Sisu Nasu
Encyclopedia
The Nasu is a tracked articulated, all-terrain transport vehicle developed by Sisu Auto
for the Finnish Army
. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered. It can carry up to 17 people, although the trailer unit can be adapted for different applications (see Variants section). There are two main versions, the NA-140 BT and the NA-110.
Although it looks externally like the Bandvagn 206
, which also is in Finnish Army use, it is an entirely new design, and almost 1 meter longer and 1000 kg (2,205 lb) heavier. It has better payload-carrying capability than the Bv 206. The Nasu is designed to carry troops and equipment through snow and bog-lands
in northern Finland. For this, it is equipped with four wide (62 cm) powered rubber tracks. The low ground pressure
enables the Nasu to cope with a wide range of difficult conditions. It is also fully amphibious, with a speed in water of up to 6 kilometre per hour when driven by its tracks.
The total load capacity is 1950 kg (4,299 lb) and a trailer with a weight of up to 2500 kg (5,512 lb) can also be towed behind the second compartment.
More than 500 vehicles of this type have been manufactured and it is used as a personnel carrier and a weapons platform (for BGM-71 TOW
anti-tank guided missiles, 120 mm mortars). In basic infantry versions, a roof-mounted 12.7 mm NSV anti-aircraft machine gun is used for close-range antiaircraft protection. There are also command, signals and ambulance variants of the vehicle.
The vehicle type is referred to as a Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) pronounced "susvee" in the United States
.
(142 kW/280 Nm). Weight: 4850 kg (10,692 lb), payload: 1950 kg (4,299 lb), length: 7.55 m, width: 1.91 m (75.2 in), height: 2.3 m (90.6 in), complement: 5 (including driver) in frontal unit and up to 12 in tail unit.
NA-110:Manufactured between 1992 and 1994. Powered by a GM 6,2 l Heavy Duty V-8 diesel engine (113 kW/346 Nm). Weight: 5250 kg (11,574 lb), payload: 1950 kg (4,299 lb), length: 7.67 m, width: 1.91 m (75.2 in), height: 2.38 m (93.7 in), complement: 5 (including driver) in frontal unit and up to 12 in tail unit.
NA-111GT: A signal station version.
NA-122: A version that carries a 120 mm mortar 120 KRH 92
and 14 rounds on its tail unit. Called Krh-TeKa in Finnish Army service.
It steers by the use of a hydraulic ram mounted on the point of articulation. The ram is operated by a steering wheel in the same way as driving a regular car. It is the only type of tracked vehicle that can be driven on (UK) public roads without a category H track license as it does not need the use of steering levers as in a regular tank.
. The Kainuu Brigade
and the Jaeger Brigade
employs the vehicle as their main transport vehicle. Further, most of the other brigades have a few vehicles each. In past North Karelia Brigade
employed Nasu as their main transport but has now changed most of them to Sisu A2045 4x4 trucks introduced in 2008.
: French Army
(27th Alpine Brigade).
: Indian Army
: Mexican Army
Operated by the Mountain Brigade
:
: Police forces (47 vehicles).
Sisu Auto
Sisu Auto is a Finnish truck company. Its name comes from the Finnish word sisu meaning guts, grit and determination.Sisu Auto subsidiary company SISU Defence produces high mobility tactical vehicles for military use.-History:*Sisu established in 1931...
for the Finnish Army
Finnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered. It can carry up to 17 people, although the trailer unit can be adapted for different applications (see Variants section). There are two main versions, the NA-140 BT and the NA-110.
Although it looks externally like the Bandvagn 206
Bandvagn 206
Bandvagn 206 is a tracked articulated, all-terrain carrier developed by Hägglunds for the Swedish Army. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered...
, which also is in Finnish Army use, it is an entirely new design, and almost 1 meter longer and 1000 kg (2,205 lb) heavier. It has better payload-carrying capability than the Bv 206. The Nasu is designed to carry troops and equipment through snow and bog-lands
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
in northern Finland. For this, it is equipped with four wide (62 cm) powered rubber tracks. The low ground pressure
Ground pressure
Ground pressure is the pressure exerted on the ground by the tires or tracks of a motorized vehicle, and is one measure of its potential mobility, especially over soft ground. Ground pressure is measured in pascals which corresponds to the EES unit of pounds per square inch...
enables the Nasu to cope with a wide range of difficult conditions. It is also fully amphibious, with a speed in water of up to 6 kilometre per hour when driven by its tracks.
