The LOV-1 (Croatian: Lako Oklopno Vozilo or Light Armoured Vehicle) is a wheeled non-amphibious armoured personnel carrier currently in use with the Croatian army and EULEX.

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BVP LOV-1
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	Croatia
Specifications
Mass	8,800 kilograms (8.7 long tons)
Length	5.89 metres (19 ft 4 in)
Width	2.36 metres (7 ft 9 in)
Height	2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in)
Crew	2 + 8
Armor	7 - 8 mm steel
Main armament	12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun 1000 rounds
Engine	Torpedo BT6L 912S (diesel) 97 kW (132 hp)
Power/weight	15.0 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	500 kilometres (310 mi)
Maximum speed	85 kilometres per hour (53 mph) on land

History

During the Croatian War of Independence the Croatian army lacked a proper light armoured personnel carrier. The Croatian Ministry of Defense asked local firms to provide a solution for a light, fast and reliable armoured personnel carrier which could be produced quickly and in large quantities, without the need to import parts from abroad due to a UN arms embargo imposed on Croatia at the time.

Torpedo, a local firm from Rijeka, developed a basic armoured personnel carrier based on the TK-130 T-7 4x4 military truck, itself a licensed-produced and uprated TAM 110 from Slovenian TAM. The Army ordered 50 LOV-1 vehicles in late 1993, with the initial batch being delivered in 1994 and presented to the public on a military parade in May 1995 in Zagreb.

All LOV-1s are currently^[when?] being replaced by numerous Patria AMV and MRAP vehicles recently acquired. However, several specialized vehicles are still being actively used as of 2015-2016. The remainder, along with other older but operable equipment, are to be kept stored but in operational state for the needs of the 20,000-strong reserve force presently being created. For this, annual check-ups and basic maintenance works are performed regularly with vehicles kept in hangars and under roofed shelters.

Versions

• LOV-OP - basic variant armed with M2 Browning machine gun for transporting up to eight infantrymen
• LOV-Z - unarmed command variant with additional radio equipment, air-conditioning and sound insulation
• LOV-IZV - reconnaissance and scout vehicle armed with a 20mm RT-20 heavy sniper rifle and a light 8-round 60mm MLRS called Obad (Horse-fly)
• LOV-ABK - NBC warfare vehicle
• LOV-RAK 24/128 mm - equipped with a 24-tube 128mm MLRS, only 2 prototypes built
• LOV-UP1 - artillery observation vehicle for directing artillery fire and spotting enemy artillery positions equipped with GPS, thermal imaging, laser range finder and ground artillery radar
• LOV-UP2 - artillery command vehicle
• LOV-ED - electronic warfare vehicle
• LOV T2 - improved variant that entered service in 1997, only a few built

Combat history

The LOV-1 saw action in the Croatian War of Independence, particularly in Operations Flash and Storm.

References

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