Cadillac Gage Commando

LAV-100, LAV-150 Commando (Armoured Fighting Vehicle)
Cadillac Gage LAV - 150 "Commando" AFV
Type	Light Armoured Vehicle
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	1963-Present
Used by	Bolivia, Canada, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, South Vietnam, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Venezuela, West Germany
Production history
Manufacturer	Cadillac Gage
Variants	AIFV, Fire Support Vehicle, Internal Security, Anti-Tank
Specifications
Weight	9,888 kg.
Length	5.69 m
Width	2.26 m
Height	2.54 m (turret roof), 1.98 m (hull top)
Crew	3+2
Armor	classified
Primary armament	1 x 20 mm, 1 x 7.62 mm Machinegun
Secondary armament	2x6 40 mm Smoke Dischargers
Engine	V-504 V8 diesel turbo charged engine 202 bhp
Power/weight	18.75 bhp/ton
Operational range	643 km
Speed	88 km/h (road), 5 km/h (water)

The Cadillac Gage Commando is an amphibious APC built by Cadillac Gage. The 4x4 version is no longer produced, although Cadillac Gage states that production may resume if needed. The vehicle could be outfitted for many roles, including armored personnel carrier, ambulance, firefighter, anti-tank vehicle, mortar carrier, etc.

V-100

The V-100 series of vehicles was developed in the early 1960s. The first prototype emerged in 1963, and the production variants entered service in 1964. The Commando was used in Vietnam by the US Army, US Air Force and US-allied forces including the ARVN. It was introduced in Vietnam as the XM706 Commando first to the ARVN who loaned the first examples to the US Army in 1967. By the end of 1968, the US Army had purchased its own version of the armored car, the XM706E1, later standardized as the M706. Within the US Army it was affectionately known as the Duck, or the V. The main differences between the XM706 and XM706E1/M706 were in the design of the gas tank fill port covers, side windows, front vision blocks, and most importantly in the weaponry. The XM706 featured two .30-06-caliberM37 machine guns, while the XM706E1/M706 for the US Army featured two 7.62 mm NATO M73 machine guns for better ammunition commonality with existing weapons. The ARVN, on the other hand, were still using a variety of weapons in the .30-06 caliber, and had relevant ammunition in their supply train. Another model, the XM706E2, was supplied to the US Air Force for base protection purposes, post-attack reconnaissance against munitions and EOD use. The XM706E2 featured no turret and an open topped center parapet. In practice a variety of weapons were mounted on USAF XM706E2s, but the most common configuration was one .50 BMG-caliber M2-HB machine gun and one 7.62mm NATO M60 machine gun. Other equipment included the XM174 40 mm grenade launcher and searchlights. The vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive and uses axles similar to the ones used in the M34 series of trucks. The engine is a gasoline-powered 360 cubic inch Chrysler V8, same as in the early gas models of the M113 armored personnel carriers. Its 5-speed manual transmission allows it to traverse relatively rough terrain. The M706 has a road speed of 62 mph, and can travel across water at 3 mph. The armor consists of high hardness alloy steel called Cadaloy, which protects against projectiles up to 7.62 x 51 mm. Partly because of its armor, the M706 has an unloaded mass of over 7 tons. As a result, a common problem with the vehicle is rear axle failure caused by the extreme weight. The V-100 was available in turret and open-top models.

