1994 - Today The modern army... (Part 2)
The Springer
From the MOD press Release “Enhanced Protection Systems Ltd. (EPS) from the U.K. has been awarded a £7m
contract (about $10.3 million) to fit, deliver and support 75 Springer type
all-terrain light load carriers (also known as MULEs). These vehicles are
based on the Israeli designed, U.S. built Tomcar all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
platform. “
The Springer is an All Terrain Buggy based on the Californian Beach and Dune Buggies. I have drawn it with “balloon” aircraft tyres for the desert, then it spends most of its time in the air, and needs ex-Navy personnel to crew it due to the severe sea sickness you get in these things... (Personal Experience)
http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/engineering/13868.aspx
It is a “Tomcat“ made under licence by the UK company EPS (Enhanced Protection Systems Ltd.) who recently got an order from the MOD for the Desert version to be used as a “Light Role Load Carriage Platform” The Israeli version of the Tomcat is called the Guardium and is Armoured (See next drawing below) and they also make a remote control (Unmanned vehicle) version to patrol camp and airfield boundaries and maybe later also do desert patrols.
Remote Unmanned Vehicles
The Israeli “RUV” version of the Tomcat “the Guardium” left for human or Remote, and right just for remote Use... Even when remote, they spare no cost and so it is Armoured (See UK’s version below). It is currently used to patrol camp and airfield boundaries and maybe later also do remote killing and desert patrols.
And the MOD’s Answer
The UK government seeing a need for bolt on armour upgrade kits for their open bodied Springer’s, have placed an order with the long defunct all-british company “Tri-Ang Meccano” (renamed “MoD-Cano”) to make low cost Bolt-on metal plates as can be seen in this “top secret experimental version” below... Also the boffins are working on a new Clockwork motor to save fuel in the desert. It comes complete with a 2BA spanner, Screwdriver and clockwork key... Gordon Brown said “The additional Ventilation will make this a hit with our troops out in Afghanistan, and also does not let the bullet holes show up so much!”
