Springbok Armoured Cavalry Vehicle
| Springbok ACV | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Place of origin |  Arthurista |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1996-present |
| Used by | see below |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Plc |
| Produced | 1995-present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 14.5 tonnes (factory weight) |
| Length | 6.39m |
| Width | 2.51 m |
| Height | 2.69 m |
| Crew | 4 (Commander, gunner, driver, surveillance suite operator) |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Armor | Welded steel passive armour, applique composite/ERA suite |
Main armament | 25mm autocannon (Mk 1), 40mm CAT autocannon (Mk 2) |
Secondary armament | L6V co-axial machine gun, pintle-mounted detachable firing post for Vanguard missile |
| Engine | Apollo Motors AVE-9 V-6E diesel/electric hybrid engine 275hp |
| Transmission | Hydropneumatic |
Operational range | 660km on road |
| Speed | 120 kph on road |
The Springbok is a family of light armoured vehicles developed by Arthurista, intended as the core component of the Commonwealth Army's armoured cavalry units. Entering service in 1996, the Springbok family replaced the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) series in Arthuristan service. It is a derivative of the Gariman Piranha.
Variants
Armoured Cavalry Vehicle
The ACV replaced the FV107 Scimitar in Arthuristan service in division- and corps-level armoured cavalry units, as it was considered inadequate as an armoured reconaissance vehicle, being too small and light to stand up to significant direct fire, while its tracked construction meant that it was rather less stealthy than to be desired. The Scout Vehicle is quieter, being a wheeled-platform, but also measurably larger.
The most important advancement in the Springbok platform is its sensors package. Most vehicles carry a tripod-mounted remote sensors suite, intended for use by its complement of dismounted scouts. This includes a long-range TV camera, eye-safe laser range-finder and thermal imager. The troop (platoon) commander's vehicle has a mast-mounted sensors suite, which features all of the foregoing.
At the same time, the Springbok is undoubtedly a combat vehicle. Its main armament is a Gariman 25mm autocannon. The selection of this weapon, rather than the Arthuristan RARDEN cannon, surprised many observers, but reflected the army's dissatisfaction in the former's very low rate of fire. In the future, it may be replaced by a 40mm cannon firing cased telescoped ammunition. The main gun is co-axially mounted with a 7.62mm machine gun. The commander's hatch was fitted with a pintle-mounted detachable firing post for the Vanguard missile, which may be fired from within the vehicle using the commander's thermal sight. It has been gradually replaced by a Sharpshooter Remote Weapon System, which incorporates a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and two box-launchers for Vesper missiles.
The Springbok's standard passive armour package is proof against 12.7mm AP rounds in the frontal arc and 7.62mm AP rounds all round. With applique ERA or titanium/rubber armour panels, it can be made resistant to 14.5mm fire. The Mk III upgrade package, currently under development, will likely include IR signature-reduction measures to decrease the vehicle's visibility by FLIR.
The Springbok is also notable for its innovative use of a diesel electric hybrid engine, selected for two reasons. First of all, as a reconnaissance vehicle, armoured cavalry units are often required to operate behind enemy lines, relying on ad hoc and unreliable resupply. As such, a hybrid drive would increase the vehicle's fuel efficiency and, as such, endurance in austere combat sustainment conditions. Secondly, while the vehicle cannot operate for prolonged periods purely on electric motors, it is significantly quieter than when the diesel engine is also engaged. This allows for brief periods of running purely in electric mode where stealth is a priority.
The ACV is operated by a crew of four, with additional seating capacity for a scout team of four.
Joint Fire Vehicle
The JFV is similar in apperance to the ACV, down to a dummy cannon which makes them indistinguishable. The main difference is that it carries no dismounted scout element. Instead, the extra space is taken up by an enhanced communications systems package. The JFV is used by the Commonwealth Artillery and Commonwealth Horse Artillery to provide close fire support capability to armoured and mechanised units. Its sensors can be used while mounted on the vehicle, or else carried and deployed on tripods by a dismounted tac party. It is equipped with a dismountable MSTAR ground surveillance radar
Armoured Recovery Vehicle
The ARV is equipped with winches and is optimised at recovering Sabre and Springbok family vehicles and other light armour damaged on the battlefield.
Mobile Mortar Vehicle
The Springbok MMV is designed to provide armoured cavalry units with responsive organic fire support. It is simply the vehicle's chassis with a hole cut in the roof for a 81mm mortar.
Anti-tank Vehicle (Interim)
Designed to replace the FV102 Striker, this variant is equipped with the 'Hammerhead' TOW missile turret purchased second hand from Belfras and Enyama. It was strictly intended as an interim solution before the Advanced Anti-tank Vehicle was ready for squadron service. Most are now in reserve.
Advanced Anti-tank Vehicle
The Advanced Anti-tank Vehicle features a rotating launcher mounted on the roof fitted with a four-tube launch pod for the Vesper NLOS non-line of sight missile with a 25km range. The launcher may be reloaded by hand through a hatch.
Air Defence Vehicle
The Air Defence Vehicle features the turret of the Stormer HVM, armed with Starstreak missiles. It is deployed as a substitute standard vehicle for the Stormer as dictated by the availability of the two vehicles.
Armoured Personnel Carrier
The APC version of the Springbok has a raised roof and is armed with a single pintle-mounted medium machine gun. It can carry eight personnel and is primarily used to ferry specialists around the battlefield as the successor of the FV103 Spartan
Electronic Warfare Vehicle
The Electronic Warfare Vehicle can detect and locate the position of enemy forces through their radio emissions, as well as intercept and jam enemy communications using electronic attacks. A recent upgrade confers upon it a 9m telescoping mast to extend the range of its equipment.
Networking
Springboks have been upgraded to use the Arthuristan Dynamics Digital Battlefield Management System which integrate vehicles in one or multiple units into the ARES Battlenet, allowing them to communicate efficiently and share valuable intelligence, whether with other tanks and vehicles, UAVs, CAF aircrafts providing CAS, or any other platforms or 'information nodes' of the Arthuristan military.
Recently, the Springbok has been upgraded with a 20Gbs/s Gigabit Ethernet intelligent open architecture, allowing it to capture, process and store up to six terabytes of intelligence garnered by the vehicle's sensors. It can then share this information in real time, whether images, video or other media, via the ARES battlenet using a frequency-hopping radio datalink.