Lynx reconnaissance vehicle

Infobox Weapon
name=Lynx (Canadian version)


caption=Canadian Lynx taking part in Bovington Tank Museum's 'Tanks In Action' display
origin=USA
type=
is_vehicle=yes
service=
used_by=NED, CAN
wars=
crew=3 (commander, driver, observer)
length=4.60 m
width=2.41 m
height=2.18 m
weight=8.77 tonnes
armour=31.8 mm
primary_armament=.50-caliber M2 Machine Gun
secondary_armament=7.62mm GPMG C1
engine=6-cyl. diesel GMC Detroit Diesel 6V-53
engine_power=215 hp (160 kW)
suspension=torsion-bar
speed=71 km/h, 6 km/h swimming
pw_ratio=25 hp/tonne
vehicle_range=523 km

The Lynx reconnaissance vehicle (manufacturer's name: "M113-1/2 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle", abbr. "M113 C&R") is a United States-built tracked armoured fighting vehicle, which was employed by the armed forces of the Netherlands and Canada.

The Lynx is a smaller command and reconnaissance vehicle built as a private venture in 1963 by FMC Corp., the manufacturer of the M113 armoured personnel carrier. The Lynx uses M113A1 components, including aluminum armour, but with only four road wheels on each side and engine in the rear instead of the front. The U.S. Army adopted the M114 in favour of the M113-1/2, but it was employed in the reconnaissance role by the Netherlands and Canada (where it was officially designated the Lynx).

The Lynx is amphibious, propelled in the water by its tracks. Before swimming, a trim vane is erected at front, bilge pumps started, and covers mounted on the air intake and exhaust. In practice, crews would close hatches and ford shallow streams at high speed.

Service history

The Royal Netherlands Army accepted 250 vehicles, beginning in 1966. The Dutch version of the Lynx has the driver front-left, radio operator/7.62mm machine gunner front-right, and a .50-calibre machine gun cupola centre. In the 1970s, the heavy machine gun was replaced by an Oerlikon-Bührle GBD-ADA turret mounting a 25mm KBA cannon.

The Canadian Forces accepted 174 vehicles from 1968, replacing the Ferret armoured car. Lynxes were issued to the reconnaissance squadron of an armoured regiment (D Sqn). The squadron consisted of three troops, each equipped with seven Lynxes—three two-vehicle patrols plus the troop leader's vehicle (Militia [reserve] armoured reconnaissance units trained for the role with Jeeps or Iltis 4×4 trucks). Nine Lynxes also equipped the reconnaissance platoon of an infantry battalion's combat support company.

In the Canadian Lynx, the crew commander's cupola is located middle-right, observer's hatch rear-left. The commander operates the manually-traversed M26 heavy machine gun cupola from inside the vehicle, but reloads it with hatch open. The rear-facing observer operates the radio and fires the pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun.

The Canadian Lynx was withdrawn from service in 1993, and replaced by 203 Coyote eight-wheeled reconnaissance vehicles by the end of 1996.

Existing Lynxes

Existing Lynxes include several monuments and museum pieces, and several running vehicles.

* BC Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), Vancouver, BC have one operational Lynx.
* Military Museums, Calgary, Alberta
* LCol D.V. Currie VC Armoury, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Dragoons), has two Lynxes, in camouflage and UN peacekeeping colours
* McGregor Armoury, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Fort Garry Horse)
* The Ontario Regiment (RCAC) museum in Oshawa, Ontario, maintains four fully operational Lynxes in its collection. Two are painted CF o/d green, one UN white, the other in CF winter camouflage.
* Côte-des-Neiges Armoury, Montreal, Quebec (Royal Canadian Hussars)
* CFB Gagetown Military Museum, Oromocto, New Brunswick [http://www.rogerkenner.ca/Bike/St_John02_lite/Vdt_Wit02_StJohn_lite.html]
* Bovington Tank Museum, Dorset, England, has shown an operating Lynx
* Musée des Blindés, Saumur, France
* Wolsey Barracks, London Ontario
* Lincoln & Welland Regt Museum St Catharines Ont has on operational Lynx

References

*
* (site gone; [http://web.archive.org/web/20060728041012/http://www.armouredengineer.force9.co.uk/bucket/canada/lynxcr.htm archive.org link] )
*
* – employment of the Lynx by the 8th Canadian Hussars in Cyprus, 1978-79
* Foss, Christopher F. (1987). "Jane's AFV Recognition Handbook", pp 154–55. London: Jane's. ISBN 0-7106-0432-7.
*

External links

* [http://www.tanxheaven.com/m113CR/m113CRpic.htm Photos of Dutch and Canadian Lynxes] at Tanx Heaven