Lenco BearCat

BearCat

A BearCat pictured in 2007.
Type Non-military armored vehicle
Place of origin United States
Production history
Designed 1999
Manufacturer Lenco Industries (Lenco Armored Vehicles)
Unit cost US$188,793–300,000[1][2]
Produced 1999[3][4]
Variants Military, G3, LE, VIP SUV, Medevac LE, Medevac Mil, Riot Control, G4 M-ATV, EOD
Specifications
Weight 16,500–17,550 lb
Length 20 ft
Width 10 ft
Height 8–12 ft
Crew 2 + 10 passengers
Armor NIJ Type IV,[5] 1.5–0.5 inch steel plate[2]
Main
armament
 Weapon mountable rotating roof hatch
Secondary
armament
 Multiple side gun ports
Engine Caterpillar turbo diesel
300 hp
Power/weight 40 hp/ton
Suspension 4 and 6 wheel configurations
Operational
range
 Unknown
Speed 75–90 MPH,[6] "capable of highway speeds"[7]

The Lenco BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck)[8][9] is a wheeled armored personnel carrier designed for military and law enforcement use. It is in use by numerous military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world.

History

Since 1981[10] the Massachusetts-based Lenco Industries, known as Lenco Armored Vehicles, has designed and manufactured armored vehicles for law enforcement, military, government and private security forces.[11] Lenco has produced more than 5,000 armored vehicles for use in more than 40 countries worldwide.[4][12]

The BearCat is one type of vehicle produced by the company that is in use by numerous U.S. military and law enforcement agencies and it also used by numerous Police Tactical Groups in Australia.[7] The name BearCat stands for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck as it is the smaller cousin to the Lenco B.E.A.R.[12] The Bearcat is based on a Ford F-550 Super Duty Chassis with two available engines (the V10 Triton Gasoline and the 6.7L Turbo Diesel), six-speed automatic transmission commercial truck chassis.[13] The .5 inch thick mil spec steel armored bodywork is completed with .50 caliber rated ballistic glass capable of multi-hits, blast-resistant floors, specially designed gunports, roof hatches/turret and agency specific equipment and/or modifications such as lights/sirens/battering ram/winches/thermal cameras and spot lights.[14]

The first BearCat was designed and completed in August 2001 as a spin-off product of the larger Lenco B.E.A.R., with input from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) as an updated and improved version of their aging military surplus Cadillac Gage Ranger "PeaceKeeper" armored vehicles.[4]

Usage

BearCats are typically referred to by law enforcement agencies as being "armored rescue vehicles"[15] with their primary use being to transport tactical (SWAT/Special Reaction Teams) officers to and from hostile situations and to assist with the recovery and protection of civilians in harm's way during terrorist threats, hostage incidents, or encounters with large gatherings of aggressors.[16][17] The Bearcat is designed to provide protection from a variety of small arms, explosives and IED threats.[16] Like its larger cousin the B.E.A.R, the Bearcat is able to be fitted with the "MARS" Mobile Adjustable Ramp System which allows tactical officers to gain entry to elevated platforms such as second story windows or aircraft.[18][19]

Lenco BearCats have been credited with saving the lives of officers in armed confrontations on numerous occasions. In 2010 in Athens, Texas an armed offender fired more than 35 rounds from a semi-automatic AK-74 rifle at tactical police. Not one round penetrated the Bearcat.[20] In June 2012 a BearCat, belonging to the Central Bucks Emergency Response Team, took 28 rounds from a "high powered rifle" during a siege with no rounds penetrating the vehicle.[21] In November 2015, a BearCat was used by police to rescue civilians during the 2015 Colorado Springs shootings.[22] The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Bearcat was shot between 4-7 times with a rifle during an incident on December 29, 2015. Sheriff Whetsel was quoted as saying the Bearcat saved the Deputies life.[23]

Variants

BearCat G3 of Ottawa Police Service

At present there are nine variants of the BearCat, some with unique features and others designed for specific purposes or customers.[12][24]

Features

The BearCat series is customizable with a variety of non-standard features depending on the customers requirements. BearCats are able to be fitted with moveable elevated platform systems called the Liberator and ARC by Patriot3, Inc., to enable tactical units to access a variety of elevated structures such as multi-story buildings, ships at docks or aircraft during high-risk, hostage or terrorist situations. The LAPD fits one of its four armoured Lenco vehicles with one such system along with many other local and state law enforcement agencies.[5]

Some of the BearCat's features include:

Operators

New South Wales Police Force Tactical Operations Unit Lenco BearCat armoured rescue vehicle.
Lenco BearCat owned by the Lee County Sheriff's Office (Florida) SWAT team
Los Angeles Police Department S.W.A.T. 'Rescue 1' B.E.A.R showing a battering ram attachment.

