Indian Army Vehicles: Logistics and Engineering

This thread is intentioned for a discussion on the Logistics and Army Engineering Vehicles of the Indian Army.

Topics of discussion include requirements, availability, specifications, terrain-specific performance, comparative capability and future plans.


Thread is protracted, ad hoc, ut quod ut postulo (as and when required).


Logistics vehicles include:

• Stallion 4x4 Truck for GS Role
• Ashok Leyland Truck Fire Fighting
• Ashok Leyland 5kl Water Bowser
• Ashok Leyland Light Recovery Vehicle 4x4
• Mahindra - light multi-role 4x4
• Rampar - amphibious 4x4

Engineering Vehicles include:

• Bridge Layer Tank using a T-72 chassis and Kartik Armoured Bridgelayer on a Vijayanta chassis - armoured vehicle-launched bridges
• Multi-Hop and Extended Span Assault Bridges on T-72 chassis
• Sarvatra - 8x8 truck-mounted bridging system
• VT-72B ARV (200+) and WZT-3 ARV (124, 228 to be delivered by 2007) - armoured recovery vehicle replacing the Vijayanta ARV
• BMP-2 Armoured Amphibious Dozer and Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV) & AAD

I will begin with a video on the "Stallion" Army truck from Ashok Leyland:



Feel free to discuss, set parameters, knock on, evaluate performance etc.

no further info on this could be found

couldn't find any pictures on the web only this pdf found!

Dishearteningly This thread seems to have low participation, i believe it is due to many of our members feeling that the tank or IFV is more galmorous than the humble truck or tanker. let me remind all of you that without proper logistics all miliatries are useless ,napoleon once said "an army marches on it's stomach". that quote still holds true, any modern military force needs a strong logistics core to fight trucks and jeeps form the backbone of the modern armored division without these all armies are useless. when general paulus's supply lines were cut at the battle of stalingrad the mighty whermacht heer had it's greatest defeat.Japan did not lose WW2 when the americans bombed their cities japan really lost WW2 when their supply ships were sunk by american submarines. logistics is the most important part of any war machine far more so than heavy artillery or armor.

Attention all DFI technokrats, military pros, members and personnel. This thread needs your participation.


To further streamline this discussion I propose:

- an evaluation of each of the vehicles mentioned above in terms of: payload capacity; road and track mobility; bodywork: such as pallet rack systems, tipper, fuel tanks, shelter, etc.; obstacle ability; stability; versatility and maneuverability

- an evaluation of whether these fit with out operational requirements, how they can be improved and what offers optimum ability from the range of international products available

- pictures, vids and specifications! Need specific parameters for all of the above

Further Update on Logistics Vehicles for the Ground Forces:


Lightweight Vehicles:

• Mahindra (4x4), Jonga (4x4) Carrier (4x4), Toofan (4x4)
• Trucks TATRA Trucks, Swaraj Mazda
• Super Azad (4x4), Stallion Mk.III (4x4)
• Tata Model 1210 SD (4x4), Tata Model LPTA 713 TC (4x4)
• Mobile Decontamination Vehicle, Tata Model LPTA 1615 TC (4x2)
• Tata Model LPTA 1621 TC (6x6), Shaktiman (4x4), Tata 407 (4x4)
• Crash Fire Tender (6x6), Topchi (4x4), Light Recovery Vehicle (4x4)

Portable Roadways:

• Mat Fording Truck

Amphibious Vehicles:

• Rampar (4x4)

Trailers:

• 500/1000 kg. General Service Trailer
• 1000/2000/7500 kg. Generator Set Trailer
• 50-ton Heavy Duty Tank Transport Trailer
• 300L Water Tank, 20 ton Low Deck Full Trailer

Materials Handling Vehicles:

• Rough Terrain Fork Lift Truck

am attaching two PDF 's on the IA tank transporters for all of your benefit.

However one thing i noticed was that both these vehicles do not have the capability to TOW heavy MBT's in offroad conditions , if anyone could enlighten me as to what we use there i would be grateful

Sarvatra Truck-Mounted Bridging System

Length: 15-20 metres span.

Width: 4 metres - fully decked.

Multi-span Capacity: Up to 100 units.

Load Class: MLC-70.

