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Hi all,long time reader,first post...Norway decided on the 24th of March to buy up to 72 IVECO vehicles, which are called the Panther by the UK and will also be fielded by the Belgian Army. The initial order is for 25 be delivered in 2006 (15) and 2007 (10), and there is also an option to buy a further 47 vehicles over a two year period.The purchase is said to come as a reaction to experience in international operations where the current inventory, up-armored Mercedes "Gelendevagen" has been proved inadequate, especially after the events at Meymaneh, Afghanistan in early February.The MLV has vastly improved protection against IED land mines,this is achieved through a number of design features...
"The MLV's wheel stations are located away from the crew cabin so that if a wheel detonates an antitank mine, the explosion is vented upwards, leaving the crew cabin undamaged."
"The bonnet is hinged to the chassis to reduce the shock transmitted to the cabin."
"The light alloy rear body is fitted with a canvas roof over a supporting frame. It is sacrificial and severs from the cabin in the event of a mine detonation under a rear wheel."
"The underside of the vehicle is v-shaped and the ground clearance has been maximised to allow maximum dissipation of the blast."
"The location of heavy components under the cabin floor has been avoided because they can be projected through the cabin floor by a mine blast."
"The lower part of the vehicle has a three-layer sandwich structure that collapses on detonation of a mine under the belly, absorbing a high percentage of the energy that has not been vented away laterally." The overall MLV Protection system meets various levels, from STANAG level 1 to STANAG level 4.Italian MLVs use the latest version AMAP composite armor to get to STANAG 4, placing the applique armor panels in pre-set slots between the inner and outer hull. The armor protection of the MLV is concealed under the panels, and can be quickly changed to meet mission requirements, or to make use of better materials as they become available.With Norway taking part in the current expansion and redeployment of the ISAF, defense officials probably saw a need to provide for better mine and small-arms protection, to avoid more pictures of burning Norwegian vehicles as seen in the February incident,where the Norwegian led PRT base in the North-Afghan city was attacked and at least one of their vehicles burned.The procurement process was conducted within only two months, which is quite fast by Norwegian standards.
"The MLV's wheel stations are located away from the crew cabin so that if a wheel detonates an antitank mine, the explosion is vented upwards, leaving the crew cabin undamaged."
"The bonnet is hinged to the chassis to reduce the shock transmitted to the cabin."
"The light alloy rear body is fitted with a canvas roof over a supporting frame. It is sacrificial and severs from the cabin in the event of a mine detonation under a rear wheel."
"The underside of the vehicle is v-shaped and the ground clearance has been maximised to allow maximum dissipation of the blast."
"The location of heavy components under the cabin floor has been avoided because they can be projected through the cabin floor by a mine blast."
"The lower part of the vehicle has a three-layer sandwich structure that collapses on detonation of a mine under the belly, absorbing a high percentage of the energy that has not been vented away laterally." The overall MLV Protection system meets various levels, from STANAG level 1 to STANAG level 4.Italian MLVs use the latest version AMAP composite armor to get to STANAG 4, placing the applique armor panels in pre-set slots between the inner and outer hull. The armor protection of the MLV is concealed under the panels, and can be quickly changed to meet mission requirements, or to make use of better materials as they become available.With Norway taking part in the current expansion and redeployment of the ISAF, defense officials probably saw a need to provide for better mine and small-arms protection, to avoid more pictures of burning Norwegian vehicles as seen in the February incident,where the Norwegian led PRT base in the North-Afghan city was attacked and at least one of their vehicles burned.The procurement process was conducted within only two months, which is quite fast by Norwegian standards.