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Bison APC

Bison
Type Armoured Personnel Carrier
Place of origin Canada
Service history
In service 1990-Present
Used by See: 'Operators'
Wars War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Production history
Designer MOWAG/General Motors Diesel Division
Designed 1988
Manufacturer General Motors Diesel Division Canada
Produced 1988 (prototype)
1989 (regular production)
Specifications
Weight 13 t (14 short tons)
Length 6.5 m (21 ft)
Width 2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Height 2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Crew 2 (driver & commander) + 8 passengers

Main
armament
1 x 7.62mm machine gun
Engine Detroit Diesel 6V53T two-cycle turbo-charged diesel
275 hp
Transmission Allison 5 speed MT653
Suspension 8x8
Operational
range
650 km (400 mi)
Speed 100 km/h (62 mph) (land)
10 km/h (5.4 kn) (water)

The Bison is an armoured personnel carrier based on the 8x8 MOWAG Piranha II platform, and was produced by General Motors Diesel Division (now General Dynamics Land Systems Canada) in London, Ontario. They were purchased and intended for operation by the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve, but were rapidly appropriated by the regular force of the Canadian Army.

By starting with a basic Piranha II, the Bison design process took only 7 days. The Bison differs from the baseline Piranha II by raising the height of the roof, removing the turret ring, placing a commander's cupola behind the driver, and incorporating a rail mount system in the cargo/passenger compartment to quickly change mission specific equipment. The driver is seated in the front-left of the crew compartment. The commander has a slightly raised position directly behind the driver with access to his own hatch and mounted machine gun. The engine is to the right of the crew compartment.

The Canadian Forces began upgrading the Bison between 2002 and 2008. The upgrades include improved engine power, new torsion bars, fittings for add-on armour, air conditioning, and the VRS respirator system for NBC defence.

The Bison's rail mount system allows it to be adapted to a variety of roles without any major modifications. Bisons used by the Canadian Forces have been adapted for use as armoured personnel carriers (original configuration - mostly replaced in this role by the LAV III), 81mm mortar carriers, ambulances (32), Mobile Repair Team (MRT) vehicles (32), Armoured recovery vehicles (32), Electronic Warfare vehicles (25), and NBC Reconnaissance vehicles (4).


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