The M901 ITV (improved TOW vehicle) is an American armored vehicle introduced into service in 1979, and designed to carry a dual M220 TOW launcher. It is based on the M113 armored personnel carrier chassis. The M901 ITV is no longer in service with the United States Army, its primary user.
| M901 ITV | |
|---|---|
.JPEG) United States Army M901 ITV in 1985 | |
| Type | Anti-tank missile carrier |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Wars | Persian Gulf War Iraq War |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12 tons |
| Length | 4.86 m (15 ft 11½ in) |
| Width | 2.69 m (8 ft 9¾ in) |
| Height | 2.94 m (9 ft 8 in) targeting head stowed, 3.41 m (11 ft 2 in) head extended |
| Crew | 4 (squad leader, gunner, loader, driver) |
Operational range | 300 mi (480 km) |
| Maximum speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) on road |
Equipment
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The M901 ITV provides the crew and weapon system protection from small-arms fire and artillery fragments. The squad leader has a 270-degree range of view through the squad leader's periscope (SLP). The turret launcher has the capability for day and night acquisition and tracking of targets, and it provides firing coverages of 360 degrees in azimuth and 35 to −30 degrees in elevation. The ITV has stowage provisions for tripod-mounted TOW components configured so the ground system can be dismounted and set up in three to five minutes. In addition, the ITV is completely amphibious and is air transportable. It has the following characteristics:
- A hydraulically and electrically powered "hammerhead" turret, attached to a modified M27 cupola, that can be operated manually.
- A complete M220-series TOW weapon system stowed and strapped in fixed mounting brackets. The day sight tracker and night sight (AN/TAS-4 or AN/TAS-4a) are mounted in a ready state at the head of the turret. The missile guidance system is also connected at the base of the turret.
- M243 smoke grenade launchers.
- A 3x acquisition sight with a 25-degree field of view.
- Remote actuators that allow day sight tracker and night sight adjustments.
- A machine gun mounted on a traversing rail.
The system is capable of firing two missiles without reloading and carries ten TOW rounds in the missile rack. Reloading is performed under armor protection and is accomplished by tilting the launching apparatus back so that the crew can reach the turret through the carrier's rear roof hatch. The missile launcher targeting head is at the end of a pivoting arm which raises the launcher assembly for firing. When stowed, the turret is aimed down and to the rear of the vehicle. A major limitation of the M901 is that it is practically unable to move while the turret is in firing position and unable to fire while it is in the stowed position. A common workaround is to move the vehicle while the turret is in the loading position, thereby reducing the amount of time to get the turret in a fire position as opposed to the stow position.[citation needed] Moving from the firing to the stowed position is a procedure that takes several seconds and some skill on the part of the operator.
Variants
edit- M901, employs the M220A1 TOW
- M901A1, employs the M220A2 TOW 2
- M901A3, employs the M220A2 TOW 2 and incorporates the RISE powerpack and improved driver controls of the M113A3.
Operators
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Current operators
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Bahrain : Royal Bahraini Army: 38 US-origin M901A1 delivered in 2001.[1]
Egypt: Egyptian Army
Greece: Hellenic Army
Jordan: Jordanian Armed Forces
Kuwait: Kuwait Army - 58[2]
Morocco: Royal Moroccan Army
Pakistan: 50 in service with the Pakistan Army.[citation needed]
Portugal: Portuguese Army: 4 in service since 1993.
Thailand: Royal Thai Army
Tunisia: Tunisian Army
Former operators
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Iraq: Captured from Kuwait and fielded during 2003 invasion[2]
United States: United States Army
Similar vehicles
editThe M981 FISTV (fire support team vehicle) armored vehicle is based on the M901 ITV and closely resembles it, in a deliberate effort to make it less conspicuous on the battlefield.[citation needed]
The M901 is similar to the NM142 used by the Norwegian Army and the ZT3 Ratel IFV variant used by South African National Defence Force.
The YPR-765 PRAT uses the same turret as the M901 but on the hull of the AIFV, an improved M113.
The M1134, based on the Stryker, is the current armored tank destroyer of the U.S.
References
edit- ^ Defense Security Cooperation Agency. "Excess Defense Articles". Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
- ^ a b Debay, Yves (2003). Operation Iraqi Freedom: Victory in Baghdad. Special Obs 27. Concord Publication. p. 50. ISBN 962-361-067-X.