AUSTRALIAN ASLAV vehicles

15 trials vehicles were originally purchased/Leased from the USMC for a 1 year trial as Phase 1 of the projec in 1989.

Phase 2 was the purchase of 113 vehicles after the trials. with delivery beginning in 1995

33 ASLAV-25 - 25mm Bushmaster chain gun in delco turret. (Type 1 Hull)
33 ASLAV-PC - Personnel Carrier based on the BISON. (Type 2 Hull)
10 ASLAV-S - Surveillance Version. (Type 2 Hull)
9 ASLAV-C - Command Version. (Type 2 Hull)
2 ASLAV-A - Ambulance with a 3 stretcher capacity. (Type 2 Hull)
10 ASLAV-F - Fitters vehicle. (Type 3 Hull)

Phase 3 of the project included the purchase of a further 144 vehicles along with some phase 2 vehicles being brought up to Phase 3 standard. This was completed in late 2004.

In preparation for their first deployment to Iraq in 2003 ten ASLAVs were equipped with Kongsberg Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) and spall liners. Of the 62 ASLAVs deployed since 2005 to the Middle East, all the ASLAV-PC’s have been fitted with Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS) mounting the 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

Other types purchased / used are:
ASLAV- CSV - Combat Supplies Vehicle (Type 2 Hull). This was a concept demonstrator
ASLAV-R - Recovery. (Type 3 Hull)

Other types Trialed, but not taken into service were:
120 MM Mortar
ASLAV with TOW Turret

The 47-000+ registrations appear to have been used for trials vehicles, but may not have been the ASLAV type vehicles. Certainly one has been confirmed as such at the Army Museum Bandiana. The numbers certainly equate closely to those trials numbers. Another unit at the Army Tank Museum may also be one of these trials units.

The AS in ASLAV stems from australias Nato code, AS, not Australian Standard. The Hull number is stamped beside the front RHS lifting point on type 1 hulls.