LOV-1
| BVP LOV-1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | Croatia |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 8,800 kilograms (8.7 long tons) |
| Length | 5.89 metres (19 ft 4 in) |
| Width | 2.36 metres (7 ft 9 in) |
| Height | 2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in) |
| Crew | 2 + 8 |
|
| |
| Armor | 7 - 8 mm steel |
Main armament |
12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun |
| Engine |
Torpedo BT6L 912S (diesel) 97 kW (132 hp) |
| Power/weight | 15.0 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 500 kilometres (310 mi) |
| Speed | 85 kilometres per hour (53 mph) on land |
The LOV-1 (Croation: Lako Oklopno Vozilo English "Light Armoured Vehicle") is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier currently in use with the Croatian army.
History
During the Croatian War of Independence, the Croatian army lacked proper light armoured personnel carrier. The Croatian Ministry of Defense asked local firms to provide a solution for a light, fast and reliable armoured personnel carrier which could be produced quickly and in large quantities, without the need to import parts from abroad due to the UN Arms embargo which was imposed on Croatia at the time.
A local firm from Rijeka developed a basic armoured personnel carrier based on the HV 4x4 TK-130 T-7 military truck. The Army ordered 50 LOV-1 vehicles in 1993/94, with the first vehicle being delivered in late 1994.
A total of 72 vehicles were manufactured in various configurations, today only 45 vehicles remain.
There are long term plans to replace the LOV-1 with Patria AMV and Iveco LMV counterparts, but the LOV-1 is currently set to remain in service with the Croatian Army for the short term.
Versions
- LOV-Z - Reconnaissance and scout vehicle armed with a 20mm RT-20 heavy sniper rifle and M79 Rocket Launcher ATGM
- LOV-ABK - Nuclear and Biological vehicle
- LOV-RAK 24/128 mm - Equipped with a light RAK 24 128mm Multiple Launch Rocket System MLRS and M2 Browning machine gun.
- LOV-UP1 - Artillery observer vehicle responsible for directing artillery fire and spotting enemy artillery positions, vehicle is equipped with GPS and LLLTV, Thermal viewing camera, laser range finder, and ground artillery radar.
- LOV-UP2 - Artillery command vehicle.
- LOV-ED - Electronic warfare vehicle.
- LOV T2 - Light Armoured Personnel Carrier - entered service in 1997.
Combat history
The LOV-1 saw action in the Croatian War of Independence, particularly in Operations Flash and Storm.