The Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) is an improved version of the Desert Patrol Vehicle (DPV), which it was designed to replace. Special operation groups adopted the LSV for its small size and high mobility. It is part of the family of Internally Transportable Light Strike Vehicles (ITV-LSV).[1] As the name suggests, it is used for fast hit-and-run style raids, scouting missions, special forces support, and low intensity guerrilla warfare.

Light Strike Vehicle
TypeLight Attack Vehicle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In serviceunknown–present
WarsWar on Terrorism
Production history
Designedunknown
ManufacturerChenowth Racing Products
Specifications
Mass960 kilograms
Length4.08 m
Width2.11 m
Height2.01 m
Crew1 driver and 1 gunner + 2 passengers

Main
armament
1X 12.7 mm M2 .50 caliber HMG, 1 x 5.56 mm M249 SAW LMG, 1 x 7.62 mm M60 or M240 series GPMG
Secondary
armament
2 x AT4 light Anti-Tank Weapons, or 1 x TOW
EngineDiesel
?
Power/weight?
Suspension?
Operational
range
500 km
Maximum speed 130 km/h on-road; 110 km/h off-road.

Design

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Countermeasures

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The LSV is entirely unarmored, and thus offers no protection from small arms fire. The driver and passengers sit side by side in front, with the gunner sitting in an elevated rear-central seat in front of the engine. The gunner's seat can spin around to operate the 7.62 mm GPMG.

Mobility

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It can be air transported internally by CH-47 or CH-53 transport helicopters. The new ALSV has a more conventional appearance and differs from the original versions.

Armament

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A 7.62 mm MG (often an M60E3) is mounted rear-facing on the back of the engines. If TOW is mounted, it replaces the third passenger and rollover cage. Two AT4 are sometimes fitted forward-facing on roll over cage bars (one on each side) above driver.

Users

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Operators:
  Current
  Former

Unlike the DPV, the LSV has had export success and is marketed as a light attack vehicle. The current generation model is the ALSV, with the "A" standing for "advanced".[2] It is currently used by the United States Marine Corps, United States Army, United States Navy, and the armed forces of Greece, Mexico, Oman, Portugal, and Spain. The UK retired its LSVs in the mid-1990s.

Current operators

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Former operators

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See also

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References

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