Pier Height: 2.5 to 6.0 meters.

Chassis: Tatra (8x8).

Construction Time: 15 to 20 minutes per span.

The bridge can be over a water and land obstacles to provide 75 meters of bridge-length for battle tanks, supply convoys and troops. The system consists of a light aluminum alloy scissors bridge and was approved for production in March 2000 after 200 tank crossing trials. One complete set of the multi span mobile bridging system includes five truck-mounted units with a bridge-span of 15 meters each. The system is designed to take the weight of the Arjun, by far the heaviest vehicle in the Army’s inventory. According to the Sarvatra Project Director Dr P.K. Venkatachalam, a microprocessor based control system reduces the number of personnel required to deploy and operationalize the bridge. The Sarvatra project was sanctioned in 1994 and completed development in October 1999 at a total cost of Rs 230 million. The bridging equipment is carried on a Tatra Kolos chassis and the system is built by Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) at their Mysore complex.

Do they use flat tyres or Standard-tires ?

BLT - Arjun

India’s main battle tank, Arjun, has taken the “avatar” of a bridge laying tank (BLT). DRDO's R&DE(E) did this by replacing the tank’s gun and turret with the bridge launcher. The bridge is cantilevered over chasms or across rivers to cover a distance of 26 m with a width of 4 m. The BLT-Arjun carries two halves of a bridge. At a wet or dry gap, the launcher slides the two parts and docks them to each other in such a way that the far end of the second half touches the other bank. The BLT then crosses the bridge, turns around, retrieves the bridge after undocking its two halves, folds it and is ready to move with the armoured column. U.R. Gautam, Joint Director R&DE(E), called it “a great piece of engineering”.

More

Mobile Decontamination System

The Mobile Decontamination System (MDS) is designed by DRDO's Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE). It is designed to decontaminate vehicles, equipment personnel and terrain against biological and chemical warfare agents. It consists of pre-wash equipment, chemical mixing equipment, post wash equipment, personnel shower equipment, automatic emulsion mixing and feeding equipment, 3000 ltrs water tank and onboard power supply. The MDS developed on Tatra 8x8 VVN vehicle has undergone users trials and approved for introduction into service with Indian Army.The vehicles are under production by M/s WASP Pumps, to whom the technology has been transferred.

specifications of the stallion 4x4

Features
»
An upgraded version of Stallion 4X4 meeting Bharat Stage- II norms



Engine
»
177 PS @ 2400 rpm



Pay Load
»
5 T cross country
7.5 T on the highway



Transmission
»
6 speed synchromesh



Steering
»
Integral power steering



Tyres
»
355/90 x 20 - 18 PR (Singles)



Brakes
»
Dual line brakes



Max Speed
»
82 kmph



Gradeability
»
25 deg-5T
15 deg-7.5 t



Wheelbase
»
4500 mm



Overall Length
»
7360 mm

Well the logistics division of the Indian armed forces needs a total revamp considering the change in the total scenario in the subcontinent and in the south-east Asian region. The Trucks and other equipment for troop transport must be light, easily maintainable and fuel efficient.

http://www.grouptci.com/enroute/industry-oct07.pdf

Heavy duty trucks:
We have a large inventory of the BEML TATRA trucks namely the 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 trucks. These trucks are heavy duty trucks used for transport, winching, hauling and also as fire crasher trucks. This has been the work horse for the Indian army's heavy transport and logistical transport capability. The TATRA trucks are manufactured under license from the Czech company TATRA. The Indian company TATA is planning to capture this market by giving out it's own 8x8.
Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - BEML Tatra 4x4, 6x6, 8x8

5 ton and 3 ton category trucks:
These are the major troop carrier trucks of the Indian army. They fall under the medium category which is right now dominated by the Stallion from Ashok Leyland. This is a proven company with years of experience in this category of trucks. The stallion is slowly phasing out the older shaktimaan class of trucks.The other major player is TATA with their LPTA they are also used as the field artillery tractor.

Light patrol vehicles:
The Indian army is still stuck with Jonga and the jeep. This might change after the trials of Axe is over. It was the LPV that was inducted in 1950s but it is still going strong. The other LPV is the Maruti Gypsy which also needs replacement.