Armoured Vehicle General Purpose
In 1974 the Canadian Armed
Forces issued a requirement for an Armoured Vehicle General
Purpose (AVGP) to equip both Regular and Militia units. Three
prototypes made it to the final evaluation from a field of
fourteen. The Brazilian URUTU and the U.S. Commando fell by the
wayside and the Swiss MOWAG Piranha 6 X 6 won the evaluation.
General Motors Diesel Division undertook production of the AVGP
family for the Canadian Forces with the first vehicles rolling
off the line in 1979. Production was completed in 1982 by which
time 491 had been built in three versions. Each of the variants
are pictured below. The AVGP series is fully amphibious, being
propelled by two propellers mounted at the rear of the vehicles,
behind the third road wheel on each side. Armour is 10mm maximum
for protection from shell splinters. The AVGP has a maximum speed
of 100 km/h on roads and 10 km/h in water. These vehicles are
powered by the GM Detroit Diesel and they have Allison MT 650
automatic transmissions. The AVGP family of vehicles is easily
identified by the pointed front end and distinct gap between the
second and third wheel stations.
Grizzly Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier (WAPC)
Also known as the Car, Armoured, Personnel Carrier (GRIZZLY), this vehicle mounts the manually traversed American Cadillac Gage turret armed
with a 12.7mm MG and a 7.62mm MG mounted coaxially. It has a crew
of three and carries an additional six troops; for a total of
nine. Entry and exit for the infantry is by two doors in the hull
rear. A total of 269 Grizzlies were built.
Grizzly
Cougar 76mm Gun Wheeled Fire Support Vehicle (WFSV)
Also known as the Car, Armoured, Fire Support (COUGAR), this vehicle mounts a
full Alvis Scorpion turret with a 76mm main gun and a 7.62
coaxial MG, and has a crew of three. A total of 195 Cougars were
built.
Cougar
Husky Wheeled Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle (WMRV)
Also known as the Car, Armoured, Maintenance and Recovery (HUSKY) this version
has a roof-mounted hydraulic crane and is crewed by three. A
total of 27 Huskies were built.
Husky
