Evaluation of Aardvark Mk IV Flail - gichd

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7 Conclusions 7.1 The test track at Bagshot proved to be an adequate site for the trial. However, there are certain limiting factors involved in carrying out a trial on one site only over a short time period, such as only being able to flail in one type of soil (flint/sand/clay mix). A large amount of data was gathered from the inert minefield clearance tests, although due to the small sample size less emphasis can be placed on the statistics of this test. Aardark was weighed using portable vehicle load cells. Certain inaccuracies were encountered because the vehicle exceeded the maximum readable load on one of the wheel stations. 7.2 The Aardvark Mk IV is easily transportable, has a good turning circle for the size of the vehicle and has good manoeuvrability that is only limited by the skill of the operator. It is air portable when the flail and air filter are removed. Detracting from its transportability is its weight. At over 15 tonnes and 3505mm wide, certain limitations of where Aardvark can be transported on land must be accepted. If the role of the Aardvark Mk IV is predominantly clearance of anti-tank mines then this should not be a problem since it has the capability of going where a tank can go and therefore where anti-tank mines would most likely be laid. Aardvark has adequate approach and departure angles for most transporter trailers. 7.3 From the Forward speed/Flail depth plot (Fig 6.8) it can be seen that the optimal speed to reach a depth of 300mm (NATO quoted average depth to base of a buried anti-tank mine) was between 150 & 200m/hr on this terrain. 7.4 Although the driver’s view of the road was adequate looking towards the flail, it was greatly reduced by the engine cowling and the flail unit on the front. This drawback is partly overcome by having a crewmember sitting opposite the driver who is able to look down the other side of the vehicle. 7.5 Aardvark proved its worth as a brush and vegetation clearer. It was able to clear through dense shrub and knocked over a tree of diameter 350mm and 7m high. However, it did throw a lot of debris (of greater than 250mm major dimension) over a large area. This raises the issue of contamination of areas that either have been cleared already or weren’t contaminated in the first place. 7.6 Aardvark performed well clearing the inert mines from on the flat and on slopes. The overall percentage clearance rate was in line with the UN expected standard of clearance. Due to the small sample size less emphasis can be put on the 7.7 statistics of this test: if Aardvark had missed one mine the clearance rate of 100% would have dropped to 97.7%, below the UN standard. Since the main aim of the trial was to evaluate the increased power of the Mk IV it can be said that there was no noticeable drop in flail performance between flailing on the flat and on the steepest hill at DERA Bagshot (1 in 2.7). 7.8 The water obstacle test was an interesting test and, although not conclusive, showed that Aardvark Mk IV had the power and potential to clear mines in water 450mm deep. 7.9 During the trials maintenance checks were carried out and two sets of chains and a set of track pads were removed and changed with ease. It is evident that a lot of effort has been directed toward making the Mk IV maintenance friendly, with the inclusion of an air compressor for power tools and cleaning of the machine and easily accessible parts such as radiators and air filters. Page 70 of 77 DERA/LWS/LSAA/TRD000603/1.2
8 Recommendations 8.1 The driver’s lack of visibility was seen as an area for improvement. Use of CCTV cameras on the passenger side and perhaps one camera facing towards the flail from a roof mounted position incorporating wide-angle visibility could improve this. 8.2 It is appreciated that by their very nature armoured vehicles are heavy and that the Aardvark flail has been proven to be well engineered against blast and fragmentation damage in the field. However, reduction of the overall weight of the Mk IV without detracting from it’s structural integrity would; • Reduce transport costs • Increase the areas that Aardvark could gain access to. • Reduce fuel costs 8.3 The guard over the top of the flail could be extended with a sacrificial large holed mesh to stop the larger pieces of debris from being thrown out. DERA/LWS/LSAA/TRD000603/1.2 Page 71 of 77
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Evaluation of Aardvark Mk IV Flail
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Authorisation Prepared by Mr C A Le
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Abstract Aardvark Clearmine Ltd hav
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List of contents Authorisation iii
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List of Tables Table 4-1; Improveme
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Figure 6-45; Aardvark just passed R
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1 Introduction 1.1 Contractual Matt
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Rear Front Figure 3-1; Aardvark Mar
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4.1 Additional Alterations: 4.1.1 T
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6 Test Procedures and Results 6.1 G
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Figure 6-2; Measuring the height of
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Figure 6-3; Using load cells to wei
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Figure 6-4; Measuring the Approach
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Figure 6-6; Turning Circle DERA/LWS
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Figure 6-7; Aardvark climbing Birch
Page 31 and 32: Figure 6-9; Speed = 67m/hr, Depth =
Page 33 and 34: Figure 6-13; After flailing at 300m
Page 35 and 36: Figure 6-17; Measuring Level used D
Page 37 and 38: Figure 6-18; Aardvark entering the
Page 39 and 40: Figure 6-20; Foliage and terrain en
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Page 43 and 44: Figure 6-24; Test run before cleara
Page 47 and 48: Destroyed Mine Case Figure 6-28; La
Page 49 and 50: GIAT buried in spoil Figure 6-32; P
Page 51 and 52: Destroyed Mine Case Figure 6-34; La
Page 55 and 56: Figure 6-39; Layout of 3 Figure 6-4
Page 59 and 60: Figure 6-44; Layout of Run 4 Figure
Page 61 and 62: Run stopped before these mines Figu
Page 71 and 72: Figure 6-60; TMRP-6 and TMA-2 Figur
Page 73 and 74: een destroyed or detonated. . The G
Page 75 and 76: Figure 6-66; TMA-3 outside flail wi
Page 77 and 78: 6.5.9 Inert Minefield Encounter (A7
Page 79 and 80: Figure 6-70; Run 9 after flailing F
Page 81: 6.5.10 Running Costs and Ease of Ma
Page 85 and 86: A MK III AND MK IV RELATED PERFORMA
Page 87 and 88: Interval Servicing Task DERA/LWS/LS
Page 89: Distribution list Ms A Doherty DFID
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