V-100 (XM706) Armored Car w/ a turret featuring a minigun advertisement

The V-100 carries a maximum crew of 12. In road patrol, convoy duty and base defense use by the US Army's Military Police Corps, it usually had a crew of two: driver and gunner. ARVN V-100 units had larger crews, including a commander riding shotgun, and a radio operator outside the rear hatch, often equipped with an M1919 type machine gun. Additional armament often included two or three top-mounted M2 machine gun or M60 machine guns. Other weapons such as M134 Miniguns were also sometimes used. Passengers could also use their personal weapons to fire through the vehicle's various gun ports. On the modern battlefield, the V-100 is now largely obsolete. However, it remains in service with various smaller forces, such as Vietnam People's Army, Royal Thai Army, Republic of China Military Police, the Philippine Army, the Army of Venezuela and the Jamaican Defence Force. It was used by Malaysian Army in Second Malayan Emergency (now retired) and Royal Malaysian Police (Para-Military- Pasukan Gerakan Am) until now.The vehicle is also used by many SWAT units in the US and gendarmerie forces overseas. For many years the Los Angeles Police Department had used V-100's and have had entire squads of them for SWAT ops. They pioneered the first SWAT teams and were the first to use the V-100 as a police vehicle.Typically a Court issued warrant is required to use them however the LAPD has deployed them outside of that requirement. On a moments notice the LAPD Metropolitan Division can have a V-100 in the field for shooting scenarios as well as officer assistance calls. Instead of outfitting these "Tanks" with guns the LAPD would attach a 10-foot battering ram as seen parodied on the movie Dragnet. In modern day some SWAT teams around the nation have had similar V-100's. LAPD has somewhat phased out the V-100. On the A&E tv show "Detroit SWAT" a V-100 with a battering ram is often seen being used by the Detroit SWAT team. Most SWAT ops now are more updated with better equipped APC and Armoured vans however when needed the V-100 continues to be a valuable tool for making a tactical entrance on a building,residence,etc.

V-150

A Saudi Arabian National Guard V-150 in 1991

The V-150 was a hybrid variant which actually came after the V-200 and was based on the V-200 but had some V-100 features. It could be equipped with diesel or gasoline engines and most were produced for the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Their version was called the V-150S. In the 1980s Portugal developed a Chaimite version with a 90mm turret (BRAVIA V-400 Chaimite [1]), but the Portuguese Army chose to buy 15 examples of the US-made V-150 Commando [2] [3].

V-200

The V-200 was a much enlarged version of the V-100 and utilized many components of the US Army's 5 ton trucks. Its major customer was Singapore. Singapore Technologies Kinetics upgraded the Singaporean fleet of V-200 vehicles in the 2002-2003 time frame. Upgrades included fully electric turret drive system by Moog and upgrades on both the engine and transmission systems. These Singapore V-200s were withdrawn from Army service and used as air-defence systems, equipped with Swedish RBS-70 missiles and FN MAG GPMG guns.

V-300

Main article: LAV-300

The V-300 is a 6x6 variant originally designed for a heavy weapons support role.

LAV-600

The V-600 is a much heavier version of the V-300 and was intended to fulfill heavier weapons support. The primary version is equipped with a 105 mm turret.

Similar vehicles

• M1117 Armored Security Vehicle - a Commando derived vehicle for the United States Army Military Police Corps
• Chaimite - a Portuguese vehicle similar to the Commando.
• Dragoon AFV - a Vehicle produced by Arrowpointe Corporation.
• The "Hari-Digma" was a contender in the competition for a new wheeled armoured personnel carrier for the Philippine Armed Forces. It lost out to the Simba which won the competition. There were two Hari-Digma prototypes which differed in the location of the turret.
• The French "VXB" which was built in small numbers for the Gendarmerie and for Gabon
• BOV, a Yugoslav manufactured vehicle, it was later supplanted by the LOV in former Yugoslav countries.
• Armadillo, The Armadillo is based on a commercial truck chassis. Guatemala had to develop this armoured car by itself because they couldn't purchase US-made equipment. The design was obviously inspired by the Commando series. Only 18 were produced.
• DN Caballo - The DN-III (or DN-3) was the first vehicle of the Mexican DN-series that actually entered service (in 1979). The vehicle is probably based on the base of a US-made Dodge 4x4 truck and is also known as SEDENA 1000. The basic vehicle was armed with only a 7.62 mm machine gun FN MAG on top of a MOWAG-type of turret. The Mexican army has 24 vehicles in service.
• BRDM-2, a Soviet scout car.

External links

• Global Security - M706 / V-100 Commando