V-hull

Design

The purpose of V-hulls is to increase vehicle and crew survivability by deflecting an upward directed blast from a landmine (or Improvised Explosive Device) away from the vehicle, while also presenting a sloped armor face. By presenting its armor at an angle, it increases the amount of material a ballistic projectile must pass through in order to penetrate the vehicle, and increases the chance of deflection.

V-hulls are incorporated in armored vehicle designs in several different ways. Many vehicles, such as the BAE Systems RG-33 incorporate the V-hull into a monocoque chassis, while others, such as the ATF Dingo and International MaxxPro use a body-on-frame chassis, with an armored V-hull crew compartment, and an additional V or semicircular shaped piece protecting the driveline. Others, such as the Cougar H have a V-hull crew compartment, and allow the driveline and suspension components to be sacrificed in an attack, while maintaining the safety of the crew.

Gallery

File:Rhodesia-Leopard Security Vehicle-001.jpg|The Rhodesian Leopard security vehicle, one of the first V-hull vehicles. File:Armoured car, Army Museum Stockholm.jpg|Terrängbil m/42 KP early V-hull vehicle and the first APC in the Swedish armed forces, in use 1942–1990. It saw combat during the Congo crisis. File:Casspir vehicle Ai101503g1.jpg|A Casspir de-mining vehicle in the vicinity of the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. File:Twinbuffels.JPG|Buffel variants at Air Force Base Swartkop, South Africa. File:Cougar Hit By IED.jpg|Force Protection's Cougar hit by an Improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq; all crew survived. File:Bushmaster Counter IED Lane Tarin Kowt.JPG|A Bushmaster IMV after encountering an IED; the drive train and utility bins were destroyed, but the hull is intact and the crew survived with only minor injuries.

References

References

1. "Leopard - Land Mine Resisting Vehicle".
2. "The Echos of an African War Archive".
3. "MachineDesign.com: Tough enough to take on land mines".
4. "Force Protection, Inc. - In the News".
5. Wood, David. (2007-02-15). "Marines to trade in vulnerable Humvees". The Seattle Times.
6. "Defense Review - DefRev First Look: BAE Systems RG33 Series MRAP Vehicles".