Alvis Piranha II IFV (2001) - British LAV-25

[Sebbo_the_Plebbo]

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A British built, Swiss designed vehicle with a US turret marketed to clients in the Middle East.

Introduction

In January 1991, GKN Defence (soon to become Alvis Vehicles) announced that Swiss company MOWAG had awarded them a contract to construct a significant number of Pirahna 8x8 AFVs for one of MOWAGs middle eastern customers. This contract was for a total of 100 - 120 vehicles built by Alvis, of six different variants, to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defence and Aviation (MODA). These included ambulance, recovery, surveillance, VIP APCs, and mortar variants of the Piranha.

Following this successful partnership, MOWAG and Alvis signed an agreement which licensed Alvis to become a System Prime Contractor for the design, integration, production, and marketing of the Alvis Vehicles Piranha 8x8 for agreed customers.

Subsequently, Alvis enjoyed moderate success producing, marketing, and exporting the Piranha 8x8. In 1994, Oman ordered a total of 80 Alvis Piranhas, with an agreed option for 46 further vehicles.

As well as producing a variety of vehicles for middle eastern customers, Alvis fitted out their Piranha IIs in numerous unique configurations as part of demonstrations for the product, and mounted a variety of turrets to market the vehicle to potential export customers.

This suggestion is for the Alvis Piranha II as fitted with the Delco 25mm IFV turret, armed with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster, as shown at IDEX 2001. Several versions of the Delco turret were used by Alvis to demonstrate their production line of the Piranha II, and what makes this variant unique is the complete lack of TOW launchers on the turret, bringing it in line with the various other 25mm Piranha family members around the world, such as the LAV-25 and other similar vehicles. This variant of the Alvis Piranha was marketed to potential export customers, but no purchasers were found, so the vehicle did not enter serial production.

The Alvis Piranha II Family

Spoiler

The Alvis-built Piranha IIs are a currently criminally under-appreciated and under-utilised piece of history that would be a fantastic way to get Britain some domestic wheeled mobility options in-game.

Alvis Piranha II IFV 1993

The earliest of the IFV variants, featuring the early Delco 25mm IFV turret, capable of firing 25mm APDS and early TOW missiles.

Alvis Piranha II IFV 1999

The Piranha II IFV as shown at MVEE 1999, fitted with the later Delco 25mm IFV turret, with an upgraded spaced armour array and the ability to fire 25mm APFSDS and later TOW variants, like 2A and 2B.

Alvis Piranha II IFV 2001

The latest Piranha II IFV, which also ended up being the least capable, as shown at IDEX 2001. The twin TOW launchers are completely removed from this turret, making it equivalent to better-known Piranha derivatives like the LAV-25s.

Alvis Piranha II 90mm LCTS

The Alvis Piranha II as fitted with the Belgian 90mm LCTS fire support turret, capable of firing APFSDS, HESH, HEAT, and HE.

Specifications

Spoiler

Chassis

Armament & Turret

This variant completely lacks the TOW launchers, the above specs are otherwise correct

Images

Spoiler

Another unique variant of the Alvis Piranha II, as fitted with the later Delco turret with twin TOW launchers

Sources

Spoiler

Tankograd February 2001, IDEX Special Edition

Jane’s Armour & Artillery 2000-01 p.510-511 (available here)

Jane’s Armour & Artillery 1993-94 p.685 (available here)

Alvis Piranha Marketing Brochure (available here)

LAV Delco 25mm Marketing Brochure (available here)

[FlyingOstridge]

Perfect at 8.0 because I HATE the badger and want a worse one in the tree at a lower BR

[Leo2A6EX-live]

Wasn’t this already suggested? But +1 it’s cool

[exeisdefeatable]

Is this the same as the American LAV-25 or did Americans did some modification with theirs?
Anyways, +1

[Sebbo_the_Plebbo]

@Leo2A6EX-live

Wasn’t this already suggested?

No, there are two suggestions for the missile armed versions, the early and the late, but this is the suggestion for the most distinctive variant, with no ATGM launchers.

[Sebbo_the_Plebbo]

@exeisdefeatable

Is this the same as the American LAV-25 or did Americans did some modification with theirs?

It’s a different vehicle. The hull and turrets are both related, with the hulls both being developments of the Piranha family, and the turrets both being part of Delco’s 25mm turret catalogue, but neither the hull or turret are directly shared between the LAV-25 and Alvis Piranha II, there are numerous differences.

The Americans have heavily modified and upgraded their vehicles, from the base LAV-25, to the A1, A2, and now A3 standard, but I will preface this by saying I don’t know much about them at all so I’m happy to be corrected. I believe the Alvis Piranha II IFV is roughly equivalent to the A2 standard, in that it has decent thermals and access to APFSDS, but with the important distinction that it lacks the extensive applique armour package that was added from the LAV-25A1 onwards. Which honestly will keep it significantly lighter so it’s not a huge downside.