"Who makes a good 15mm Stryker? Aussie transports?" Topic

I need a couple of these to carry my soon to arrive Khurasan US Army troopers. Any suggestions?

Also, what would be a good standard APC for my Eureka modern Aussies? Could my Strykers pull double duty?

you want lav's not strykers for the ausie's

Like the USMC's LAV 25? Or is it a different variants?

For the Aussies why not use the Shapeways ASLAVs?

link

They are pricey but very nice. Or use the Bushmasters Eureka already make?

As for Strykers I think the nicest model is the Acheson Creations one.

link

Whilst not an APC, Eureka does make the Bushmaster troop carrier for the modern Aussie range.

QRF make a LAV 25, but it is different to the ASLAV that Australia uses.

Should you find a 15mm ASLAV, please let me know, as I need some for my Eureka 15mm Aussies too.

You could use an M113 if you can find it with the turret the Aussies currently use, but at a pinch you could use the M113 with the T50 turret like the one sold by Flashpoint Miniatures: link

This is some info on the "new" M113 in Australian service: link

To see the difference in the turrets:

Image of the new M113:

The older (but not oldest) turret:

Personally I am hanging out for someone to make the ASLAV in 15mm, as it is much more 'sexier' than the M113. The trouble with that is, I would like to see some different variants made: the ASLAV-25, the ASLAV-PC and the ASLAV-C, which might mean three different models… something that might not make enough money for whoever makes them.

I would settle for the ASLAV-25 though, without the other variants.

No info on 15mm unfortunately but some info on the ASLAV.

ASLAVs are primarily deployed in 26 vehicle recon squadrons.

The following slide shows how the three new Armoured Cavalry Regiments, the chief users, are being constructed (around 50 ASLAVs are deployed throughout each of their parent Brigades):
link

Three basic body types allow 7 variants to be constructed (Mission Role Implementation Kits allow variants to be configured as required). From Wiki and google:
____________
ASLAV Type I

ASLAV-25 (Reconnaissance) – A three-man reconnaissance vehicle armed with an M242 dual-feed 25 mm Bushmaster cannon and two 7.62 mm FN MAG 58 machine guns. Similar to the LAV-25. TMP link and with slat armour

_____________
ASLAV Type II

ASLAV-PC (Personnel Carrier) – A two man vehicle armed with a .50 BMG M2 machine gun and capable of carrying 7 scout troops. The standard machine gun pintle mount is replaced by a Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station (RWS) which can accommodate either a 12.7 mm machine gun or a Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Based on the Canadian Bison.

ASLAV-C (Command) – A vehicle equipped with enhanced radio installation and radio masts, mapboard, stowage compartments, appropriate seating and annex. Armed with a single .50 calibre BMG M2 machine gun, although vehicles on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been fitted with the Kongsberg Protector RWS.

ASLAV-S (Surveillance) – A specialised surveillance vehicle equipped with thermal imager, laser range finder, day television camera and battlefield surveillance radar RASIT or AMSTAR on a hydraulic mast. Armed with a single .50 BMG M2 machine gun.

ASLAV-A (Ambulance) – Equipped with medical equipment and litter stations this ASLAV can carry three lying patients or six sitting patients. Armed with a single .50 BMG M2 machine gun.

______________
ASLAV Type III

ASLAV-F (Fitter) – Maintenance support vehicle with HIAB 650 crane, crewed by soldiers of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) for the repair and maintenance of ASLAV vehicles. Armed with a single 7.62 FN MAG 58 machine gun. ASLAV-F vehicles are fitted with the Kongsberg Protector RWS in Afghanistan.

ASLAV-R (Recovery) – Maintenance support vehicle with recovery winch, also crewed by RAEME soldiers for recovering damaged or bogged vehicles. Armed with a single 7.62 FN MAG 58 machine gun. ASLAV-R vehicles are fitted with the Kongsberg Protector RWS in Afghanistan.

The front of the stryker is square, the LAV is more boat shaped. Look for LAV C2 and LAV R to proxy for the various ASLAV variants. You can bury them in stowage to hide the details that are wrong.

