Grizzly APC
Encyclopedia
This article refers to the experimental APC being developed in the United States. For the AVGP of the Canadian Forces that is also referred to as a Grizzly, go to AVGP
.
The Grizzly APC is a 22 ton armored personnel carrier designed and manufactured by Xe Services, specifically for urban combat.
Its armor, called the "Blackwater High Threat Armor Protection System" is claimed to defeat .50 caliber rounds as well as IED
s. It is constructed of AR500 steel, and incorporates angled walls and a v-hull
chassis
to deflect the blast waves produced by explosives. It uses Fiber-Tek armor reinforced belly and lowers, with a fully enclosed drive train. ArmorThane tactical coating on the interior and exterior reduces spall
probability.
There are two top-side egress hatches, five gun ports (two on each side and one in rear), and transparent armored windows
, capable of NIJ level 3 protection. The Grizzly makes use of forward and rear 400,000+ candle power halogen
searchlights, which can be operated remotely. It also has a ringmount roof turret, capable of mounting a 12.7mm machine gun, which may be operated from a remote weapon station
.
Blackwater USA submitted two Grizzly APC vehicles to the U.S. military, with EXO Scale anti-EFP
appliqué armor
from ARES Systems Group, for the MRAP II competition at the Aberdeen Proving Ground
. According to the Army Times
, the armor passed the testing, but the vehicle failed due to limited armor on the forward area of the vehicle (pictures on ARES' website shows less armor was used over the frontal area of the cab.) Blackwater had been hoping to discuss adding more armor to the forward area and threatened an automatic protest but it was disregarded, according to an Army Times
source.
in Camden, North Carolina
. It was scheduled to begin production in April 2007 and Blackwater predicted production of at least a vehicle a day to meet demand. However, the Grizzly was not selected by the US Army in 2008 and lack of projected non-US-military sales have forced cutbacks in staff at the plant.
The first Grizzly was built on a commercial GMC chassis. The current versions are built on a custom chassis supplied by Seagrave Fire Apparatus, Clintonville WI.
AVGP
The AVGP is a series of three armoured fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in 1977.The three vehicles are the Cougar, Grizzly and Husky....
.
The Grizzly APC is a 22 ton armored personnel carrier designed and manufactured by Xe Services, specifically for urban combat.
Design
4x2, 4x4, and 6x6 versions with three different Caterpillar diesel engines are available.Its armor, called the "Blackwater High Threat Armor Protection System" is claimed to defeat .50 caliber rounds as well as IED
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...
s. It is constructed of AR500 steel, and incorporates angled walls and a v-hull
V-hull
The V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...
chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
to deflect the blast waves produced by explosives. It uses Fiber-Tek armor reinforced belly and lowers, with a fully enclosed drive train. ArmorThane tactical coating on the interior and exterior reduces spall
Spall
Spall are flakes of a material that are broken off a larger solid body and can be produced by a variety of mechanisms, including as a result of projectile impact, corrosion, weathering, cavitation, or excessive rolling pressure...
probability.
There are two top-side egress hatches, five gun ports (two on each side and one in rear), and transparent armored windows
Bulletproof glass
Bulletproof glass is a type of strong but optically transparent material that is particularly resistant to being penetrated when struck by bullets, but is not completely impenetrable. It is usually made from a combination of two or more types of glass, one hard and one soft...
, capable of NIJ level 3 protection. The Grizzly makes use of forward and rear 400,000+ candle power halogen
Halogen
The halogens or halogen elements are a series of nonmetal elements from Group 17 IUPAC Style of the periodic table, comprising fluorine , chlorine , bromine , iodine , and astatine...
searchlights, which can be operated remotely. It also has a ringmount roof turret, capable of mounting a 12.7mm machine gun, which may be operated from a remote weapon station
Remote Weapon Station
A remote weapon station, also known as a remote weapon system, is a weaponized system for light and medium caliber weapons which can be installed on ground combat vehicle or sea and air-based combat platforms. Such equipment is used on modern military vehicles, as it allows a gunner to remain in...
.
Blackwater USA submitted two Grizzly APC vehicles to the U.S. military, with EXO Scale anti-EFP
Explosively Formed Penetrator
An explosively formed penetrator , also known as an explosively formed projectile, a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armour effectively at standoff distances...
appliqué armor
Improvised vehicle armour
Improvised vehicle armour is vehicle armour added in the field that was not originally part of the design or centrally planned.Improvised vehicle armour has appeared on the battlefield for as long as there have been armoured vehicles in existence. In World War II, U.S. tank crews welded spare...
from ARES Systems Group, for the MRAP II competition at the Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. According to the Army Times
Army Times
Army Times is a weekly newspaper serving active, reserve, guard and retired United States Army personnel and their families, providing news, information and analysis as well as community and lifestyle features, educational supplements, and resource guides.Army Times is published by the Gannett...
, the armor passed the testing, but the vehicle failed due to limited armor on the forward area of the vehicle (pictures on ARES' website shows less armor was used over the frontal area of the cab.) Blackwater had been hoping to discuss adding more armor to the forward area and threatened an automatic protest but it was disregarded, according to an Army Times
Army Times
Army Times is a weekly newspaper serving active, reserve, guard and retired United States Army personnel and their families, providing news, information and analysis as well as community and lifestyle features, educational supplements, and resource guides.Army Times is published by the Gannett...
source.
Production
The Grizzly is manufactured by Blackwater Armored Vehicle, a division of Xe (formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide), in a recently-built 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) factoryFactory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
in Camden, North Carolina
Camden, North Carolina
Camden is the county seat of the consolidated city-county of Camden County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is located on the eastern banks of the Pasquotank River, across from which lies Elizabeth City. It currently has two traffic lights, and is centered at the intersection of U.S....
. It was scheduled to begin production in April 2007 and Blackwater predicted production of at least a vehicle a day to meet demand. However, the Grizzly was not selected by the US Army in 2008 and lack of projected non-US-military sales have forced cutbacks in staff at the plant.
The first Grizzly was built on a commercial GMC chassis. The current versions are built on a custom chassis supplied by Seagrave Fire Apparatus, Clintonville WI.
External links
- Blackwater Grizzly at Defense Update