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*AVGP Grizzly

Armored Personnel Carrier

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by: Canada and the United Nations
First Produced/Service Dates: 1979
Manufactured by: General Motors of Canada (now General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada)
Crew: 3+6
Armament:

Turret: (1) 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun and (1) 7.62mm MG.
Engine: 6-Cylinder Turbo-Diesel
Miscellaneous Info:

The *Armored Vehicle General Purpose Group (AVGP) series was based on the MOWAG 6x6 Piranha 1 APC platform and was initially developed only as a less expensive training option (vs. tracked vehicles) by the Canadian Army. Ultimately, the AVGP series did see extensive operational service and performed well. The AVGP family consists of three (3) vehicle types, the Grizzly being the APC variant. The other two (2) AVGP types are the Cougar Fire Support Vehicle and Husky Armored Recovery Vehicle.  Although used primarily by Canada, the US Marine Corps trialed the AVGP series in 1981, but did not accept them for service.  Following the adoption of the Bison APC and LAV III series of vehicles, the AVGP series was retired from Canadian military service. Interestingly, a few Cougar and Grizzly vehicles were transferred to local Canadian law enforcement agencies for their use.

However, before their retirement the Canadian Army initiated the Wheeled Light Armored Vehicle -Life-Extension (WLAV-LE) program in 1999. The purpose of that program was to refurbish and re-role the AVGP series for use as support vehicles/specialized variants.  Proposed new variants were Air Defense, Ambulance, Command Post, Mine Detection, Mobile Repair Team (MRT) and Radio-Rebroadcast vehicles. The Ambulance and Command Post vehicles were to be lengthened versions (Extended Platform) which was accomplished by the addition of the rear compartment of the larger Bison APC.  Ultimately, only the Command Post ("Brizzly") and the MRT variants were built beyond a prototype, but they were not accepted for service.
Data Sheet Available:   None Available

Photos

Reference Source/Provider
  Grizzly APC Vehicle Booklet Pages Canadian Defence Forces via the David Haugh Collection
Grizzly APC Photos Major (Retired) Don Allen - Orleans, Ontario Canada
Grizzly APC Photos Canadian Defence Forces via the David Haugh Collection
Grizzly APC Photo (Above) General Motors of Canada via the David Haugh Collection
    Grizzly APC Photos (1980 US Army Demonstration - Ft. Drum, New York) General Motors of Canada via Steve Hearn - Ontario Canada
Grizzly APC Photos Patrick Keenan - Editor
      Grizzly APC Photos (UN-Cyprus) S. Markides via the David Haugh Collection
  Grizzly APC Photo US Army via the David Haugh Collection
    Grizzly APC Photos US Marine Corps via the David Haugh Collection

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
   

Printed

Reference Author
Canadian Wheeled Project: AVGP Series DVD Anthony Sewards
Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (4th Edition) Christopher F. Foss
LAV & Piranha: The Extended Family (Concord Mini-Color Series) Gordon Arthur & Steve Hearn
MOWAG Piranha: Wheeled Armour for the Modern Battlefield (Tankograd Publishing) Stefan Marx
UNITAF In Somalia: Vehicles of Restore Hope Forces (Concord Publications) Barry Beldam

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
Grizzly AVGP Model Kit (72408) ACE Models 1/72 Injection Molded Plastic
Grizzly 6x6 “SFOR” AVGP Model Kit (35053) Best Value Models (Affiliated with ADV/Azimut) 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic, resin and Photo Etch Details.
AVGP Grizzly (Early) Model Kit (01502) Trumpeter 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
AVGP Grizzly (Late) Model Kit (01505) Trumpeter 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
       
Aftermarket Set Manufacturer Scale Other Information
6x6 AVGP Front Spare Wheel Holder (35389) Azimut 1/35 Multi-Media; For Trumpeter Series of AVGP Kits
6x6 AVGP Early Wheel Set (35386) Azimut 1/35 Resin; For Trumpeter Series of AVGP Kits
6x6 AVGP Late (XML) Wheel Set (35387) Azimut 1/35 Resin; For Trumpeter Series of AVGP Kits
Grizzly 6x6 AVGP Detail Set (36232) Eduard 1/35 Photo-Etched Stainless Steel; For both Trumpeter Kits?
Grizzly 6x6 AVGP Mask Set (XT194) Eduard 1/35 Vinyl Mask; For both Trumpeter Kits?

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider
1/35 Trumpeter AVGP Grizzly (Early) APC Model Kit Photos Wayne Cassell - Littleton, Colorado USA