That's my plan to get a Bison or two for my Canadians.

Would a USMC LAV be okay as an ASLAV? Close enough maybe?

it depends on what the model is built in to the hull.

This is the USMC LAV:

and the QRF one:

and a model of the ASLAV (1/35?):

I think the main difference is the size of the exhaust(?) on the right hand side of the hull.

Don't let my, or someone else's opinion on if the LAV you can buy is right for the job or not; at 15mm it probably wont matter unless you are playing a game with a rivet counter.

The only reason I want an ASLAV and not a LAV is to 'pay the proper respects', as it were, to my fellow Diggers.

Also, to answer your original question (sorry for not picking up on this earlier) – I have found two companies that make a Stryker:

QRF: link

and

Acheson Creations:
link

Can anyone suggest a turret to kit-bash a Stryker into a Stryker MGS?

I was thinking about using the AMX-13

Not a perfect match but better than nothing!

Thanks Shelldrake.

I would prefer the real thing too but the Marine version will do. It's close enough.

Are these vehicles in use in the Cav regiments or are they also used in the mechanized battalions? If not, do the Aussies still use M113s?

The problem with any 15mm Strykers right now is that nobody makes the mortar carrier, ambulance, or MGS variants. The way a Stryker company is built, it was apparently normal for each platoon to have an MGS assigned when the company was operating dispersed (a friend of mine did a tour in Strykers in Afghanistan).

The ambulance version actually has a taller roof (and I have no clue what the top looks like), you could fake it with a ~1.5 or 2mm thick piece of sheet plastic.

You can fairly easily convert the Stryker Recon, it has a big, blocky recon box on top of a plain Stryker ICV hull. The FISTV has a different box on top of the plain ICV hull, but the RV is an organic part of the company (so is much more likely to show up to a platoon fight). The RV also usually ends up acting as the sniper team's transport.

No worries Tgunner.

Short answer is yes, we still use the M113s. I am just not 100% certain which units have them and what tasks they are used.

I know the new Armoured structure will have a Squadron of tanks, one of ASLAVs and one of M113s per Regiment, but I don't know about the other CORPS.

Tgunner, at the moment the M113AS4 is still in use with MECH INF (5RAR and 7RAR). There was (is?) much argy-bargy going on between RAInf and RAAC over ownership of the tracks just before I left Defence. Basically some seniors in RAAC want(ed) to go back to the bad old days (pre-1980) where they owned all the tracks and acted as a battle taxi service (when it suited them). RAInf wants to maintain ownership at the MECH BN level, as it's well remembered what problems were had when RAAC owned all the tracks.

The diagram FPR (who knows much more about this than me) linked to showed a squadron of tracks on the new REGT's ORBAT- enough to lift a BN. That could mean that 5 and 7 will lose their tracks and the Black Roo Taxi Company has reformed. I finished at Defence at the end of 2012, when Plan Beersheba was still being fought over by the heads of corps, but I thought RAInf had won the fight. That chart does remind me very much of the pre-1965 RAAC regiments (which failed badly)- a bit of everything, so that nothing can be done properly.

Cheers.

Dal.

Thanks guys. Lots of good stuff there. I have M113s but they are older types. I guess my Diggers will have to use them until I get some LAVs. I have some from my Vietnam project and a couple more I've collected for my Filipino Army platoon.

The S4 variant looks sweet. I spent time on tracks back in the early '90s and they are a nice ride. But the S4 looks awesome. Tons of room in that thing. It must be a great ride for a 8 man squad. I never understood how the old track could carry pne of our 9 man squads. Cozy for two medics and their stuff… Not so much for mech infantry.

Yeah, that new regiment is an odd looking criter. Mixing wheels and tracks could be a headache.. Especially since the Abrams could leave the tracks in the dust. I'm not so sure about the LAVs. I hear that they are pretty fast, but could they keep up with an Abrams company. Also would there be cross attachments between the companies? Finally I bet the regimental maintance types would have their work cut out for them trying to keep three completely different AFVSs up and on mission.

