AVGP

{{about|the military armoured vehicle|other uses|AVGP (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = AVGP

| image = Cougar Fire Support Vehicle (7527694220).jpg

| image_size = 300

| caption = A surplus Cougar seen in a militaria event in the UK.

| origin = Canada

| type = Armoured fighting vehicle

| is_vehicle = yes

| is_UK =

| service = 1976–present

| used_by = See Operators

| wars = Bosnian War
War in Darfur
United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

| designer =

| design_date =

| manufacturer =

| developed_from = Mowag Piranha I

| unit_cost =

| production_date =

| number = Cougar – 195
Grizzly – 274{{cite web |url=http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=71&more=71 |title=Grizzly AVGP |access-date=2008-12-10 |publisher=Department of National Defence |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080117035733/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=71&more=71 |archive-date=2008-01-17 }}
Husky – 27{{cite web |url=http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=62&more=62 |title=Husky |publisher=Department of National Defence |access-date=2008-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123184916/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=62 |archive-date=2007-11-23 |url-status=dead }}

| variants = See Variants

| spec_label =

| weight = 10.7 t

| length = 5.97 m

| part_length =

| width = 2.50 m

| height =

| diameter =

| crew = Cougar: 3 (Commander, gunner and driver, 2 soldiers in rear of vehicle)
Husky: 2 (Driver and technician)
Grizzly: Commander, gunner and driver, 6 soldiers in rear

| armour =

| primary_armament = Cougar: 76 mm L23A1 gun (fires HE, HESH, Smoke BE (base ejected), and Canister rounds){{cite web |url=http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=57&more=57 |title=Cougar |publisher=Department of National Defence |access-date=2008-12-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080117040443/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/English/2_display.asp?product=57&more=57 |archive-date=2008-01-17 }}
Grizzly: 12.7mm heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine-gun (C6) and 66 mm smoke grenade launchers (2 clusters of 4 launchers)
Husky: 7.62 mm machine gun (C6) and 66 mm smoke grenade launchers (2 clusters of 4 launchers)

| secondary_armament = Cougar: 7.62 mm machine gun (C5A1) and 66 mm smoke grenade launchers No 12 (2 clusters of 4 launchers)

| engine = 275 hp Detroit Diesel 6V53T two-cycle turbo-charged diesel

| engine_power =

| pw_ratio =

| transmission =

| payload_capacity =

| suspension = 6×6

| clearance =

| fuel_capacity =

| vehicle_range =

| speed = 100 km/h

| guidance =

| steering =

}}

File:AVGP-Cougar.png

The AVGP (Armoured Vehicle General Purpose), later known as the LAV I,{{Cite web|last=McInnes|first=Captain Mathew|date=2017|title=FIRST PRINCIPLES AND THE GENERATION OF ARMOURED FIGHTING POWER|url=http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2018/mdn-dnd/D12-11-17-3-eng.pdf|access-date=12 August 2020|website=Canadian Army Journal}} is a series of three amphibious armoured fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in the 1970s. The vehicles, named Grizzly, Cougar and Husky respectively, were based on the six-wheeled version of the Swiss Mowag Piranha I, and became the first generation Light Armoured Vehicle produced by General Motors Diesel (later General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada).{{Cite web|last=Maas|first=Frank|date=Spring 2011|title=The Success of the Light Armoured Vehicle|url=https://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/4-Maas-LAV.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808210553/https://www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/4-Maas-LAV.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2020|access-date=8 August 2020|website=Canadian Military History, Volume 20, No. 2}}

The AVGP program led to the development of the 8×8 LAV II, variants of which were adopted as direct replacements for the AVGP. These were the Bison and Coyote Reconnaissance Vehicle, which replaced the Grizzly{{cite web |title=Bison Armored personnel carrier |url=http://www.military-today.com/apc/bison.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306212343/http://www.military-today.com/apc/bison.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 6, 2007 |website=Military Today |publisher=ARG |access-date=15 February 2022}} and Cougar respectively.

