The M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle, or ASV, is an internal security vehicle manufactured
by Textron Marine & Land Systems for use by the U.S. Army's Military Police Corps. Its
armament consists of an Mk 19 grenade launcher and M2HB Browning machine gun, mounted in
a turret similar to that used on the U.S. Marine Corps' Amphibious Assault Vehicle;
and a M240H Medium Machine Gun mounted outside the gunner's hatch. The vehicle was very popular
with American military police and convoy security units in Iraq. It is a more heavily protected
and heavily armed alternative to the armored Humvee which was not originally designed to
be a protected fighting vehicle.
History
By the 1980s, American military doctrine emphasized two distinct types of equipment. Tanks and
infantry fighting vehicles were for frontline combat, and unarmored utility vehicles for
transport behind the lines. In 1993, the military had to fight through Mogadishu in unarmored
Humvees, leading to the development of uparmored models. Many generals doubted the benefits,
but the Military Police Corps, tasked with patrolling the "safe" rear area behind the
battle line insisted that the Army fund a slow but steady production of the bullet resistant
M1114. In 1999, the United States Army began buying
a limited number of M1117s for the Military Police Corps. This purpose-built ASV was derived
from Cadillac Gage's previous Commando family of AFV which was used in Vietnam for base
security. The ASV 150 is a much improved version the earlier Cadillac Gage 100/150, with improved
armor protection and better maneuverability due to the use of Timoney's independent suspension
system. The ASV uses an advanced modular expandable
armor package from IBD, consisting of ceramic composite applique on the exterior and spall
liner on the interior. At $800,000 each, the M1117 was significantly more expensive than
the $140,000 price for an M1114. They were field tested by MP units in Kosovo mostly
by members of the 709th MP Battalion. The program was canceled in 2002 because of budget
priorities. The United States Army believed that existing vehicles could be used without
an "unacceptable level of risk." When the Iraq War began in 2003, there were 49 ASVs
in service, with almost all of them being assigned to MP Units. The first MP unit to
officially use them in a combat zone was the 527th MP Company and other elements of the
720th MP Battalion. However, the onset of events in Iraq has given new life to the ASV
program as HMMWVs have proven vulnerable to attacks and a large source of casualties.
Uparmored HMMWVs were not designed to be armored cars like the M1117, which are designed to
withstand hits from small arms, mines and rockets in frontline combat units. Soldiers
who used them, and some members of Congress visiting Iraq have favored them over other
mine protected vehicles. As of mid-2007, 1,729 vehicles were delivered or under contract
with many being dispersed not just to MPs but numerous other military units to include
the Iraqi National Police. In response to urgent United States Army requirements
in the mid-2000s, production has increased from one ASV every three weeks to the complete
56 vehicles per month. The plant that produces the vehicles is located in New Orleans and
was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The manufacturing facilities have since been
rebuilt and expanded to five buildings and personnel have more than doubled. The vehicle
is a 21st-century version of the V-100 Cadillac Gage Commando which was used by the U.S. Army
Military Police during the Vietnam War, whose duties often consisted of providing armed
escort for wheeled convoys. The USAF in South Vietnam utilized an open hatched Commando
for base security missions. A variant was to be evaluated by the U.S.
Marine Corps as part of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program. As of May
18, 2007, After their vehicle submission failed ballistics testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Textron received word that they would not receive further orders as part of the MRAP
program. However in early 2008, Textron was awarded a contract to build 329 ASVs worth
$228 million. They will be delivered with the latest fragmentation protection kits.
The total number of ASVs produced and remaining to be delivered to the U.S. Army is 2,058
vehicles. Design
At about 15 tons, the M1117 is lighter than the 20 ton Stryker ICV or 25 ton M2 Bradley
armored vehicle. It can reach a speed of 20 miles per hour in 7 seconds. It is only 7 feet
9 1⁄2 inches wide, compared to 11 feet 9 1⁄2 inches for a Bradley. Buttoned up,
the crew has 360° visibility. In size and capability, it fits between the Humvee and
the $1.42 million Stryker. The crew compartment is fully air-conditioned.
Survivability The Guardian's armor is designed to defeat
small arms fire, mines and Improvised Explosive Devices. The armor is angled presenting no
vertical surfaces, deflecting many rocket-propelled grenade hits. If an RPG does hit the vehicle
directly, it can still function, although crew survivability varies depending on the
location at which the RPG hits. Angled armor is more resistant to attack than vertical
armor due to the V-shape hulls deflecting explosive forces, as opposed to a single-plane
hull which takes the entire force impact. ASVs in Iraq and Afghanistan have withstood
several IED attacks, some vehicles multiple times. One ASV returned 28 miles after an
IED destroyed all four tires. As for chemical and biological attacks, the ASV's gas particulate
air filtration system was designed to provide additional protection, but is currently not
in service due to lack of crew masks for the system. The ASV has experienced several rollover
incidents. Soldiers have a higher survivability rate when rolling over, as the turret is fully
enclosed protecting the gunner from ejection. However, there have been at least two incidents
of rollovers that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers when the turret broke away from
the vehicle. Since the incidents, Textron has started adding 15 additional bolts to
the vehicle turret. Mobility
The typical mission profile of an ASV involves 50% travel primary roads, 30% travel on secondary
roads, and 20% cross-country travel. It uses a model MD3560 Allison Transmission. Front
and rear independent suspension provides smooth highway speeds of up to 70 mph, while it
is capable of fording 5-foot depths of water, climbing gradients of 60%, negotiating 30%
side slope, and overcoming obstacles of five feet. Its turning radius is 27.5-foot, and
it has 18-inch ground clearance. Six ASVs can enplane on a C-17, fully loaded
and ready to roll off. Also, the CH-53E Super Stallion is able to carry a single one of
these ASVs. Variants
The following variants are known to be in production/service:
Command & Control Recovery Vehicle
Reconnaissance Surveillance & Target Acquisition Ambulance
Infantry Carrier Vehicle) – 24 in longer than ASV, armed with cupola mounting for a
machine gun or grenade launcher instead of a turret, carries 3 crew and 8 troops.
M1200 Armored Knight FiST-V Export variants
Bulgaria uses a variant of the M1117 APC fitted with a NSVT heavy machine gun instead of the
M2. Not all vehicles have been converted this way.
The Iraqi Armored Personnel Carrier ASV variant is configured for transport.
Operators
Afghanistan – 1000 on order to be delivered by the end of 2014.
Bulgaria – 7, more to be delivered. General Defence Staff of Bulgaria has put a requirement
for additional 30 units to the Parliament. Colombia – 39, Used by the Army, it was
expected the acquisition of a batch of the same amount. These vehicles are the Infantry
Carrier Vehicle version, purchased to supplement Colombia's recently acquired fleet of BTR-80's,
another 39 were expected to enter operational service in 2012. In August 2013, Textron was
awarded a $31.6 million contract for 28 Commando APCs with remote turrets. Deliveries will
begin in November 2013 and be completed by April 2014.
Iraq – 264, used by Iraqi National Police units.
United States – 1,836. The vehicle is primarily used by U.S. Military Police Units
and formerly by Convoy Security Units in Iraq. Future operators
Romania – 200–400 to be built locally in the Cugir military factory.
See also Infantry fighting vehicle
List of AFVs Bravia Chaimite
Cadillac Gage Commando BOV M11
References Doyle, David. Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando.
2008, Squadron Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0-89747-574-7.
External links GlobalSecurity.org site on ASV
Armored Security Vehicle Data Sheet Broken Link
Video of ASV M1117 in Iraq video
Army Technology article