By the way, what are the Bushmasters? HUMVEE type trucks? MRAPs? Are they AFVs or just transports?

The old M113A2 could easily fit 11 diggers and their gear, with enough encouragement/threats. I wasn't a big fan of them- too vulnerable to RPG/HMG/IED, the blokes not standing in the cargo hatch didn't know what the ground was like when they had to debus, and they were too noisy. On the plus side, a 3rd class ride is always better than a 1st class walk.

By the way, what are the Bushmasters? HUMVEE type trucks? MRAPs? Are they AFVs or just transports?

Basically an armoured truck/MRAP, mate. They're very good against IED- we haven't had anyone killed in them, but a lot of leg/spine injuries. Bit of a pain to get into the two front seats, but it seems easy to drive (never driven it tactically, though), it's comfortable in the back and it's well protected against AT like RPG's.

The only worry is that it will get used as a MICV, as will anything with a gun and 1/2 ounce of armour. As a battle taxi, though, it does well.

Here's a couple of links:

link

link

Dal.

The Bushmaster is a Protected Mobility Vehicle/Infantry Mobility Vehicle: link

link

Maybe closer to a MRAP than anything else – lighter than an APC, but with armour and designed to withstand mines.

Edit: Dal obviously types faster than I do ;-)

And Eureka Miniatures has made one in 15mm, with you should be able to buy from Eureka Miniatures USA (assuming you are in the States): link

Cool, thanks for the links. I'll check out Eureka USA and see if they have them. Much cooler than HUMVEEs!

Tgunner,
I made the Bushmaster for Eureka; if you ask Nic nicely he might be persuaded to get me to make an ASLAV:-) Something I have often thought of doing in both 15mm and 28mm, like I did with the Bushmaster.
Mike

@ Mike Broadbent
I already asked Nic and he hadn't had much response when it was listed on the 300 Club, but would be prepared to look at it again if there was enough interest. So come on everyone, let him know you're interested.
In addition Mike, Nic says the parts to make a Command version of the Bushmaster are already in with the model, but I can't seem to find a good Pic of the real thing. Can you clarify the difference between the standard Bushmaster and the command version please, and which 'bits' of the kit are required for it?
Can I add that the Bushmaster is an excellent model, and another 3 are winging their way to me as I write.

@ Jarrovian. Thank you for your kind words, I was pleased with the way the Bushmaster came out.
I am afraid I can't give you any details on the parts; I only made the main hull and wheels, Alan Marsh made the other parts. Maybe ask Nic when he returns from his break.
Mike

I put my claim in for some 15mm ASLAVs the week the 100/300 club was ended – how is that for good timing!

Depending on the variants, I am up for a minimum of three: 2x ASLAV-25 and 1x ASLAV-PC, which makes a Cavalry Patrol or 'Brick'

@Jarrovian – I am not 100% certain, but I think the command variant has the two antennas mounted on the front. You can see them on the left side just above the wheels in the Eureka USA image: link

I've always been a fan of your work Mike. Maybe we should start a thread here asking Nic. Thanks!

Thanks for that Shelldrake, I see them now. The observation one with the telescopic sensor pole mounted on top rear shouldn't be too hard a conversion either.

Jarrovian, those antenna are found on all vehicles, not just command variants.

At 15mm there's not much outside detail that can be seen to show the differences between the command and other variants. The main differences are internal. I spent my last two years at DMO working in these vehicles (among others). When we went out to the vehicle line we had to use the vehicle rego' plates to ID them, not external configuration, even though we knew what variant each one was.

For simplicity- Afghanistan and Iraq a command variant will have all four roof-mounted radio antennae up and possibly also a SATCOM X-wing mounted, while the troop vehicles will have three antennae and no X-wing. After 2012 all the variants look the same in smaller scales.

Dal.

Thanks for the info Dal – the only information I could find was the name of the variants and the images on the net… most of which weren't showing the bigger antenna.

