Editing LAV-25 (section)

==IRL==
[[File:LAV IRL.jpg|300px|right|thumb|BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!]]
The LAV-25 is an infantry fighting vehicle based on the MOWAG Piranha used by the US Marines Corps for reconnaissance and light fire support. If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s primarily designated for recon rather than transportation, you would classify this as a proper Infantry Fighting Vehicle, as it sports a mean 25mm autocannon in addition to the real life 6 man passenger capacity; enough for a fireteam of Marines with equipment. Despite its respectable firepower, it’s armour is still weak against anything more serious than small arms (later versions can protect against up to 14.5mm rounds and slat armour add-one protect against shape charges). The idea of having IFVs with truly effective armour would only become widespread later on in the 21st Century with the push to vehicles capable of surviving in an urban environment, birthing designs like the MRAP. In the Army, the role of the IFV is to support infantry in open ground against tanks and vehicles, hence the (comparatively) increased armour and ATGMs. The role of the Marines as a rapid reaction force forced them to compromise the slugging power of the Bradley for speed and transportability, essential for establishing a naval beachhead.

The LAV-25 has many variants used by the Marines Corps, some represented in Team Yankee ([[LAV-AT]], [[LAV-M]]), and some that are not ([[LAV-AD]] was first introduced in the mid 1990s after the marines requested GDLS make a hybrid of the [[M163 VADS]] and [[M48 Chaparral]] but was retired due to budget constraints.<s>So it wouldn't be in game.</s> Models were just released so lets just say war moved the timeline up) The US Army uses their own version of the Piranha, the more recent Stryker. Although that variant was only armed with a machine gun (and possibly a 40mm grenade launcher) recently and wasn’t adopted until more or less a decade after the Cold War. Other Stryker variants match LAV variants, with the exception of the M1128 MGS which mounts a 105mm cannon (making it the US equivalent to the [[AMX-10 RC]]).

A replacement program has been proposed; the Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) would be another wheeled design but prototypes aren't expected until the mid 2020's and acquisitions wouldn't start until the 2030's.  The simple fact is the Corps budget is tied up in replacing the AAVP7 fleet, which is about ten years older than the LAV-25.  As the AAVP7's own replacement (the ACV) is also an 8-wheel design, albeit much larger than the LAV, it's very likely the ARV will ultimately be a recon variant of the ACV. Which should be quite easy to do. As it's parent the Iveco SuperAV also has a smaller six wheel version in the VBTP-MR Guarani.

{{US Forces in Team Yankee}}

[[Category:Vehicles]]