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Volume
* The volume research to date has considered the cabin, rear stowage area, and also any trailer (if used). The limitations of the existing vehicles e.g. Bowman racking in Land Rovers has also been noted.
* Some users like trailers, others don’t. There are benefits and drawbacks to their use. One of the major drawbacks is their reduction in the off road mobility of the platform. It may be possible to negate this effect through the use of a powered trailer (initial findings presented elsewhere on the day). Also, when withdrawing from a situation, trailers can jack-knife if reversing at speed, therefore imposing a significant reduction in the manoeuvrability of the vehicle; methods to prevent this would be of interest.
* When considering positioning of people within the vehicle, it should be noted that side-facing seating is no longer acceptable for transportation on roads. Seats must be forward or rear facing (unless as seen on some military vehicle the seats are fitted with special headrests). However, users like side facing seats as they allow a rapid exit from the vehicle. Therefore, some kind of mechanism to allow alteration of the seating configuration quickly and easily so suit the legal aspects and users needs would be beneficial.
* The IPT referred to the Manekin Comparison Laminate1 panel, it is clear to see the difference in the size of the people who will need to operate this vehicle. This will apply to both the positioning of seating, as well as controls for the driver.
* When positioning people within the vehicle, it is important to consider the stowage of additional military items such as personal weapons. These items can become come into contact with personnel if a poor stowage location is chosen or become secondary projectiles if not properly secured in the event of an accident, and can create avoidable injuries.
* A Crash Image laminate showed stills from a video taken during a crash test conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory. This was a low speed crash, and it is possible to see how the aftermarket bulkhead is deformed by the mass of equipment in the rear of the van. This highlights the importance of stowing all equipment securely, the consequences of having a mix of payload and personnel in the rear compartment of a vehicle needs careful consideration.
* When considering packaging within the vehicle, it is not only the person who needs to be transported, it is also their personal equipment (Refer to Infantryman’s Load Laminate). This laminate shows the equipment that the average Infantryman must carry, although this will alter depending on their specific role.
* A ‘quick-win’ for increasing the volume of the vehicle may be to add a double fold out tail-board; where the tail-board folds down, with another section which folds up to prevent equipment sliding off the rear of the bed.
Other Considerations
* These vehicles need to be as flexible and versatile as possible, to enable the vehicle to re-role easily. Hence, efficient use of space within the vehicle is essential. This may be through fold-away racking, stowable seating, or other flexibility and modularity measures.
* Some RB-44s have role-specific vehicle fits, which would need to be mounted on the rear of the OUVS vehicle as a unit e.g. mortar. There is also a requirement to accommodate legacy box bodies, it may be possible to fix these bodies using ISO twistlocks to enable easy exchange and common interfaces the locations may not be suited to a current ISO container footprint, so this aspect will need to be developed during the AP for the SRD.
All dimensions stated are for a 5th Percentile nude female (i.e. wearing minimal hot weather clothing), and a 95th percentile male in full wet and cold weather clothing including helmet. Dimensions were taken from DEF STAN 00-25 Part 17, 30th July 2004. Consideration will also need to be included to take account of recent developments such as Osprey body armour.
Signature Management
Robin Stiggear of the BATCIS IPT gave a brief as to ESM Requirements and Robin Marston of the Special Projects Search and Countermeasures IPT, gave briefs for the ESM and ECM Requirements.
Signature management (acoustic, visual, and heat) is also important, efficient signature management is easy to implement at the design stage.
As stated above secure ESM systems are a key factor for any vehicles submitted for OUVS given the increasing requirements for electronic systems on the vehicles and the growing use of engine management systems.
Bowman
Max Steele of GDUK gave a brief as to the requirement for the BOWMAN fit, based on the existing fit design. In another brief by Alan Cooper of Dstl, he said that innovative Bowman fits would be welcomed if they reduced weight and space requirements.
CSS TDU
Mike Potter of the Combat Service Support Trials and Development Unit (CSS TDU) and Captain Dave Hammond gave a brief on the ILS Requirements.
OUVS vehicles would have HUMS fitted as standard and be required to interface with the MoD’s James Logistics system.
In addition a full 25 year Through Life Support package would have to be provided.
Conclusion
A number of attendees have told BATTLESPACE that the OUVS Industry Day was the most informative and professional of any attended, which portends well for the future smooth running of this complex requirement.
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