The Fighting Eight

The Bandit Defense Stallion Wheeled Armored Combat Vehicle or Stallion WACV is a family of Paternian 8x8 armored fighting vehicles. Developed from the excellent Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, it became an iconic symbol of the Paternian Army for its role in peacekeeping and war-fighting. The success of the Stallion would influence future Paternian procurement and doctrine for decades.

The Stallion was the result of the Wheeled Armored Combat Vehicle program to replace the M908 Commando 4x4 armored car in the 1980's, and drew from the lessons from Paternia’s many wars. While the Commando was ideal for security and peacekeeping, it proved less than ideal in direct combat, lacking the needed armor, firepower, and cross-country performance. The Stallion was the most expensive of the six WACV entries, but it outperformed the others handily and won the contract in 1995.

Entering service in 1998, the Stallion was built in many variants, to include APC, IFV, recon, recovery and maintenance, engineering, ATGM carrier, air defense system, ambulance, self-propelled 105mm howitzer, 120mm mortar carrier, and the Zamburak 105mm assault gun. Over 10,000 Stallions of all variants were built, sometimes under license.

The Stallion was well-regarded by operators for its comfort, reliability, quiet operation, high road speed, modest off-road mobility, versatility, and powerful 30mm cannon. In addition, the Bandit S6-450 straight-6 turbodiesel and Collins Infini-Gear hydraulic gearbox were similar to those on existing trucks, easing maintenance and logistics. This enabled units to be ready to move, quickly move across the combat zone, show up where least expected, and hit well above its weight class.

However, the Stallion is fairly top-heavy, requiring additional training to avoid roll-overs, and tend to get bogged on particularly soft ground, despite the eight wheels and a central tire inflation system. Importantly, the Stallion’s base armor only stopped 14.5mm bullets frontally and armor-piercing rifle bullets from all sides, anti-tank mines, and shrapnel. Bolt-on composite armor kits installed in the field would resist armor-piercing heavy machine gun and cannon rounds, and slat armor and later reactive armor and active protection systems were fitted to defeat RPG and missile threats. Doing so would worsen the top-heaviness and poor soft ground capability, so increasing armor was only done as needed.

Nonetheless, the Stallion was considered a great success. Mechanized brigades equipped with them were effective mobile reserves which plugged breaches in the line, exploited breakthroughs, secured shifting flanks, or quickly traversed restricted terrain. In some cases, they accompanied tanks to achieve breakthroughs and hold the line, though doing so incurred higher casualties and losses. Those who understood the Stallion found them invaluable assets.

Officially replaced in 2028 with the Charioteer, the Stallion remained in service until the 2050’s in Army Reserve and National Guard formations. It saw use by Aleuztia, Awwam, Paternia, and Winolia. Captured examples were employed in small numbers by the UCR, India, and Syllix.

Notes

This is the IFV variant, type-classified as M1222 IFV, equipped with a Cedco turret fitted with the 30x173mm M15 revolver cannon, M60E2 coaxial machine gun, and two TOW-80 ATGMs. While IFVs were never fitted with the TOW-80 in Paternian service as it reduced the dismount capacity from 8 to 6, ATGM-armed Stallion IFVs were exported to Aleuztia and Awwam. This vehicle is also fitted with the Stallion Improved Protection System Level 1, or SIPS 1 kit, enabling it to resist 14.5mm from all sides and 25mm cannon from the front. SIPS II provided cannon protection from all angles but is very heavy and seldom fitted.

Credit to Dastin for the vertical stabilizer and NirvashTec for the .50 cal.