The Canadian Army retired all AVGP variants beginning in 2005; however, a number of the retired vehicles were transferred to other militaries and police forces, where they continue in use.{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-grizzly.htm |title=Background – Armoured Vehicle, General Purpose – the Grizzly ISC |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |date=September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007102833/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-grizzly.htm |archive-date=2009-10-07 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-wlav-le.htm |title=AVGPs and the Wheeled LAV Life Extension Project |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031044213/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-wlav-le.htm |archive-date=2009-10-31 }}

History

=Canada=

File:Canadian AVGP swimming.jpg

File:Canadian AVGP rear q.jpg

In 1974 the Canadian military launched an acquisition program to procure a light vehicle for the Army reserves. The Army desired a flexible vehicle that could be adapted to serve in many different styles of conflict. The military drafted requirements for four different variants. Cadillac-Gage seemed primed to win this contract. The Swiss firm Mowag pitched its Piranha. Mowag partnered with General Motors Diesel to manufacture the AVGP at GM's plant in London, Ontario. In March 1976, the Piranha was selected.

The AVGP variants were introduced into Canadian service in the late 1970s.{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-lav.htm |title=Background – Armoured Vehicle, General Purpose – 6x6 AVGPs |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |date=September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007153515/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-lav.htm |archive-date=2009-10-07 |url-status=dead }}

The AVGP had propellers and trim vanes for amphibious use, like the eight-wheeled Bison, which was the vehicle family's immediate successor.

The Cougar was used for training in Canada as a reconnaissance vehicle.{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-cougar.htm |title=Background – Armoured Vehicle, General Purpose – Cougar DFSV |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |date=September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007205153/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-cougar.htm |archive-date=2009-10-07 |url-status=dead }} During the 1980s and 1990s, it was used by armoured units as a fire support vehicle, for those units not equipped with the Leopard tank.

The Grizzly was used as an armoured personnel carrier in regular force infantry battalions not equipped with the M113 APC, and also by reserve units. The majority of vehicles had their marine propulsion systems removed. Under the Wheeled LAV Life Extension project, the Canadian Forces planned to convert Grizzly and Husky vehicles to support variants, such as Command Post and Mobile Repair Team Vehicle. However, the project was cancelled in 2005, and the vehicles retired.{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-husky.htm |title=Background – Armoured Vehicle, General Purpose – the Husky ARV |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |date=September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007205208/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-husky.htm |archive-date=2009-10-07 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/english/11_6_3.asp |title=Canadian Army Fact Sheet |publisher=Department of National Defence|date=2008-05-28|access-date=2009-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211041011/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/english/11_6_3.asp |archive-date=2009-02-11 }}

The AVGP was passed on to several United Nations missions, including UNPROFOR and the mission to Somalia. One Grizzly was captured by Serb forces in the late 1990s, where it was present on a peace keeping mission.{{cite web|title=Captured Grizzly |author=Frank Kuschnereit |url=http://kuschnereit.net/lostgriz.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022000321/http://geocities.com/frank249/lostgriz.html |archive-date=2009-10-22 |url-status=dead }}

In May 2007, the Edmonton Police Service accepted the donation of a disarmed Grizzly from the Canadian Army.{{cite web|title=Tactical |publisher=Edmonton Police Service |url=http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/home/communitypolicing/operationalservices/tactical.aspx |access-date=15 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704183210/http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/home/communitypolicing/operationalservices/tactical.aspx |archive-date=4 July 2011 }} In 2020 it was retired and replaced with the Quebec-made Camblie BlackWolf based on the Ford F-550.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In March 2010, the Canadian Army donated two disarmed Cougar AVGPs to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia for use by the Emergency Response Team.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} They were retrofitted to transport ERT assault teams into hazardous areas where transport in unarmoured vehicles would not be safe.

In April 2013, the department of National Defence donated a Cougar AVGP to the Windsor Police Service in Windsor, Ontario and another to the New Glasgow Regional Police in Nova Scotia. The New Glasgow Regional Police ended use of the AVGP in 2017 with plans to donate it to another Police Service, citing difficulty in driving and lack of regular use. In 2020 the Windsor Police replaced their AVGP with the Ontario built Terradyne Armored Vehicles Gurkha based on the Ford F-550.

=Use in Africa=

In June 2005, the Canadian government announced plans to loan 105 AVGPs (100 Grizzlys and 5 Huskys) to African peacekeepers in the Darfur region of Sudan.{{cite web |url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article12669 |title=Canadian tanks muscle AU forces |date=2005-11-21 |access-date=2008-12-10 |work=Sudan Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130153520/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article12669 |archive-date=2006-11-30 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-sudan.htm |title=Background — CF AVGPs for the African Union Mission in Sudan |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922073356/http://www.casr.ca/bg-sudan.htm |archive-date=2009-09-22 |url-status=dead }} The AVGP was considered sufficiently modern to be useful in this low-intensity conflict. Canada planned to arrange for civilian contractors to maintain these vehicles. As the vehicles contained some U.S.-manufactured or licensed parts, U.S. permission would be required to loan the vehicles. Initially, the vehicles were to be shipped without their Cadillac-Gage turrets. The vehicles arrived in Senegal in the late summer of 2005.{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-darfur.htm |title=Background — AVGPs in Africa — Grizzlys and Huskys for Darfur |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |date=October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031044208/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-darfur.htm |archive-date=2009-10-31 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAFR540072008 |title=UNAMID UPDATE: TIME FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION |publisher=Amnesty International |date=2008-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119132458/http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAFR540072008 |archive-date=2009-11-19 |url-status=dead }}

