M349D Bison Armoured Personnel Carrier

The is a UNSC armoured vehicle. Originally developed and built for the Colonial Military Authority, surviving stockpiles were taken in and used by the UNSC Army for rearline units, and Colonial Militia. Due to its reliable and lightweight design, and ease of manufacture. The vehicle, and its variants, remain in use. While no longer used in frontline service, it is a vital element of UNSC Army rearline forces for armoured transport, and serves as the primary transport of Colonial Militia forces, providing much needed armour for security forces. It’s simple design can be easily replicated by most colonial manufacturing systems, and can easily be modified for Command, Medical, Repair and Recovery, or Mortar variants, allowing Colonial Guards the necessary combat infrastructure to conduct sustained military operations. 
The Bison is simple and robust, with a variety of tried and tested technology ensuring it is easy to use, and easy to maintain. It has a PALADIN Weapon Station fitted above the driver's cab for use on close in enemies. There are four hatches on the roof, and a rear hatch, and the whole vehicle has CBRN protection against contaminants. Being a 4x4 platform, it possesses moderate off-road performance, but does not excel there. 
==Variants==
*Bison Ambulance: The Bison Ambulance has been refitted with patient litters to load injured personnel and return them to rear lines for proper treatment. 
*Bison Command Vehicle: This version has been refitted with a command and control centre for direction personnel. It has been outfitted with additional radios, an extending antennae, and a fold out holotable. 
*Bison Repair and Recovery Vehicle: Fitted with winches, and carrying a small engineering team the Repair and Recovery variant supports other Bison in the field. 
*Bison Mortar Vehicle: The roof section of the Mortar Vehicle can be removed, and inside it has been fitted with a turn table, on which an 81mm mortar is fitted. It carries its own ammunition, and provides supporting fire. 
==UNSC Remarks==