The total load capacity is 1950 kg (4,299 lb) and a trailer with a weight of up to 2500 kg (5,512 lb) can also be towed behind the second compartment.
More than 500 vehicles of this type have been manufactured and it is used as a personnel carrier and a weapons platform (for BGM-71 TOW
BGM-71 TOW
The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
anti-tank guided missiles, 120 mm mortars). In basic infantry versions, a roof-mounted 12.7 mm NSV anti-aircraft machine gun is used for close-range antiaircraft protection. There are also command, signals and ambulance variants of the vehicle.
The vehicle type is referred to as a Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) pronounced "susvee" in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Variants
NA-140 BT: Manufactured between 1986 and 1991. Powered by a Rover 3,5 (3,9) V-8 gasoline engineRover V8 engine
The Rover V8 engine is a compact V8 internal combustion engine with aluminium cylinder heads and cylinder block, originally designed by General Motors and later re-designed and produced by Rover in the United Kingdom...
(142 kW/280 Nm). Weight: 4850 kg (10,692 lb), payload: 1950 kg (4,299 lb), length: 7.55 m, width: 1.91 m (75.2 in), height: 2.3 m (90.6 in), complement: 5 (including driver) in frontal unit and up to 12 in tail unit.
NA-110:Manufactured between 1992 and 1994. Powered by a GM 6,2 l Heavy Duty V-8 diesel engine (113 kW/346 Nm). Weight: 5250 kg (11,574 lb), payload: 1950 kg (4,299 lb), length: 7.67 m, width: 1.91 m (75.2 in), height: 2.38 m (93.7 in), complement: 5 (including driver) in frontal unit and up to 12 in tail unit.
NA-111GT: A signal station version.
NA-122: A version that carries a 120 mm mortar 120 KRH 92
120 KRH 92
The 120 KRH 92 is a 120 mm mortar manufactured in Finland.Due to the high trajectory, high rate of fire, and their light weight, mortars are especially suited to terrain with natural cover, in built-up areas and in circumstances with great altitude differences.Due to the major-general Vilho...
and 14 rounds on its tail unit. Called Krh-TeKa in Finnish Army service.
It steers by the use of a hydraulic ram mounted on the point of articulation. The ram is operated by a steering wheel in the same way as driving a regular car. It is the only type of tracked vehicle that can be driven on (UK) public roads without a category H track license as it does not need the use of steering levers as in a regular tank.
Military
: Finnish ArmyFinnish Army
The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
. The Kainuu Brigade
Kainuu Brigade
Kainuu Brigade is a Finnish Army unit situated in Kajaani. The brigade trains most conscripts, approximately 4000 annually...
and the Jaeger Brigade
Jaeger Brigade
The Jaeger Brigade is a unit of the Finnish Army. The unit is located in Sodankylä in Finnish Lapland, some 130 km north of the Arctic Circle. The brigade trains 1600 conscripts per year....
employs the vehicle as their main transport vehicle. Further, most of the other brigades have a few vehicles each. In past North Karelia Brigade
North Karelia Brigade
North Karelia Brigade is a Finnish Army unit situated in Kontioranta, Kontiolahti, about 19 kilometres North from the city of Joensuu. Annually 1500 recruits star their military service in Kontioranta...
employed Nasu as their main transport but has now changed most of them to Sisu A2045 4x4 trucks introduced in 2008.
: French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
(27th Alpine Brigade).
: Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
: Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
Operated by the Mountain Brigade
Civil
: Woodlands Ministry (30 vehicles).:
- Two Nasus are used at the Finnish Antarctic research station AboaAboa (research station)Aboa is a Finnish research station in Antarctica. It was built in 1988. It is located in Queen Maud Land, about 130 kilometers from the coast, on a nunatak called Basen in the Vestfjella Mountains...
. - Several Fire Departments in Finland are using the vehicle.
: Police forces (47 vehicles).