VB-44

VB-44 in Oftavian 3 tone camo.

## VB-44 Armored Personnel Carrier

The VB-44 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that was developed and produced by Taurfa Machinery Corporation. The VB-44 was sent to the Oftavian army in 1961 to replace earlier APC's and half tracks in service with the Oftavian Army. The type first saw combat in 1962 after it was sent to Peralaviza. It was used by Oftavian expeditionary forces in the conflict it was used to break through heavy thickets in the midst of the jungle to attack and overrun enemy positions. It was largely known as an "APC" or an "ACAV" (armored cavalry assault vehicle) by Oftavian forces.

The VB-44 was the first aluminum hull combat vehicle to be put into mass production. Much lighter than earlier similar vehicles, its aluminum armor was designed to be thick enough to protect the crew and passengers against small arms fire, but light enough that the vehicle was air transportable and moderately amphibious. The VB-44 has been long replaced by the MF-5 Hyène, but large numbers are still used in support roles such as armored ambulance, mortar carrier, engineer vehicle, and command vehicle. The VB-44 has many variants, being a versatile platform, making it widely used and loved still by Oftavian troops.

## Development

Taurfa Machinery Corporation had develeoped earlier APC's and half tracks in use by the Oftavian Army. Earlier APC prototypes called VB-30, and VB-23 were noted as being too heavy, or have too little armor and ended up unreliable because of it's reduced cost. The army was looking for a vehicle that combined the best features of both designs, the armor of the VB-30 and lightness of the VB-23. In the late 1950's, TMC had been developing suitable aluminum armor. It was known that use of this armor could produce a vehicle that provided the protection of the VB-30 and the low weight and mobility of the VB-23. Out of two prototypes proposed, the TV-44 and TV-45, the aluminum TV-44 won. The VB-44 was developed to provide a survivable and reliable light tracked vehicle able to be air-lifted and air-dropped by transport planes. The original concept was that the vehicle would be used solely for transportation, bringing the troops forward under armor and then having them dismount for combat, after which the VB-44 would retreat to the rear. Entering service with the Oftavian Army in 1961, the VB-44 required only two crewmen, a driver and a commander, and carried 11 passengers inside the vehicle. Its main armament was a single 13mm machine gun operated by the commander.

## Modifications

The VB-44 has relatively light armor, but it can be augmented with add-on steel plates for improved ballistic protection. Also, reactive armor and slat armor can be added for protection against rocket-propelled grenades, along with windowed gumshields. In the mid 1980's, the vehicles were fitted with rubber band tracks to enable stealthy operation, less damage to paved roads, higher speed, less maintenance, access to terrain where operation of wheeled vehicles is impractical and less vibration and rolling resistance. Most VB-44's in Oftavian service are in the A4 modification along with the IR (improved reliability) package, adding a turbocharged engine and new transmission. Currently, Oftavia is working on the VB-44A4DP, or Digitalization program, to includes applying appliqué hardware, software, and installation kits and hosting them in the VB-44 FOV. Older VB-44's have been used as visually modified to simulate Marnin and Sayikoian combat vehicles.

## Operators

* Oftavia : Over 29,000 delivered, 8,000 preserved in storage, and 5,000 remaining in service.
* Mauven : Initially 4,000 units.
* Asken : 1,000 delivered, 200 in service.

## Variants and Derivatives

VBS-10, a smoke screen generator vehicle

VBS-77 Mortar carrier, carrying a 4 inch (101mm) mortar.

VBS-80, carrying a 120mm mortar.

VBF-14 Armored Flamethrower

VBGA-44 SHORAD air defense vehicle with a 20mm rotary gun with a radar, rangefinder and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

VBMA-48 Carrying 4 missiles based on the Oftavian short range air to air missile.

VBC-47 Unarmored cargo carrier equipped with a rear cargo bed.

VBCC-60 Command variant, the roof over the rear troop compartment is higher. The vehicle also carries additional radios and a generator.

VBMV-108, Lightweight anti armor vehicle carrying a launcher armed with two ATGM's.