As a follow up to the recent post on two wheel transport and older posts on the Springer and ATMP all terrain load carrying vehicles this post is a look at a less well known vehicle, the Roush LAS 100 RE Balter.
In 2005 the MoD contracted with Roush Technologies Ltd to design and built an ultra lightweight all terrain load carrying vehicle that could be slung load by a Lynx helicopter and internally carried in a Chinook, the programme was called Harewood
The contract was worth £3.3m but only a very small number of vehicles entered service (less than 15) which puts the programme unit cost at over a quarter of a million pounds!
The vehicle itself was pretty impressive though.
First, it used a diesel engine so no messing about with petrol.
Second, it could carry 1,000kg and yet weighed only 800kg because of its low weight aluminium honeycomb construction by Lola
Third, it has excellent mobility, 6 wheel drive, an approach angle of 81 degrees and could be internally carried on Chinook and Merlin whilst being slung load by a Lynx.
The load bed lends itself to a variety of uses.
In 2007 Roush developed the concept into a 2 seater and a lead bed shelter, the engine was uprated to a 1.4 litre turbocharged direct injection diesel engine developing 50 Kw and 160Nm of torque. The fuel system could accept Diesel 1 and 2, JP8, JP5 and B20 bio-diesel.
They also had a brief moment in the limelight when they were fitted with IEDD ECM equipment (Balter) and it was even considered for the Springer requirement
Roush has been through a number of changes of ownership and now trades as Revolve Engineering
They also make the MAN SV ROPS seating system and Arctic Cat diesel Quads
The LAS 100RE is still listed on their website
So, three million quid, what did we do with them?
Flogged them off through Withams of course. what else!
[browser-shot width=”600″ url=”http://www.mod-sales.com/auction/vehicle/related/60809/Roush_Balter_LAS_100_RE_6X6_ATV.htm”]
It looks like the vehicle our local shoot uses for its beaters
As with all this stuff, it would be interesting to see what the user community feedback actually was, rather than what we think it should have been based on the public source material. Can’t have been worse than Springer though.
Interesting vehicle.
It’s a pity the UK abandoned the heavy heliborne concept of operations years ago, which meant that this little toy was out of a job. My best guess was that they probably used this to ship heli-dropped stores in FOBs from the drop off point to storage. Which might have been a waste as it wasn’t anything that could not be done by arm power or a pallet truck. Or if you were really lazy, a rope linked to a pulley.
I really can’t see this as a SF light strike vehicle. More a cargo hauler.
Our heliborne artillery might be able to use this though. Haul 155mm shells from supply drop zone to battery positions.
A classic example of how different concept of operations might make a piece of equipment useful for one army, and yet useless for another.
I think it was designed for SF use, basic load carriage, definitely not hanging GPMG’s off it
Derek, good point on user perspectives, if you read the press bumf on Springer it was the best thing since sliced bread and yet in reality, utter shite.
Can’t help wondering that this would be better though, 6 wheel drive, ultra lightweight and specifically designed for the job, not adapted from a sports vehicle like Springer.
There is also ATMP to consider in this role.
Yet more money wasted
TD, in that case, I can think of heaps of other vehicles that give similar capability, starting with a chopped down Snatch Land Rover (recycle, recycle) which for reasons we all know, can’t be used for convoy/patrol duty any more. Hardly a new idea, think there used to be a “Land Rover Light Weight” that did exactly the same thing.
Observer,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_1/2_ton_Lightweight
Google ATMP 6×6 Big Boss, and it can do all of this, and is commercially derived, so won’t go away tomorrow as for spares etc.
” could carry 1,000kg and yet weighed only 800kg because of its low weight aluminium honeycomb construction by Lola
Third, it has excellent mobility, 6 wheel drive, an approach angle of 81 degrees and could be internally carried on Chinook and Merlin whilst being slung load by a Lynx.”
Love it :-)
Unfortunately, I can’t submit a comment that short so I’ll have to add that looking at it’s obvious Quad Bike genesis I quite like the idea of something very small and nippy. I’m sure that box could be filled with telescopic sensors for recce work?
The Humdinga designed by Gibbs Technologies (UK coy) looks much more interesting.
Gibbs Quadski (as seen on Top Gear): http://gibbssports.com/
Gibbs Amphitrucks: http://gibbsamphitrucks.com/
Not sure if they’re still making the Aquada or their SUV:
I had a chuckle when I imagined the MoD announcement:
“We have deployed Special Forces in amphibious vehicles to the desert.” :)
Ignore me, just being snarky. I do like the idea of versatile amphibs, even in supposedly “dry” areas, especially if it allows you to bypass areas with IEDs.
Isn’t a strengthened sort of boat hull quite good for IED protection. Worth thinking about nice IED resistant amphibs….
What goes around comes around… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAZ_46
But… but… but… the wheels don’t fold!
Simplicity is a virtue. If a floaty jeep works with wheels & suspension in place then take advantage of the resulting reduced failure rate and reduced maintenance demand.
Interesting to note the GAZ was a development of WW2 lease-lend Ford GPA amphibious jeeps, and was no doubt a design input into the larger but similar BRDM1 and the slightly later rear-engined BRDM2. You have to wonder how many on the NATO side of the Cold War knew these BRDM amphibians owed some of their design to Henry Ford.
Observer: “Hardly a new idea, think there used to be a “Land Rover Light Weight” that did exactly the same thing.”
Beat me to it!
How about: http://www.amphicruiser.com/
Always liked the little Argo.
http://www.argoutv.com/industries/public-sector/defense
Amphibious and small but they went with Quads instead.
Anybody fancy a 21st century Land Rover Lightweight? Designa Chassis do a coil spring suspension chassis for the Land Rover lightweight, couple this with a new engine and transmission…voila!
http://www.designa-chassis.co.uk/company.html
http://www.ibexvehicles.com/