Thanks from me too Dal, I'll have another look at the pics

Ok, I have started a 15mm ASLAV but don't hold your breath; I am flat out at the moment. I will make it available through Nic once complete. then I can use the basic ASLAV to make a couple of the more common variants; mainly APC and Command types.
Mike

Cheers Mike!

I would be happy to pay in advance if that would help You/Nic.

Sweet! Thanks Mike. Ditto for me about paying in advance.

Thanks Ian & Scott, keep you money where you can reach it for when Nic announces availability. I have the main framework of the hull already in place; just have to bog it up now and chase those awkward angles. Then turret, detail,wheels, hatches etc.
Cheers
Mike

shelldrake and Jarrovian, glad to be of help. I got very, very familiar with those beasties at Meeandah and Enoggera.

Mike, if I can help with that just let me know. I should be able to get some UNCLAS info/piccies from 2CAV or 2/14 via the boys in Russell.

BTW, all the best to you and Ailsa for The Silly Season. See you at CanCon?

Dal.

@ Mike
Brilliant news, I'll look forward to them.
@ Dal. Any idea where I can get typical orbats for the Bushmasters and ASLAVS, eg vehicles in formations and types, troop loadouts etc. I assume there must be basic 'bricks' before you start messing about for specific tasks. Can you give me a clue about tactical markings too and vehicle names (only in ASLAVS?). I quite like that red kangaroo marking, very remeniscent of WWII western desert.

There's a bit of a reorganisation going on, mate, so any answer given today could be incorrect tomorrow. And my info is 2 years out of date. Shelldrake or FPR may be able to help, though the ADF's OPSEC rules can be very strict at times.

Previously (up to ~2000) a MECH infantry company had 14 APC: four in each of three platoons and 2 for CHQ. A CAV troop had 2 FSV's and 3 APC (though the buckets preferred to call them "Medium Reconaissance Vehicle" rather than "APC"- but 2 CAV have always been well up themselves :-)). When ASLAV came in 2 CAV kept that ORBAT, with 2 X 25mm types with 3 X APC.

That organisation held until just a few years ago, when experience in the MEAO meant army started changing things around. Things have been fairly fluid since about 2009- at times it felt like every RAAC regiment was doing its own thing, which made it very difficult to determine their COMMS requirements. Are you looking for a generic force or for Iraq/Afghanistan?

As for tactical markings, the following link will take you to the AWM and a few hundred photo's: =Photograph§ion[0]=collections.]link

In general the TAC markings are basic and conform to NATO requirements. Names start with the SQN letter- eg B SQN could have "Bomber", "Boozehound", etc.

Cheers.

Dal.

Thanks Dal,I will be at CanCon but not sure how long for.
Cheers
Mike

Thanks Dal for the swift reply. I'm looking to do Afghanistan, but with a possibility of 'what if' actions in the South east Asia area. Thanks too for the excellent link

@ JARROVIAN
Another mate of mine is a Warrent Officer and served in Afghanistan a few times, I will ask him for some info if you like. Although I know that Dal is very knowlegable on these matters, my other mate might be able to add to the information supplied by Dal.
Cheers
Mike

Cheers Mike, Much appreciated

In case anyone is still following this thread. I thought that you might like to know that the master for the ASLAV Gun Car is complete and ready for sub-master moulding. From there I can make the production mould. I hope to have some with Nic for CanCon, here in Canberra, at the end of this month. Once I have the sub-master for the Gun Car I can make a start on the PC variant.

I got this from my mate who was in Afghanistan;

The building block of Cav in Afghanistan is a troop. The troop consists of four gun cars and two PCs. The PCs all have RWS on them.

I will get a better breakdown from him when I see him next week.

Cheers

Mike

Sweet. Thanks for the update Mike.

Sweeeeeeet!

Hi Guys (if you are still watching)

Nic has the sub-masters for the Gun cars and the PC now. They will be in the queue for production moulding. The more you hassle him the higher up the queue they go! Just don't tell him I said that!

Mike

Still watching, thanks for the info. Keen to see !

DittoMike. Thanks!

Looking forward to these very much!