Apollo Motors Battleaxe

Battleaxe
Top: General Utility Vehicle, Middle: Troop Carrier Vehicle, Bottom: Fast Reconnaissance Vehicle
Place of origin	Arthurista
Service history
In service	2006-present
Used by	Commonwealth Army
Production history
Manufacturer	Apollo Motors
Produced	2006-present
Specifications
Weight	6.5 tonnes
Length	5.51m (hull)
Width	2.05 m
Height	2 m
Crew	2
Passengers	Utility: 4 * Troop carrier: theoretically 10, practically 7-8 dismounts maximum
Armor	standard: STANAG level 3
Main armament	See text
Engine	V-8 diesel 182 bhp
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Operational range	500km on roads
Speed	130 kph on roads

The Battleaxe light multipurpose vehicle was developed the Apollo Motors Axe, a heavy-duty SUV sold primarily to the Arthuristan Forest Rangers, a paramilitary force which polices the sparsely-inhabited interior wilderness, as well as "tasteless members of the moneyed classes as an urban party vehicle", according to the popular Arthuristan TV show Motor Gear. Procured by the Ministry of Defence in 2006 as a more survivable replacement for the venerable Land Rover Defender, even the most basic configuration of the Battleaxe is armoured against 7.62mm rounds, with a V-shaped hull which makes it resistant to mines and IEDs. With applique titanium-composite armour, the vehicle can be protected against RPGs and 14.5mm armour piercing rounds.

General Utility Vehicle

The four-doors Battleaxe GUV was designed as a light liaison and reconaissance car. While they are able to equip a Sharpshooter RWS unit, they are not expected to come into heavy contact with the enemy and, as such, more likely to be simply be fitted with an old machine gun phased out of infantry use, such as the L6A2 General Purpose Machine Gun, L87 LSW or even the odd 7.62mm L4 as a cost-saving measure. Seating capacity is one driver and five passengers.

Troop Carrier Vehicle

Designed to provide organic transport assets to light infantry units, this variant was conceptualised along APC lines. Instead of the two rear doors, it has a large passenger compartment with two rows of five seats. This compartment is accessed via a large door located at the rear of the vehicle, allowing the passengers to ingress and egress in relative cover. Very theoretically, up to ten dismounts may be seated in the vehicle, although in practice it usually carries a rifle section of eight, with seven troops seated in the rear, together with the section leader located next to the driver. Even then, the troop compartment is known to be rather cramped and some heavy equipment have to be strapped on the outside.

The TCV comes with a M2 HB heavy machine gun or GL05 Universal Support Weapon as standard, which may be fired under armour by a crew member using a periscope. Alternatively, the pintle mount may be attached with a firing post for the Vanguard missile. In light infantry battalions, typically half the vehicles used to carry rifle sections are equipped with missiles. These configurations are being replaced by the Sharpshooter Remote Weapon System.

As an alternative configuration, the rear seats may be stripped out, allowing the vehicle to be used as a light cargo truck.

Anti-tank Vehicle

The eight-round launch pods of the anti-tank vehicle

The ATV is equipped with launch pods for eight Vesper-NLOS non-line of sight anti-armour weapon system, enabling the precision engagement of hostile armour and other point targets at up to 25km range.

Anti-Air Vehicle

The Anti-Air Vehicle features a chassis with the rear stripped to a flatbed, and a SHORAD turret placed on top. The turret consists of a fire control unit equipped with a thermal imaging sight and two laser designators, as well as two pods of laser-guided missiles such as the Starstreak or RBS-70.

Anti-air vehicle

Fast Reconnaissance Vehicle

The FRV superficially resembles the ICV. However, it is designed as a fast reconnaissance platform. It is equipped with an extendable mast mounting an electro-optical surveillance unit which features a long-range FLIR system and laser range-finder. The ICV's dismount area is reserved in the FRV for an enhanced communications suite as well as two scouts. The vehicles of platoon leaders and those used by joint fire observer teams are also equipped with the MSTAR battlefield surveillance radar.

Like the ICV, the FRV is armed with a M2 HB heavy machine gun or GL05 Universal Support Weapon for self-protection, as well as provision for a pintle-mounted Vanguard missile firing post. All may be fired within the vehicle using a periscope.

See Also

• BMI Jaguar
• DHB Type 35