BIDEC 2019: New Toyota Land Cruiser 106 mm anti-tank cannon carrier vehicle by Bahrain.

At BIDEC 2019, the engineer unit of Bahrain defence force presents a new solution of 106 mm light anti-tank cannon carrier vehicle based on a Toyota Land Cruiser 71. The Bahrain Army has already tested the vehicle and performed firing tests using an American 106mm M40A1 gun mounted on the vehicle.

New Toyota Land Cruiser 106mm anti-tank cannon carrier vehicle developed by Bahrain Defence Force at BIDEC 2019, Bahrain International Defense Exhibition, October 29, 2019. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Built on a foundation of quality, durability and reliability, the Toyota Land Cruiser is well suited to perform a large range of missions. Current Toyota Land Cruiser models are built on a high-strength steel ladder frame that is meant to withstand the pounding of the most extreme terrain on the planet.

The Toyota land Cruiser can easily be modified to carry weapons and supplies. The Land Cruisers are often converted into improvised fighting vehicles, armed with heavy machine guns, mounted on a tripod.

The anti-tank cannon carrier vehicle shown by the Bahrain Defence Force at BIDFEC 2019 is based on modified chassis of Toyota Land Cruiser 71. The roof of the vehicle has been removed and replaced by open-top architecture. There are two seats at the front of the vehicle while the rear has been modified to carry American 106mm recoilless cannon M40A1. Intended primarily as an anti-tank weapon, it could also be employed in an antipersonnel role with the use of an antipersonnel-tracer flechette round.

The 106mm M40A1 is mounted on a tripod which is fixed to the floor of the vehicle. The cannon has a traverse of 360°. There is one seat on each side which is used by the operators.

The M40A1 is shaped like a long tube with an M8C .50 cal spotting rifle above. The spotting rifle fires a round whose trajectory closely matches that of the 106 mm round and gives off a puff of smoke on impact with the target. On the left side, there is an elevating wheel, in the center of which is the trigger wheel used to fine adjust the elevation and at the same time firing the spotting rifle when pulled, and the gun when pushed.

The 106mm cannon has an effective firing range of 1,200 m and can be also used to perform indirect fire at a maximum range of 7,000 m. it can fire different types of ammunition including High explosive HEAT (penetrates 450mm rolled homogenous armor at 90 degrees), High explosive plastic (HEP in the US, “squash head” to the Commonwealth), anti-personnel (APERS) & drill.

Close view of M40A1 106mm anti-tank cannon mounted at the rear of Toyota Land Cruiser. (Picture source Army Recognition)