IRISH LEND ROVER IN ARMORED SUIT

The Shorland armored car (“Shoreland”) – joint development of Irish firms of Short Brothers and Harland (“Short Bros & Harland”) by order issued in 1961 Royal police force of Northern Ireland. According to the requirements of the armored car should be very simple, and its development is minimal time.

As a result, base took the chassis of the well-proven army Land Rover IIA (with a base of 109 inches). The body of the armored vehicle “resigned” from armor plates with thickness of 7.25 mm, which could provide protection from small arms. On the roof mounted armored turret from the armored reconnaissance assault vehicles Ferret (“ferret”) with a 7.62 mm Browning machine gun (Browning); it is mounted the installation of smoke grenade launchers. The crew was in the fighting compartment consisted of a driver and a commander placed at the sides of the hull, and the arrow in the center.

The layout of the machine has not changed. Lights mounted on the grille, tail and turning lights were on the wings. However, neither the hood nor the front wings were not armored. 4-cylinder petrol engine of about 60 HP stood in the usual place – in front.

Doors – side two – on the sides of the front of the case. In addition, there was a top hatch in the tower and emergency in the feed through which is also possible in emergency circumstances to leave the car. Front Windows were covered by bro-necrogami with the observation slits. The tower was installed plus a powerful search spotlight.

Armored car Shorlend on the streets of Beirut. Lebanon, 1982

The armoured car Shorland Mark I with a turret from the Ferret armoured personnel carriers with 7.62-mm machine gun Browning. 1965

The Shorland armored car model Mark II. Armor machine to 8.25 mm. Engine with 70 HP. 1968

The mass of the armored car was 3,200 kg, so we had to strengthen the base frame and the suspension.

By 1965, the firm has mastered the serial production of armored cars and began to produce them under the brand name “Shorland mark I”. In the process of making the look of the car changed. For example, the lights moved to the front wings. But most importantly – in the cabin mounted intercom for the crew, and also established radio station.

Total produced about 100 units of such vehicles. Some of them was a command vehicle with some appropriate modifications and with the removed from the roof of the tower.

In 1968 began the production of the following modifications under the symbol “mark II”. This model was fitted with 70-horsepower engine capacity of 2.6 liters; thickness of armor brought to 8.25 mm; improved the ventilation of the cabin, placing one in the rear exhaust fan.

Issue it lasted to 1972; it produced about 50 cars.

By this time, he prepared another version – “mark III”, with significant changes. Due to the increased weight of the car replaced the frame, taking it from odnotonnye Land Rover Series III greater strength and carrying capacity. A more powerful 6-cylinder petrol 91-HP engine. The salon has upgraded the ventilation system, added a new heater, provided a place to host if necessary, air conditioning. Changed the appearance of the tower, and mount on it two new grenade launchers.

An important milestone in the history of armored vehicles “Shortland” was the creation on the basis of “mark I” anti tank missile launchers, anti-tank systems. This used the tower from the English Ferret BRDM with installed two missile launchers Vigilant (“Vigeland”), clearing forward on the wings of the machine smoke grenade launchers.

To improve the accuracy put the new control devices, has mounted the electric drive of the reversal of the tower. Inside, placed a container under the stowage of ammunition, missiles.

Note that the army leadership complex was not supported, as on arms was like a rocket launcher Ferret, although it was much more expensive to produce.

Shorland Mark I

A prototype anti-missile system on the basis of the Shorland. On the tower are two launchers guided missiles Vigilend. 1967

Police option blower SB 303. Tower specially adapted for firing from a sniper rifle. 1975

In October 1967 the company has developed the project of the APC Shorland Trooper (“Shortland the company”), which in addition to the commander and the driver was supposed to accommodate eight fully armed infantry troops. This extended and increased the machine’s frame, thereby able to increase the landing Bay, has set a higher wheel. The troop compartment provided in the rear wide doors.

The tower was dismantled but strengthened the roof of the car, increasing the thickness of its armor up to 5 mm above the compartment.

But again, this project lost already won by the time the approval in the army Saracen APC (“Saracen”).

More successful was a six-seater conveyor under the brand name of SB 301 on the basis of serial versions of the “mark III”, production of which began in 1974, According to his sides in the separation of troops came all the loopholes for firing from automatic weapons, reinforced exit doors in the rear. The whole roof put even more thick armor, mounted on her extra powerful spotlight lighting and two smoke grenade launchers (three checkers each).

