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LOV-1

{{no footnotes|date=January 2013}}

{{Infobox weapon

| is_vehicle=yes

| name=BVP LOV-1

| image=LOV-T1 Hrvatske vojske.JPG

| caption=

| type=Armoured personnel carrier

| origin= Croatia

| manufacturer = Torpedo

| length={{convert|5.89|m|ftin}}

| width={{convert|2.36|m|ftin}}

| height={{convert|2.10|m|ftin}}

| weight={{convert|8800|kg|LT}}

| suspension=torsion bar

| speed={{convert|85|km/h}} on land

| vehicle_range={{convert|500|km}}

| primary_armament=12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun
1000 rounds

| armour= 7 - 8 mm steel

| engine= Torpedo BT6L 912S (diesel)

| crew=2 + 8

| engine_power= 97 kW (132 hp)

| pw_ratio= 15.0 hp/tonne

}}

The LOV-1 (Croatian: Lako Oklopno Vozilo or Light Armoured Vehicle) is a wheeled non-amphibious armoured personnel carrier currently in use with the Croatian army and EULEX.

History

During the Croatian War of Independence the Croatian army lacked a 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 a UN arms embargo imposed on Croatia at the time.

Torpedo, a local firm from Rijeka, developed a basic armoured personnel carrier based on the TK-130 T-7 4x4 military truck, itself a licensed-produced and uprated TAM 110 from Slovenian TAM. The Army ordered 50 LOV-1 vehicles in late 1993, with the initial batch being delivered in 1994 and presented to the public on a military parade in May 1995 in Zagreb.

All LOV-1s are currently{{When|date=December 2018}} being replaced by numerous Patria AMV and MRAP vehicles recently acquired. However, several specialized vehicles are still being actively used as of 2015-2016. The remainder, along with other older but operable equipment, are to be kept stored but in operational state for the needs of the 20,000-strong reserve force presently being created. For this, annual check-ups and basic maintenance works are performed regularly with vehicles kept in hangars and under roofed shelters.

Versions

  • LOV-OP - basic variant armed with M2 Browning machine gun for transporting up to eight infantrymen
  • LOV-Z - unarmed command variant with additional radio equipment, air-conditioning and sound insulation
  • LOV-IZV - reconnaissance and scout vehicle armed with a 20mm RT-20 heavy sniper rifle and a light 8-round 60mm MLRS called Obad (Horse-fly)
  • LOV-ABK - NBC warfare vehicle
  • LOV-RAK 24/128 mm - equipped with a 24-tube 128mm MLRS, only 2 prototypes built
  • LOV-UP1 - artillery observation vehicle for directing artillery fire and spotting enemy artillery positions equipped with GPS, thermal imaging, laser range finder and ground artillery radar
  • LOV-UP2 - artillery command vehicle
  • LOV-ED - electronic warfare vehicle
  • LOV T2 - improved variant that entered service in 1997, only a few built

Combat history

The LOV-1 saw action in the Croatian War of Independence, particularly in Operations Flash and Storm.

References

{{Reflist}}

  • [http://www.vojska.net/eng/armed-forces/equipment/armored-personnel-carrier/lov/]{{Better source|date=April 2013}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20021105052433/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7178/lov.htm]{{Better source|date=April 2013}}

{{Modern IFV and APC}}

Category:Wheeled armoured personnel carriers

Category:Combat vehicles of Croatia

Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1990s

Category:Armoured personnel carriers of the post–Cold War period