FV432 - Variants

Variants

The FV432 has been produced in three major variants, the Mark 1 (with a Mark 1/1 minor variant) with petrol engines, the Mark 2 with a Rolls-Royce K60 multi-fuel engine and the Mark 3 with a diesel engine. The Mark 2 minor variant, the 2/1, has its NBC pack flush with the hull side. An uparmoured variant, for use in Iraq and Afghanistan, of the Mark 3 was known as Bulldog. This name now appears to be extended to all Mark 3 versions of the FV430.

The FV432 has proven to be flexible in use and can be converted from one role to another with reasonable ease using 'installation kits' (IK) or more permanently with minor modifications to the hull. Major or more significant modifications have usually led to a new FV43n number. In addition to the normal armoured personnel carrier role, it has been used as:

• a command vehicle, seven-crew has two mapboards and extra communications equipment (with an additional canvas "penthouse")
• an ambulance, unarmed with spots for up to four stretchers or two stretcher and five seated patients
• a cargo carrier, for up to 3,600 kg
• a communications vehicle
• a recovery vehicle. Designated as the FV434, it includes a rear cutout to a "pickup-truck" box to carry a spare engine/other stores with tool store below, an internally mounted winch, and a 2.5-tonne lift arm. Frequently equipped with the canvas "penthouse".

FV432s used by combat infantry units have also been equipped with:

• the WOMBAT recoilless rifle
• an 84mm infantry gun mounted with a bar across the top of the troop compartment (firing from the roof hatch)
• an 81mm mortar on a turntable in the rear of the hull can be traversed through 360° firing through the roof hatch 160 mortar bombs are carried crew consists of a driver commander and four men
• the Peak Engineering turret with the L37A1 variant of the 7.62mm GPMG, replacing the roof hatch.
• a 30 mm Rarden-gun equipped turret (taken from the Fox scout car; 13 converted)
• a night-surveillance ZB 298 radar
• stowage for MILAN anti-tank missiles when used to carry two missile teams (deployed away from the vehicle)

FV432s used by the Royal Artillery have been equipped with:

• a battery command post with FACE fire control computer
• a battery command post with BATES battlefield artillery target engagement system

• Cymbeline mortar-locating radar
• sound ranging equipment
• observation post vehicle ZB 298 radar

FV432s used by the Royal Engineers have been equipped with:

• a towed layer for L9 anti-tank Bar Mine
• a launcher for L10 Ranger Anti-Personnel Mine
• a towed Giant Viper mine-clearing system
• a Thales Group SWARM Remote Weapon System