Current AFVs with withdrawn from service variants

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Hey all,

I'm aware that the M6 Linebacker and the LAV-AD (just off the top of my head) have been, per wackypedia, "withdrawn from service".

It seems to me that in the case of these two particular vehicles that little to nothing need be done to convert them back to either LAV-25 or M2 Bradley (or M3 Devers).

So typically when an in-service vehicle has a variant withdrawn from service, particularly these days, they rework them, right? I mean, I can't imagine they'd park 'em out for JDAM practice just because they need a turret rebuild (in the case of the M6). Particularly if there's lots of them.

[Legbreaker]

To my knowledge that would be correct. Take the 152mm armed M60 for example (the A2?) - whey they were withdrawn/cancelled they were reworked into the A3.

Vehicles, especially armoured ones are expensive. It makes no sense to leave them on the sidelines if they can be put through the workshop and converted to/back into something more useful.

The Australian M-113A1 FSV is a good example. Originally a base M113 they had the turret from the Saladin armoured car installed when the Saladin was removed from service. A few years later and the Saladin turret was replaced with the Scorpion light tank turret. A few years after that (in 2006 I think) and the turret was removed and (along with other upgrades to the hull systems) returned to a base APC again.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

To my knowledge that would be correct. Take the 152mm armed M60 for example (the A2?) - whey they were withdrawn/cancelled they were reworked into the A3.

Vehicles, especially armoured ones are expensive. It makes no sense to leave them on the sidelines if they can be put through the workshop and converted to/back into something more useful.

Makes perfect sense. Haven't they converted a bunch of vanilla M1s to AVLBs and Wolverine mine-clearing tanks?

The Australian M-113A1 FSV is a good example. Originally a base M113 they had the turret from the Saladin armoured car installed when the Saladin was removed from service. A few years later and the Saladin turret was replaced with the Scorpion light tank turret. A few years after that (in 2006 I think) and the turret was removed and (along with other upgrades to the hull systems) returned to a base APC again.

Wait, the 30mm cannon Scorp turret or the 90mm cockerill low-pressure anti-tank gun?!

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by raketenjagdpanzer

...Wait, the 30mm cannon Scorp turret or the 90mm cockerill low-pressure anti-tank gun?!

The Scorpion is armed with a 76mm gun, the 90mm low pressure gun was offered as an upgrade for all Scorpion users but I think only one Arab country and/or Indonesia actually put it into service.
The Scimitar and Sabre are Scorpion variants and have slightly different turrets to the Scorpion, fitted with a 30mm Rarden cannon. Australia only used Saladin (which also used a 76mm gun) and Scorpion turrets for the Fire Support Vehicles/Medium Reconnaissance Vehicles (FSV/MRV)

[95th Rifleman]

We did the same thing with the Sabre in British service. The Scorpion was withdrawn and some 100 Scorps where refitted with a 30mm Cannon turret as the Sabre.

I think we still have some old Chieftens converted over to AVRES aswell.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

If I remember the info, the Sabre was basically a Scorpion with the turret replaced with the turret from the defunct Fox armoured car (which used a turret similar but not quite the same as the Scimitar).
You used to be able to pick the difference quite easily between a Scimitar and a Sabre because of the position of the headlights but after a few upgrade programmes over the last decade or two, they now both look too similar to notice at a glance.

And I've just remembered something else, apparently the main reason for removing the Scorpion from service was that its 76mm gun didn't have a fume extractor and the fumes were allegedly carcinogenic.