone of Pakistan's engineering industry for the Pakistan Armed Forces, being a combination of multiple industries that has grown into a large military complex since 1980. It consists of six major production units and their support facilities, staffed by over 6500...
Related development
- M113M113 armored personnel carrierThe M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
Related lists
External links
- Pakdef.info - factsheet on the Al-Qaswa
- http://forum.pakistanidefence.com/lofiversion/index.php/t2008.html