LAV 6.0

[McG]

I hope not. I'm holding out for tracks and if has to be another LAV 6.0 then I want one with the turret gone,

Even if it is bought for medium cavalry?

 

[FJAG]

As someone with experience commanding vehicles with a unified gunner/commander position - I dont think you guys realize how hard it is to crew command them safely and in a tactically effective way

Those of us looking for a smaller crew appreciate the issue.

It comes down to a trade off as between a three-man crew and an additional dismount in contact. My preference goes for the extra dismount because IMHO, the LAV is not up to being an IFV even if we call it that.

As an aside I note that the DND websites describe the LAV 6 [20.6k tonnes/28.5k tonnes with add-on armour] as "Canada's IFV" but GDLS's website describes it as the Infantry Section Carrier. Note that GDLS's AJAX, which comes in at 38.5 tonnes, is described by GDLS as an armoured fighting vehicle, The later version of the CV-90, like the Mk IV, are also coming in at around 35-38k tonnes and are described by BAE as an IFV. IMHO those ten tonnes of mass and the tracks matter when it comes to the issue of how much the vehicle should be used in close combat and even fire support in an LSCO scenario.

I would see a dedicated driver and gunner who stay with the LAV at all times. The vehicle would be crew commanded by the section commander while the troops are mounted but that on dismounting the gunner assumes the crew commander role as well as gunner. In large measure that's because some of us consider that the LAV should not be a close combat/fire support vehicle as it is too vulnerable - it should disgorge its dismounts under cover and/or withdraw to a position where it can cover flanks, do air defence, and perhaps operate as a launcher vehicle from cover for loitering munitions, UAVs and ATGMs.

I feel completely differently for a tracked IFV - like the AJAX (ARES), CV-90, AS21 Redback (42k tonnes) and Puma (Level C 43k tonnes) that are built and configured to fight while their troops are mounted, penetrate onto or very close to objectives and provide close support during the fight. Those should clearly have a three-man crew for the reasons you state.