The conveyor is supplied with a radio station staffed by regular heater and additional paratroopers, a system of forced ventilation, even air conditioning.

Was established and police version of the machine SB 303 with a special tower adapted for firing from a sniper rifle.

The armored car made an impression, including foreign representatives, and soon entered the international market.

SB 301 was one of the most common variants of the “short land” issued more than 500 units.

In 1980 it was time to get out the next update -“mark IV”. Model SB 401 armored car based on it had a rotating turret under the machine gun mount, the bottom made of reinforced-reinforced fiberglass with the expectation of protection from blasting min. Large front Windows and Windows in the doors were from glass and were covered by closed bronezaslonkami with narrow observation slits.

The hull had three doors: two located on the sides, and a third in the stern.

Fundamentally new armament on the turret mounted periscope observation devices, closing protective armor shields.

Engine mounted 8-cylinder V8 Rоvег capacity of 134 HP At the same time had because of its large dimensions to increase the volume of the compartment under the hood, pulling ahead of the grille to the level of the front wings.

Gearbox has designed a 5-speed, put power steering, front disc brakes, vacuum booster in the brake actuator. Placed additional fuel tank.

The mass of the armored car over 3000 lbs. the Wheelbase of the machine – 2795 mm. Suspension – independent.

By 1990 there was another -the fifth model “land Rover”, called Defender (“Difender” – “the Defender”), and with it a series of armored vehicles “mark V” in the database. The car had a wheelbase of 2792 mm, reinforced suspension, bulletproof tires on wheels.

Increased thickness of frontal and side armor plates, the armor protected the hood, radiator and front fenders, at the same time changing their shape. Improved ventilation system, put a new air conditioner, provided an upgraded radio, new instruments of observation.

The power compartment of the car Shorland with the Rover engine

Base model car SB 51 series Mark V with a machine gun turret on the roof and two blocks launchers smoke grenade launchers. 1995

Control module. The machine control is completely identical to the base Lend Rover. On the right was the driver, left – the commander

Command vehicle removed from the tower and an additional fan on the roof

Command vehicle off the tower and an additional fan on the roof

Produced several modifications of armored cars “Shorthand” series MK V. Basic armored SB 51 had a rotating machine gun turret on the roof. The crew -commander, driver, and six infantrymen placed in the compartment of the landing where they sat on benches along the sides of the compartment facing each other. Armament – 7.62-mm machine gun and a grenade launcher. The armor thickness of body 8 mm.

The all-wheel drive car, with the wheel formula 4×4. Weight – 3600 kg. Engine – carburetted Rover V8 liquid-cooled power of 134 BHP at 5000 rpm Maximum road speed of 120 km/h. fuel capacity is about 136 liters in two tanks allows you to overcome more than 630 km.

The machine with index blower SB 52 was a greater volume aft of the fighting compartment, where she could be laying additional weapons and ammunition. Modification of SB 53 was a machine, “defense”: on its roof instead of a tower was equipped with three launchers of anti-aircraft guided missiles Javelin (“javelin” – “Spear”); ammunition, six more missiles were supposed to be in stacking the crew compartment. On the “security” SB 54 was equipped with a special form of the tower adapted for sniping, with lots of observation Windows to improve all-round visibility and more accurate target acquisition. Finally, six-SB 55 was on the force and was considered a police armored personnel carrier.

Over the next ten years, around 1000 such cars were delivered in more than forty countries.

Often in the countries-exporters of used armored Shorland as in military and police service.

Technical characteristics of the armored car blower SB 55

Wheel formula…………………………….4×4

Combat weight, kg………………………………3680

Length, mm……………………………………….4250

Width, mm……………………………………1800

Height, mm……………………………………..2280

Ground clearance, mm……………………………………..324

Wheelbase, mm……………………………2795

Track width, mm…………………………..1500

Weapons:……………….7,62- mm machine gun

…………………………2 smoke grenade launchers,

Reservations mm:……………………………….8

Engine:………Rover V8 carbureted

……………………….liquid cooling

………………………………..with a capacity of 134 HP.

Maximum speed

on the highway, km/h………………………………….120

Fuel tank capacity, l………………136

Cruising on the highway, km……………………630

Overcoming obstacles in m:

the height of the wall……………………………….0,23

fording depth…………………………………0,5

Crew:………………………………….2 + 6

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