The Sudanese government required various kinds of assurances before they would allow peacekeepers to use the vehicles in Sudan. On November 18, 2005, the vehicles started arriving in Sudan, in white livery, with their turrets.{{Cite news|date=2019-03-20|title=Armoured vehicles approved for Sudan – The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/armoured-vehicles-approved-for-sudan/article22506799/|access-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320081240/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/armoured-vehicles-approved-for-sudan/article22506799/|archive-date=2019-03-20}} The loan of vehicles for peace-keeping service in Sudan was originally for one year.

However, the loan was extended, and transferred from the African Union to the United Nations. According to Amnesty International, the soldiers who used the loaned vehicles served in Sudan for too short a term to be properly trained and become experienced. One of the vehicles was destroyed by a rocket-propelled grenade. A second vehicle was damaged when it rammed a more heavily armed, but unarmoured Technical vehicle.

=Uruguay=

File:MONUSCO UNPOL SENFPU train URUBATT -5 June 2020 (49973249841).jpg in Goma, June 2020]]

In 2008, the Uruguayan Army bought 44 surplus Cougars from the Canadian Army.{{cite web|url=http://panamericandefense.com/2008/12/10/lav-uruguay/ |title=Pan American Defence Online |access-date=2008-12-10 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712025412/http://panamericandefense.com/2008/12/10/lav-uruguay/ |archive-date=July 12, 2009 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-wlav-le.htm |title=Background – AVGPs and the Wheeled LAV Life Extension Project |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |date=October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031044213/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-wlav-le.htm |archive-date=2009-10-31 |url-status=dead }} They were rebuilt without the turret by the Chilean MOWAG-Piranha builder FAMAE, as they will act as armoured personnel carriers for the UN deployment in the Republic of Congo (MONUC), and domestically.

In 2009, Uruguay bought 98 Grizzlys and 5 Huskys that were on loan with the AMIS/UNAMID mission in Darfur.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.defensa.com/uruguay/ejercito-uruguayo-pone-punto-blindados-mowag-husky-grizzly |title=El Ejército Uruguayo pone a punto sus blindados Mowag Husky y Grizzly |language=es |trans-title=The Uruguayan Army prepares its Mowag Husky and Grizzly armoured vehicles |first=Javier |last=Bonilla |date = 13 June 2017 |magazine=Defensa |publisher=Grupo Edefa |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207144834/http://www.defensa.com/uruguay/ejercito-uruguayo-pone-punto-blindados-mowag-husky-grizzly |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }} It was reported that FAMAE was contracted in 2011 to modernize the vehicles by installing new engines and gearboxes, as well as performing preventive maintenance.

Variants

Variants of the 491 AVGP manufactured are:

=Cougar (195)=

Used as a tank trainer, reconnaissance and fire support vehicle
Three-man crew
Turret of a British FV101 Scorpion reconnaissance vehicle (76mm main gun)

===Grizzly (274)===

Armoured personnel carrier (APC)
Three-man crew
Designed to carry a section of infantry
Mounting a Cadillac-Gage 1 metre turret, armed with a .50 BMG and a 7.62 mm machine gun{{cite news |url=http://www.casr.ca/101-army-armour-1m-turret.htm |title=Cadillac Gage 1-Meter Crewed Turret |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404033958/http://www.casr.ca/101-army-armour-1m-turret.htm |archive-date=2009-04-04 |url-status=dead }}

=Husky (31)=

Armoured recovery vehicle (ARV)
Two-man crew
Designed to provide mechanical support for the other two vehicles

Operators

File:AVGP operators.png

File:Calendar 2016 - 01 (21301530260).jpg, in Nord-Kivu, December 2013.]]

