HOMEABOUT USWHAT'S NEWFORUMLINKS



Please Support our Sponsors
 
   

Buffalo A1/A2 Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV)

Buffalo A1


Specifcations

Country of Origin/Used by: USA and Others (Including Canada, France, Great Britain, and Italy)
First Produced/Service Dates: A1 = 2003
A2 = 2009
Manufactured by: General Dynamics Land Systems (Formerly Technical Solutions, Inc. and then Force Protection Inc.; its parent company)
Crew: 6
Armament: Some A1 and A2 vehicles can be equipped with the XM153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS 2).  Weapons that can be fitted in the CROWS are the 5.56mm M249 Light Machine Gun, 7.62mm M240 LMG, .50 cal M2HB Heavy MG and 40mm Mk. 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher.
Engine: 6-Cylinder Diesel (A2 vehicles fitted with more powerful engine)
Miscellaneous Info: The Buffalo was designed by Technical Solutions and based on the South African Lion 2 by Denel-Mechem; not the Casspir Mark 2 APC as some information indicates.  The initial vehicle design (retroactively referred to as "A1's") was later upgraded/improved to what is referred to as the A2 vehicle.  A2 improvements include increased engine power/capability, upgraded armor package, increased vehicle range, improved mobility (new transmission with upgraded suspension), an upgraded ventilation/air-conditioning system, an improved robotic arm, standard roof-mounted weapons ring and the inclusion of spare tires/rims useable on all six wheels.  Total production was approximately 200 A1 and 400 A2 vehicles.  The identifying features to note so as to most easily distinguish between the A1 and A2 vehicles are the A2's identical wheel rims on all six wheels (vs. different rims on the front and back wheels of the A1's) and the larger front bumper with lights incorporated inside, rather on top of the structure.
Data Sheet Available:   General Dynamics Land Systems Buffalo A1 MPCV Sales Brochure

Photos/Documents

Reference Source/Provider
Buffalo A1 MPCV Photos SSGT Mike Belue - Iraq
  Buffalo A1 MPCV Photo General Dynamics Land Systems
    Buffalo A1 MPCV Photos DVIDS-Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
Buffalo A1 MPCV Photos U.S. Army
    Buffalo A1 MPCV Photos U.S. Department of Defense
  Buffalo A1 MPCV Photo U.S. Marine Corps
  Buffalo A2 MPCV Photo U.S. Army
  Buffalo A2 MPCV Photo U.S. Marine Corps
    Buffalo A2 MPCV Photos Virginia Army National Guard Public Affairs Office
British Buffalo A2 "Rummage" MPCV Photos UK Ministry of Defence (Crown Copyright)
Canadian Buffalo A2 MPCV Photos Major (Retired) Don Allen - Orleans, Ontario Canada
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Slideshow Presentation (2011) US Department of Defense's Joint Program Office-MRAP via Dave Haugh - Content Editor

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
Buffalo MPCV Photos & Information Army Technology.Com
Buffalo MPCV Photos & Information Global Security.Org
Buffalo Surrogate Vehicle Photos Tank-Masters.DE

Printed

Reference Author
"Buffalo in Details (with L-ROD Slat Armor)" (MM-DVD001) Photo Reference DVD (Highlights French 13th Engineer Regiment Vehicles)

Review by Patrick Keenan (Editor)
Model Miniature
"Buffalo MRAP In Detail" (G36) (Wings & Wheels Publications) Ralph Zwilling
Canadian EROC: Buffalo, Cougar & RG-31 (Modeler Photo Assistant Series MPA 002) Rick Saucier & Hraban (Real Models)
Canadian MRAP Series AFV's Photo Reference CD-ROM JK "Ken" LeClair (available directly from author via e-mail)
Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Tactical Vehicles (Tankograd Publications) Carl Schulze
IED Hunters In Detail: US Army Route Clearance Vehicles (Wings & Wheels Publications) J. DeRosa, R. Jankasek, B. Weber & P. Winnepenninckx
Iraq Insurgency: US Army Armored Vehicles In Action: Part 1 (Concord Publications) Carl Schulze
MRAP: Modern U.S. Army Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (Tankograd Publishing) Carl Schulze
"MRAP Pt 1" Military Machines International Magazine (September 2008 Issue) Shaun Connors
MRAP Walkaround Photo Reference CD-ROM: Part II Robert Skipper (available directly from author via e-mail)
U.S. Army and Marine Corps MRAPS (Osprey Publishing) Mike Guardia

U.S. MRAP’s: In Action (Squadron-Signal Publications)

John Adams-Graf

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
Buffalo MPCV Model Kit (CB35100) Bronco Models 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
Buffalo MPCV with Slat Armor Model Kit (CB35101) Bronco Models 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
Buffalo 6x6 MPCV with Slat & Spaced Armor Model Kit (CB35145) Bronco Models 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
Buffalo MPCV Model Kit (GASSPEO9K) Gaso.Line 1/48 Multi-media Model Kit
Buffalo MPCV (French 13th Engineer Regiment) Model Kit (MM-R118) Model Miniature 1/72 Multi-media Model Kit
Buffalo MPCV (US/Counter-IED Version) Model Kit (MM-R190) Model Miniature 1/72 Multi-media Model Kit
Buffalo A2 MPCV Model Kit (PH 35031) Panda Hobby 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic
Buffalo MPCV Model Kit (FF35001) Vajra Miniatures 1/35 Multi-media Model Kit
       
Aftermarket Set Manufacturer Scale Other Information

US Buffalo MPCV Update Set (BL35179K)

Blast Models

1/35

Resin; For Bronco Models Kit.

US XM-100 CROWS Weapon Set (BL35199K)

Blast Models

1/35

Resin; For Bronco Models M1114 HMMWV & Buffalo Kits.

Buffalo 6x6 MPCV Michelin XZL Sagged Wheel  Set (DW35035) DEF Model 1/35 Resin; For Bronco Models Kit.

Buffalo Mirrors (M357999)

Echelon Fine Details

1/35

For Vajra Miniatures Model Kit; "Peel and Stick" Series.

Buffalo Mirrors (M357149)

Echelon Fine Details

1/35

For Bronco Models Kit; "Peel and Stick" Series.

Buffalo 6X6 MPCV Weighted Road Wheel Set (ER35-043) ET Model 1/35 Resin; For Bronco  Models kit.
Buffalo 6×6 MPCV Detail Set (LAS35019) Lion Roar 1/35 Photo Etched Brass; For Bronco Models Kit
Buffalo Wheel Set (MM-R116) Model Miniature 1/72 Resin
Corrected Wheel Set for Buffalo MPCV (RMA35193) Real Model 1/35 Resin; For Vajra Miniatures Kit
Buffalo MPCV Wheel Set- XZL Bulged (RMA35248) Real Model 1/35 Resin.
Buffalo MRAP Engine Set (RMA35265) Real Model 1/35 Resin; For Bronco Models Kit
Buffalo MPCV Light/Lense Set (SKP157) SKP Model 1/35 Multi-Media.
Buffalo/M1070/M1075 16.00 R20 Wheel Set (35004) Vajra Miniatures 1/35 For Vajra Miniatures Kit

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider