How Well do you know about the U.S. Army’s Armored vehicle Stryker Family? All Variant Explained.

Stryker family

Stryker is a class of eight-wheeler armored fighting vehicles introduced and manufactured by General Dynamics Land System (GDLS) that serves as the primary equipment for the United States Army.

The eight-wheeler armored combat vehicle is the army’s first new military vehicle since the Abrams tank in the 1980s. It is widely regarded as the wheeled armored fighting vehicle of the 21st century. ” Stryker”

Stryker comes in 11 different configurations, outfitted with the double-V hull to protect soldiers from mines and explosives.

In this article we will know about All the 11 variants:

1. M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV):

M1126 is an armored personnel carrier used by the US army and the Thai royal army. On hard roads, this vehicle can attain speeds of up to 62 mph. Its operational range is 110 miles.

The basic ICV includes a steel armor primary plate that can protect the two-person crew and nine infantry personnel. IBD deisenroth engineering provides lightweight ceramic or composite appliqué panels to enhance the steel armor.

The armor can provide 14.5 mm of all-around protection against mortar, machine gun, and artillery fragments.

During the January 2004 Iraq war, stryker vehicles were retrofitted with a slat armor cage surrounding the vehicle about 18 inches from the main body to protect it from RPGs.

It also has a Kongsberg Protech or Norway protector remote weapon station with a universal soft mount cradle for a 0.50 caliber M2 machine gun, MK 19 40mm grenade launcher, or MK240 7.62mm machine gun. Four M6 smoke grenades are also onboard. M1256 ICVv models have double-V hulls.

2. M1296 Dragoon Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) Stryker.

The updated M1126 Stryker infantry fighting vehicle is next on the list. The vehicle’s hull roof has been changed to make room for a Kongsberg unmanned turret with a Mk 44 bushmaster II 30mm cannon. This new canon can outperform the previous M2 heavy machine gun regarding lethality, range, and accuracy.

Lightly armored vehicles can engage up to 3000 meters away. This canon can fire airburst rounds that detonate above the target, hitting enemies in trenches and behind walls. Airburst fires can destroy UAVs.

The cannon incorporates a dual feed mechanism, allowing the shooter to swap between ammunition types quickly. Its turrets can contain 156 ready rounds or 78 per side. There is also an M240 coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, with the turret holding 400 ready rounds.

Aside from that, the vehicle is designed to survive mine blasts. This is primarily because its front arc is impervious to 14. mm heavy machine gun rounds. Ceramic add-on armor can be fitted to provide all-around protection against these armor-piercing shots.

The vehicle’s interior is lined with a kevlar liner to protect the crew and passengers from spalling. Also, externally mounted fuel tanks are designed to blow away from the hull in the event of an explosion giving high protection for the crew.

3. M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV):

M1127 is an APC like M1126. As its name suggests, it provides Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targets acquisition squadrons and battalion scouts with an effective platform for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

The RV can carry six plus one augmentations for seven persons. This variant has a Raytheans long-range advanced scout surveillance system (LRAS3), thermal imager, Day TV, and eye-safe laser range finder.

The RV’s primary weapon is a 0.50 caliber M2 or MK19 40mm grenade launcher, while its secondary weapon is a 7.62 mm M240 machine gun.

4. M1128 Mobile gun system (MGS):

M1128

MGS first saw service with the US army in May 2007, when it was assigned to the 4th brigade, 2nd division. A completely stabilized shoot-on-the-move low-profile turret from a general dynamics land system is used in this model.

The turret is equipped with an M68A1E4 105mm canon with muzzle brake and an M2 0.50 caliber commander’s machine gun. It has composite armor against 14.5mm bullets as well as RPG ad on slat armor.

M1128 turret

The stryker gun mobile system has an ammunition capacity of 18 rounds of 105mm main gun ammunition. 3400 rounds of 7.62mm ammo and 400 rounds of 50 caliber ammunition

The truck is outfitted with two M6 smoke grenade launchers. MGS also features nuclear, chemical, and biological weapon detectors. The car has a top speed of 60 mph and a range of 330 miles.

