Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier
Encyclopedia
The Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) is a twin chassis multi-purpose articulated tracked carrier jointly developed by ST Kinetics and the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) for the Singapore Army
.
The Bronco has a load carrying capacity of up to 5 tonnes and is capable of a top speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph) on the road and at least 25 km/h (15.5 mph) on cross-country terrain.
for several years, with more than 600 on order and production still underway.
Ministry of Defence
for over 100 Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carriers for use in Afghanistan
. The vehicles, to be known as Warthog in British service, will replace Vikings currently being operated in southern Afghanistan by the British military, and are being procured as part of a £700 million package of Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) recently announced by Defence Secretary John Hutton
. Deliveries will commence in the third quarter of 2009, with the majority to be delivered in 2010.
Four Warthog variants will be built under the contract - Troop Carrier, Ambulance, Command, and Repair & Recovery. The ambulance variant will be capable of carrying casualties, medics and kit. Warthog's repair and recovery variant
will be fitted with a crane and winch, and will have the capability to tow another 18-tonne Warthog vehicle back from the front line.
Once delivered to the UK, contractor Thales
fits the vehicles according to MoD specifications with communications systems, specialist counter-measure equipment and extra protective armour at their facility in the former MoD depot at Llangennech
near Llanelli
, South Wales
. The first vehicles are expected to be in service in Afghanistan by mid-2010.
effect generated by mortars, thus allowing longer periods of firing
without injuring the crew. The MTC has a built-in Automatic Fire Control System (AFCS) comprising a Fire Control Unit and an Inertia Navigation System, allowing it to conduct immediate deployment without conventional surveying methods. A hydro-pneumatic Recoil System reduces the overall recoil force, thus allowing minimal reinforcement of the original hull structure, and post-firing stabilising time. This increases the rate of firing with improved accuracy.
The AFCS is also equipped with a Mortar Platoon Management System (MPMS), which enables it to be networked via the Battlefield Management System (BMS).
William Reeks survived an IED attack after the Warthog he was travelling in set off a 50 kg (110.2 lb) improvised explosive device
. His family believes that the stronger armour of the Warthogs, which replaced less heavily fortified Viking armoured vehicles, helped save their son's life.
Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
.
Design
Designed to traverse difficult terrain, the Bronco has a ground pressure of 60 kPa and is fitted with heavy duty seamless rubber tracks and a running gear system for soft ground conditions and directional stability. Swimming operations require minimal preparation and it can achieve a swimming speed of 5 km/h. The Bronco's four-sprocket drive, fully articulated steering with optional differential lock provides for small turning radius maneuvers and improved performance.The Bronco has a load carrying capacity of up to 5 tonnes and is capable of a top speed of 60 km/h (37.3 mph) on the road and at least 25 km/h (15.5 mph) on cross-country terrain.
Deployment
The Bronco has been fully operational with the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
for several years, with more than 600 on order and production still underway.
British service
In December 2008, ST Kinetics was awarded a £150 million contract by the United Kingdom'sUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
for over 100 Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carriers for use in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The vehicles, to be known as Warthog in British service, will replace Vikings currently being operated in southern Afghanistan by the British military, and are being procured as part of a £700 million package of Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) recently announced by Defence Secretary John Hutton
John Hutton (Labour MP)
John Matthew Patrick Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness in Cumbria from 1992 to 2010, and has served in a number of Cabinet offices, including Defence Secretary and Business Secretary...
. Deliveries will commence in the third quarter of 2009, with the majority to be delivered in 2010.
Four Warthog variants will be built under the contract - Troop Carrier, Ambulance, Command, and Repair & Recovery. The ambulance variant will be capable of carrying casualties, medics and kit. Warthog's repair and recovery variant
Armoured recovery vehicle
An armoured recovery vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle- or mine-damaged as well as broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them out of the danger zone for more extensive repairs...
will be fitted with a crane and winch, and will have the capability to tow another 18-tonne Warthog vehicle back from the front line.
Once delivered to the UK, contractor Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
fits the vehicles according to MoD specifications with communications systems, specialist counter-measure equipment and extra protective armour at their facility in the former MoD depot at Llangennech
Llangennech
Llangennech is a village in the area of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, West Wales, United Kingdom.It is governed by Carmarthenshire County Council and Llanelli Rural council. It falls in the Llanelli parliament Constituency. Llangennech is also the name of an electoral ward coterminous with the village...
near Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. The first vehicles are expected to be in service in Afghanistan by mid-2010.
Variants
Singapore has already deployed several variants of the Bronco, including ambulance, engineer, repair and recovery, load carrier, troop carrier and fuel resupply vehicles.Mortar Tracked Carrier
A variant of the Bronco All-Terrain Tracked Carrier, the Mortar Tracked Carrier (MTC) is jointly developed by the SAF, DSTA and Singapore Technologies Kinetics. Operating on a 4 men crew, the MTC's primary weapon is the ST Kinetics 120mm Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System (SRAMS), the world’s first recoiled mortar to incorporate a blast diffuser, greatly reducing the blast overpressureBlast injury
A blast injury is a complex type of physical trauma resulting from direct or indirect exposure to an explosion. Blast injuries occur with the detonation of high-order explosives as well as the deflagration of low order explosives...
effect generated by mortars, thus allowing longer periods of firing
without injuring the crew. The MTC has a built-in Automatic Fire Control System (AFCS) comprising a Fire Control Unit and an Inertia Navigation System, allowing it to conduct immediate deployment without conventional surveying methods. A hydro-pneumatic Recoil System reduces the overall recoil force, thus allowing minimal reinforcement of the original hull structure, and post-firing stabilising time. This increases the rate of firing with improved accuracy.
The AFCS is also equipped with a Mortar Platoon Management System (MPMS), which enables it to be networked via the Battlefield Management System (BMS).
Notable incidents
In December 2010, British Army soldier—Lance CorporalLance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
William Reeks survived an IED attack after the Warthog he was travelling in set off a 50 kg (110.2 lb) improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
. His family believes that the stronger armour of the Warthogs, which replaced less heavily fortified Viking armoured vehicles, helped save their son's life.