HIGH-TECH MILITARY MUSCLE HITS THE STREET
Master Cpl. Austin Comtois offers a view of the Windsor Regiment’s new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) during Tuesday’s unveiling and demonstration of the 18-tonne military machine at the Major F.A. Tilston Armoury in Windsor.
Regiment unveils Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle
What’s green, has four wheels, weighs around 18 tonnes, and can see in the dark?
It’s Windsor Regiment’s new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) — and local motorists shouldn’t be surprised if they happen to see one rolling on city streets.
“The best bet is to treat it the same way you would a large dump truck or a transport truck,” assured Sgt. John Mysak, a vehicle operator with the Windsor Regiment.
The Windsor Regiment currently has two TAPVS — one since March, the other since August.
Training exercises have been taking place across the region. When the TAPV ventures out from Tilston Armoury on Sandwich Street, it shares the roadway with conventional automobiles.
“It’s not like a tank with tracks or anything like that,” Mysak said. “It’s perfectly fine to drive on roads.”
There are now 500 TAPVS in the Canadian Army. They’re meant to fill a vehicle role that’s between the eight-wheeled LAV II Coyote and the mine-resistant truck-like RG31 Nyala.
“This vehicle gives us capabilities that are the best of both worlds,” Mysak said.
The V-shaped hull and two-inch thick plating of the TAPV are designed to withstand blast threats such as improvised explosive devices.
Each of the TAPV’S four wheels weigh about 285 kilograms (650 lbs.) each — so heavy that a roof-mounted crane is needed to deploy the spare tire.
The remote weapon system gives the TAPV a 360-degree sensor view, including zoomable sighting, thermal imager for night vision, and laser rangefinder.
None of Windsor Regiment’s TAPVS are armed, but the weapon system can be outfitted with a 7.62-millimetre machine gun and a 40-millimetre automatic grenade launcher.
Windsor Regiment’s vehicle operators hone their gunnery skills mostly on a computer simulator at Tilston Armoury, but they recently returned from live firing exercises at a base in Meaford, near Owen Sound.
As for how civilians should react to the sight of one of these brawny military machines, Mysak said there’s nothing to worry about.
“Blind spots do exist on the vehicle — They’re not super severe. There is a rear-view camera, and the crew works as a team to make sure the vehicle is clear.”
The TAPV’S turning radius is 19.7 metres (64.6 feet). It takes more than 30 seconds for the vehicle to accelerate from zero to 80 km/h.
And with a top speed of just 110 km/h, the TAPV doesn’t move any faster than 80 km/h on civilian roads — so be patient around it.
“Every few months, we plan on running a lot of courses — especially driver training,” Mysak said.
Interested in getting closer to the TAPV? Learn about joining the Canadian Armed Forces by visiting Tilston Armoury (4007 Sandwich St.).
Follow the 31 Canadian Brigade Group — the Canadian Army in Southwestern Ontario — on Twitter @31_CBG.