Here is the key technology the Army leadership is either unaware of or wants you not to be aware of, that solves all of the petty complaints with tracks ("O, they are too noisy, my men are too pooped to dismount" etc. etc.), giving a tracked vehicle ALL of the best attributes of wheels and tracks. I suspect because a high-tech tracked vehicle wouldn't LOOK sexy and "RMA" new enough even though it out-performs the wheeled armored cars, so it will not be utilized. Emotions for a change in style to support Tofflerian/RMA hubris are driving decision makers not factual, performance reality.
Band-tracks are already in use by Army BV-206 SUSVs and German Airborne Wiesel tracked vehicles. And now the Canadian Army on its advanced M113 Gavins being sent to Afghanistan combat operations!
NEWS FLASH! Canadians using enginneer M113 Gavins w/band tracks for Afghanistan
The Canadian Army actually has put band tracks on M113 Gavins with mineplowing/rolling devices for Afghanistan, when Canada picks up command of the NATO force their this year. I don't have a picture of it, but the guys at Soucy outside Montreal are making the track.
Mine plow M113 Gavin info:
www.geocities.com/armysappersforward
Does advanced technology favor wheels or tracks?
What can a wheeled vehicle do that a vehicle with band-tracks can't do BETTER?
The answer is nothing.
Consider a band-track a giant steel-reinforced tire stretched around road wheels but without the drawbacks of needing air to hold its shape or only a small area in contact with the ground. Its the best of both worlds. General Shinseki said we would "go where the answers are", the answers are found in tracks not wheels, though the Army's hypocrisy is now apparent after chosing the fatally flawed 19-21 ton LAV-III "Stryker" death car for IBCTs. The Army's wheeled computer madness persists even after Shinseki's retirement.
Description of Band-Track Technology
Band track is an emerging alternative for the segmented metal track that is typically used on tracked combat vehicles. Band-track provides a lightweight, continuous alternative that smoothly travels around suspension elements with minimal vibration input to the hub and the ground. Band track is constructed of high-performance rubber molded around polymer fibers and/or steel cables that give the track the required tensile strength. The rubber is molded in such a way that the ground contact pads, roadwheel running surface, internally reinforced center guides and sprocket drive lugs are integral. This track offers significant improvements to vehicle performance as well as Soldier comfort and effectiveness. The photograph at the link above shows an M113 fitted with band track. The German Wiesel 1/2 and Swedish BV-206 family (SUSV in U.S. Army use) have used band-tracks for years to include combat in Somalia.
Benefits of Band-Track Technology
Following are recorded benefits relative to T130 steel track based on M113 testing by TACOM/TARDEC at Yuma Proving Ground, and by United Defense at Pelham Range, Fort McClellan in Alabama.
· Weight - Reduced by approximately 50% of standard T130 steel track
· Cost - 10% less than T130 steel track
· Durability -4000+ miles
· Noise - Reduced by 6 dB (A), interior and exterior (reduction to level comparable to heavy truck)
· Vibration Reduced by 30%
· Maintenance - Minimal to negligible. There is no periodic replacement of pads, no tightening of pin fasteners, no blocks to replace.
Road damage - Negligible - No metallic components to contact road.
· Roadwheel life - Improved - Continuous running surface/non-metallic guides
· Low mass and inertia - Improved acceleration, improved braking
· IR/EM signature - Reduced
· Rolling Resistance - 17% - 35% less than T130 on hard surface
· Aggressiveness - Comparable to steel track; better in mud, snow, and ice
* Bullet-resistant
Disadvantages somewhat of Band Track Technology
There are currently some disadvantages relative to existing steel track, which United Defense/SII are working to mitigate.
· Field installation is somewhat more difficult (currently, two Soldiers can change track in about an hour and one half).
· Somewhat more susceptible to mine damage (mine resistance has not been yet incorporated into the design -this will occur over the next year).
· There is a repair limp-home kit, but further development is necessary.
Technology Development Status
United Defense's partner, Soucy International Incorporated (SII) located in Drummondville, Quebec, has a long tradition of manufacturing band tracks for snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, agricultural machinery, snow blowers and other types of equipment. In the late 80's, work on the development of band tracks for military vehicles led Soucy to produce tracks for the SISU (Finland) articulated vehicle that led to a 3X-4X increase in life over the track it replaced. In the early 60's, work was performed for the MOD UK and Alvis to develop a track for the Spartan vehicle. In the same period, work was also initiated with TACOM (U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command) and I.S.T.C. (Industry, Science, Technology Canada) to develop 15-inch band track for the M113 Gavin Family of Vehicles. These development programs have shown that band track has the potential to replace steel tracks in light and medium weight military vehicles.
Soucy is also currently under contract with TACOM to develop a band track for demonstration on a medium-weight 50,000-pound Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This track is nominally 18 inches wide and may find application in the Future Scout Combat System (FSCS) and Future Combat System (FCS) if its wisely tracked not wheeled. The first sets are currently undergoing development testing at Yuma Proving Ground. Band tracks are already proven on 17-ton M8 Buford AGS light tanks with both 105mm and 120mm guns.
In 1999, Soucy and United Defense entered a partnership to bring band track into maturity for combat vehicles. The overwhelming majority of the testing and development effort has been aimed at the M113 Gavin family of vehicles, which is the nearest-term opportunity for actual fielding. Given sufficient funding ($2-3M) and accelerated government acceptance testing, UDLP/Soucy feels the track could be ready for implementation on the M113 in two years. The Canadian Army is taking band-tracked M113 Gavins to Afghanistan.
Going to band tracks while reducing land mine blast resistance is countered by the fact that with Hybrid Electric drive we can put the driver/TC farther back in the hull away from over the current driver position over the left track offset from the right front engine arrangement. The reason is that HE drive can be run by wire controls so the driver can actually be ANYWHERE on or off the vehicle. Another benefit of HE drive is you can then build a "V" channel wall on the left and right of the centerline driver/TC for a secondary bulkhead against land mines. All do-able NOW with M113 Gavins. The HE TTD already has centerline driver/TC and cut-down more sloping front.
AIRBORNE!