5. M1129 Mortar Carrier (MC):

m1129

 

first deployed with the 172nd Stryker brigade combat teams in August 2005. Its version B, known as Mortar Carrier vehicle version B (MCV-B), is armed with the RMS6L 120 mm Mortar, which is mounted within the vehicle and fires through top-mounted doors.

M1129 MORTAR

In addition to the mounted mortar, the vehicle carries a second mortar, an 81MM M252 mortar that must be unloaded before firing.

The MCV, on the other hand, is equipped with an M240 7.62mm machine gun. In addition, the truck features a digital fire control system and five personnel. The maximum speed is 63 miles per hour, and the operational range is 330 miles.

6. M1130 commander vehicle (CV):

M1130_Command_Vehicle

M1130 has an FBCB2 digital communications system. This distinguishing feature enables the vehicle to communicate with other vehicles and battalions through text messaging and a mapping network.

The map shows the location of all vehicles on the battlefield, and the commander can mark the location of enemy forces on the map so that other commanders can see them.

In addition to the 7.62mm M240 mobile gun system, this vehicle can be outfitted with an M2 0.50 caliber gun or an MK19 40mm grenade launcher installed in a remote protection system.

Three M-17 Periscopes and three DRS Technologies AN/VAS-5 driver visual enhancers are installed on the stryker driver. Meanwhile, the vehicle commander has access to seven M45 periscopes and a thermal imager with a video camera.

The car has a top speed of 62mph and a range of 30 kilometers. M1255 CVV refers to its variants with double V hull modifications.

7. M1131 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV) :

M1131 FSV

M1131 FSV provides
automated enhanced surveillance,
Target acquisition,
Target identification,
Target tracking,
Target Designation,
Position location and communications.

It supports SBCT first-round fire-to-fire. It has M7O7 striker mission equipment. It automates command and control functions, including fire support planning, directing, controlling, and cross-functional area coordination and execution. The fire support shooter receives targets instantly.

FSV is based on ICV because of similar operational requirements. This vehicle is armed with an M2 0.50 CALIBER gun or MK19 40 mm grenade launcher and an M240 7.62 machine gun. It goes 60 mph. M1251 FSVV models have double-V hulls.

8. M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV).

Stryker’s combat engineering variant is M1132 ESV. This truck transports and supports battlefield combat engineers. It has obstacle-clearing, lane-marking, and mine-detection systems.

The most distinctive feature of this vehicle is the mine clearing blade which frequently tows a wheeled trailer loaded with extra equipment.
The FSV can clear mines on paved surfaces and some rubble clearance.

This vehicle has an M2 50 caliber gun, MK19 40mm grenade launcher, and a 7.62mm machine gun.

9. M1133 Medical evacuation vehicle (MEV):

MEV is the main ambulance platform in Stryker units. It treats injured and advanced trauma patients assigned by battalion aids.

The vehicle helps the army medic during dismounted operations. The evacuation includes emergency care en route and a safe environment with enough lighting and medical equipment.  This unarmed model can reach 62 mph.

10. M1134 Anti Tank Guided missile carrier (ATGM)

The M1134 ATGM is the brigade’s primary tank destroyer system. which provides a log range direct fire system. the vehicle is capable of taking down many armored threats from up to 4 kilometers.

This ATGM provides standoff for the SBCT by using SACLOS-guided missiles with ranges equal to or greater than most canons, autocannons, or small arms. This enables the brigades remaining MAV fleet to be optimized for specific capabilities that can operate under the anti-tank overwatch umbrella.

11. M1135 Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance (NBCR) vehicle.

M1135

The M1135 NBCRV detects nuclear, biological, and chemical combat threats. The NBCRV improves the stryker brigade’s combat team’s attack power. NBCRV has an integrated NBC sensor suite and meteorological system.

Using a chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer (CBMS), a Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS), and a standoff detector, the NBCRV can detect and collect chemical and biological contaminants in its immediate surroundings (JSLSCAD).

The system can collect and integrate pollution data with vehicle navigation and meteorological sensor systems before sending the digital warning system to other forces via the mission command system.