=Historical operators=

{{flag|Canada}} (Canadian Army) – AVGPs were used by Regular and Reserve units, the Cougar in armoured regiments and the Grizzly in mechanized infantry battalions.
The Edmonton Police Service received one disarmed Grizzly in 2007. They replaced it in 2020 with a Cambli BlackWolf Armored Vehicle.{{Cite news |title=Police spend half a million dollars to replace 42-year-old armoured vehicle |date=27 August 2020 |publisher=CTV News |author=Edmonton Staff |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/police-spend-half-a-million-dollars-to-replace-42-year-old-armoured-vehicle-1.5082358}}
The New Glasgow Regional Police received one disarmed Grizzly in 2013, but ended use around 2017 with plans to donate it to another Police Service.{{Cite web |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/do-new-glasgow-cops-really-need-cougars-1.1182919 |title=Do New Glasgow cops really need Cougars? |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706063158/http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/do-new-glasgow-cops-really-need-cougars-1.1182919 |archive-date=2017-07-06 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/new-glasgow-police-cougar-light-armoured-vehicle-gift-halifax-1.4138028 |first = Preston |last = Mulligan |title=Nova Scotia town trying to regift light armoured vehicle it doesn't use |date = 30 May 2017 |publisher = CBC News |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721230017/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/new-glasgow-police-cougar-light-armoured-vehicle-gift-halifax-1.4138028 |archive-date=2018-07-21 |url-status=live }}
The Windsor Police Service received one disarmed Cougar in 2013 and replaced it in 2020 with a Terradyne Armored Vehicles Gurkha.{{Cite news |first=Melanie |last=Borelli |title=Windsor police replacing armoured vehicle with new Multi-Purpose Vehicle |publisher=CTV News |date=22 October 2020 |url=https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/windsor-police-replacing-armoured-vehicle-with-new-multi-purpose-vehicle-1.5156419}}
{{flag|Serbia}} – at least one Canadian Grizzly serving in the former Yugoslavia was captured by Serbian forces and had been photographed in the service of Jedinica za Specijalne Operacije (JSO, Unit for Special Operations) or Crvene Beretke (Red Berets), a unit of the Serbian police.{{Cite web |title=Armoured Vehicle, General Purpose (AVGP) |url=https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/vehicles/avgp/avgp.htm |website=canadiansoldiers.com |access-date=2017-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728135538/http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/vehicles/avgp/avgp.htm |archive-date=2017-07-28 |url-status=live }}

=Current operators=

{{flag|Canada}} – (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) – as the Tav 2 variant (Cougars modified for ERT tasks),{{Cite web |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/mounties-unveil-crime-fighting-tank-1.495082 |title=Mounties unveil crime fighting 'tank' |date=24 March 2010 |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707082045/http://bc.ctvnews.ca/mounties-unveil-crime-fighting-tank-1.495082 |archive-date=2017-07-07 |url-status=live }} these were given for free by the Canadian Army to the RCMP in British Columbia in March 2010.{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/08/28/windsor-police-cougar-military-vehicle_n_5726492.html |title=Check Out Canadian Cops' New Toy |date=28 August 2014 |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404073525/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/08/28/windsor-police-cougar-military-vehicle_n_5726492.html |archive-date=2019-04-04 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Canadian police forces bulking up with armoured vehicles |first=Douglas |last=Quan |date=21 August 2014 |website=Canada.com |publisher=Postmedia Network |url=https://o.canada.com/news/national/canadian-police-forces-bulking-up-with-armoured-vehicles/comment-page-1 |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226002841/http://o.canada.com/news/national/canadian-police-forces-bulking-up-with-armoured-vehicles/comment-page-1 |archive-date=2017-12-26 |url-status=dead }}
{{flag|Uruguay}} – 44 refurbished Cougars with turrets removed. 98 Grizzlys and 5 Huskys given directly from the AMIS/UNAMID mission in Sudan.

=Others=

African Union (AMIS mission) – 100 (−1 lost in combat) Grizzlys, 5 Huskys{{cite web |url=http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-darfur.htm |title=AVGPs in Africa — Grizzlys and Huskys for Darfur |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031044208/http://www.casr.ca/bg-army-armour-avgp-darfur.htm |archive-date=2009-10-31 }}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090816061548/http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/equipment-equipement/equipment-type-eng.asp?cat=1 Canadian army equipment]

Category:Six-wheeled vehicles

Category:Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles

Category:Armoured personnel carriers of the Cold War

Category:Armoured personnel carriers of Canada

Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1970s

Category:Mowag Piranha

Category:Wheeled amphibious armoured fighting vehicles