LAV-150 APC Commando Description

     Now this can be changed very easily to reflect any of
the turrets installed and other versions of the Commando.

     The all-welded hull of the LAV-150 Commando armoured
personnel carrier protects the crew from small arms fire up to
7.62 mm in calibre, overhead blast, shell splinters and Molotov
cocktails.
     The driver sits at the front of the hull on the left side
and has two vision blocks in front of him and one to his left. 
The vehicle commander sits on the driver's right and has one
vision block to his front and one on his right.  Both crew
members have a single-piece hatch cover over their position that
opens to the outside.
     The troop compartment is behind the commander's and driver's
position with three infantry seated down each side of the hull
and one to the rear of the machine gunner's position.  They enter
and leave the vehicle by two doors in the side of the hull, one
on each side.  The lower part of the door folds downwards and the
upper part, which contains the vision block and firing port,
opens to the rear.  In each side of the hull, forward of the side
door, is a firing port with a vision block over the top.  All
vision blocks in the LAV-150 have crash pads and spall shields
for additional protection.
     In the center of the troop compartment roof is a cupola
which can be traversed manually through 360 degrees and has a
single-piece hatch cover that opens to the rear.  On the forward
part of the cupola, which has no observation devices, is a
pintle-mounted MG.
     There is also a door at the rear of the hull on the right
side, , with the lower part folding downwards and the upper part,
which contains the firing port and vision block, opening upwards. 
Over the top of the passageway that connects the troop
compartment with the rear door is a single-piece circular hatch
that opens forwards.  A further two seats are provided in this
passageway.
     The engine compartment is at the rear of the hull on the
left side with access panels in the top and side of the hull. 
The engine cooling system is a conventional automotive water-
cooled system utilising a fin and tubed radiator with an
additional surge tank for reserve capacity.  The fan and venturi
are designed for maximum air flow efficiency and minimum
horsepower draw.  The cooling system is capable of operating in
ambient temperatures of 130 degrees F.  The engine compartment
has a fire-extinguishing system that is operated manually by the
driver.
     Whenever possible, standard military automotive components
are used in the LAV-150 Commando, such as the transmission and
axles.  The fusion engine is coupled to an automatic transmission
and a two-speed transfer case.
     The solid axles have silent locking differentials and the
suspension consists of semi-elliptical springs and hydraulic
double-acting shock absorbers with rebound control at each wheel
station.  Jounce control is by hollow rubber springs at each
wheel station.  The run-flat tires, which are capable of
operation for a distance of 50 kms, have self-cleaning treads. 
Mounted internally at the front of the hull is a winch with a
capacity of 4536 kg, which has 48.76 meters of 9.5 mm diameter
cable.