Venezuelan army builds mine clearing vehicles on V-100 Commando and AMX-13


Pictures published on Twitter show a display with two local-made new mine-clearing adaptations of a U.S.-made Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando and a French-made AMX-13 by the Venezuelan army.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news

AMX-13 and V-100 Commando of the Venezuelan army fitted with a local-made mine-clearing device (Picture source: Twitter account of CNW)


The Cadillac Gage Commando, frequently denoted as the M706 in U.S. military service, is an armored car designed to be amphibious. It was engineered by Cadillac Gage specifically for the U.S. Military Police Corps during the Vietnam War as an armed convoy escort vehicle. The Commando was one of the first vehicles to combine the traditionally separate roles of an armored personnel carrier and a conventional armored car, much like the Soviet BTR-40. Its notable height, amphibious capability, and a waterproofed engine allowed American crews to fight effectively in the jungles of Vietnam by observing their opponents over thick vegetation and fording the country's deep rivers.

The Commando was eventually produced in three distinct marks: the V-100, V-150, and V-200, all of which were modified for a number of diverse battlefield roles. An unlicensed copy of the Commando series, the Bravia Chaimite, was also manufactured in Portugal. After the American military disengagement from Vietnam, the Commando series was gradually retired from active U.S. service. It was superseded in the Military Police Corps by the derivative M1117 Armored Security Vehicle during the 1990s. The vehicle remains in service in some foreign armies, namely the Venezuelan one in which 130 units are reported to still be operated (30 V-100 and 100 V-150).

Marketing for the V-150 family was halted in 2000. In 2010, Federal Defense Industries announced that they entered into an agreement with Textron Marine & Land Systems in order to provide authorized aftermarket parts, support and other types of assistance for the V-100/150/200 since FDI maintains a technical library for spare parts. In 2011, Napco entered into an agreement with Textron to provide authorized aftermarket parts, support and other types of assistance for the V-100/150.


Venezuelan army builds mine clearing vehicles on V 100 Commando and AMX 13 3V-Mine-clearing device fitted by the Venezuelan army. In the background: CVR(T) Scorpions (Picture source: Twitter account of CNW)


AMX-13

The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1952 to 1987. It served with the French Army, as the Char 13t-75 Modèle 51, and was exported to more than 25 other nations. Named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes, and featuring a tough and reliable chassis, it was fitted with an oscillating turret built by GIAT Industries (now Nexter) with revolver-type magazines, which were also used on the Austrian SK-105 Kürassier. Including prototypes and export versions, there are over a hundred variants including self-propelled guns, anti-aircraft systems, APCs, and ATGM versions.

The Venezuelan army has the following variants in its inventory:
* AMX-13V: CLI upgraded AMX-13/90 for Venezuelan Army
* AMX-13 [LAR-160]: Venezuelan MLRS version armed with IMI LAR-160 mm rockets
* AMX-13M51 Ráfaga: Venezuelan Army's AA version armed with two 40 mm cannons mounted on an M-4E1 turret
Indonesia
* AMX-13: upgraded in 2013 with Detroit Diesel DDA GM6V-53 T, ZF 5WG-180 Automatic Transmission, hydropneumatic "Dunlostrut" Suspension; in 2014 Navistar Engine with 400HP, SOPTAC-18 FCS, etc.