BearCats of various configurations are in use by the following agencies and departments around the world with over 500 in use in the United States alone.[28]

 Australia

 Brazil

 Canada

 Jamaica

 Mexico

 Morocco

 Netherlands

 United States

Federal Law Enforcement[4]

State/Local Law Enforcement

Military

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. 1 2
  3. ↑ "LENCO BEARCAT Trademark Details". Automotive.zibb.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
  5. 1 2 "Patriot 3 – Elevated Tactics Systems – LIBERATOR – Lenco Bearcat G2". Patriot 3. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "SOR Magazine: Lenco BearCat G4 is "security big wheel"". PoliceOne.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/20111220041352/https://www.rkb.us/contentdetail.cfm?content_id=157103. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Jamie Garcia. "St. Petersburg police unveil a new armored vehicle". WFTS. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Lenco Industries Inc". YP.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  11. ↑
  12. 1 2 3 "Article Archive – Law and Order, Police Fleet Manager, Tactical Response, Public Safety IT – Hendon Publishing". Hendonpub.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Loaded For Bear: Lenco's Bearcat Is Ready For Duty". Autoweek.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Beyond the Patrol Car". Policemag.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Canberra gets a beast! Behold the Lenco Engineering Armoured Rescue Vehicle.". The-riotact.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Lenco Armored Vehicles". PoliceOne.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  17. ↑ http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/armoured-vehicle-for-sieges/story-e6frea83-1226059133084
  18. ↑ "Patriot 3 – MARS – Mobile Adjustable Ramp System". Patriot 3. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "03212010-StB-LAPD-SWAT-R3-024". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  20. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20111005131721/http://www.swattrucks.com:80/news/TylerPDNewsArticle.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. 1 2 "Bearcat Survived Standoff; Police Cars Did Not". Doylestown-buckingham-new Britain, Pennsylvania Patch. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  22. ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29172660/colorado-springs-firefighters-respond-active-shooter-at-planned
  23. 1 2 http://kfor.com/2016/01/07/oklahoma-county-sheriffs-office-bearcat-shot-at-during-standoff/#
  24. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20110903064724/http://www.armoredtrucks.com:80/products-bearcat.aspx. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. 1 2 "Lenco Industries introduces the BearCat® MedEvac LE and MIL 4x4 tactical armoured vehicle.". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  26. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20101102183251/http://swattrucks.com:80/bcat-eod.aspx. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ↑ "Lenco Industries introduces the BearCat EOD BombCat armoured vehicle for EOD and IEDD team.". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  28. ↑ "Is Homeland Security spending paying off?". The Global Realm. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  29. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/steve-yalda-freed-on-bail-only-to-be-shot-in-moorebank/story-e6freuzi-1226075958967
  30. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20110929141505/http://www.responseaustralia.net/issues/Issue08.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ↑ "High-Tech Armoured Rescue Vehicle now part of the NT Police arsenal". Facebook.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "High-Tech Armoured Rescue Vehicle now part of the NT Police Arsenal". Pfes.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  33. ↑ "NEW ARMOURED VEHICLE BOOSTS SERT’S CAPABILITIES". Cabinet.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  34. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20110601212546/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2011_SecondQuarter_19May2011-Newhigh-techarmouredrescuevehicleforSouthAustralia. Archived from the original on June 1, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. ↑ "Australian and World News – ninemsn, Nine News". news. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  36. ↑ "Tasmania Police". Police.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  37. ↑ "western australia BEARCAT ARMORED – Google Search". Google.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  38. ↑ http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/bearcat-joins-wa-anti-terror-fighting-force/story-fnhocxo3-1226635973176
  39. ↑ "'BearCat' to assist police in hostile situations". ABC News. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  40. ↑ Vitor, Frederico (2014-12-23). "Bope de Goiás será equipado com veículo blindado usado pela SWAT americana" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  41. ↑ "Ottawa police add armoured truck". Cbc.ca. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  42. ↑ "Saskatoon police unveil new armoured vehicle". Newstalk650.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  43. ↑ "VPD to get armoured vehicle". Canada.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014. The Vancouver police department expects to order an armoured rescue vehicle within a month, making it the first police force in Canada to own one of the $270,000 BearCats.
  44. ↑ "Morocco has take delivery 88 BearCat 4x4 armoured vehicles for Moroccan Auxiliary Forces 0108132 – Army Recognition". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  45. ↑ "U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration/Y-12 National Security Complex – Security Police". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  46. ↑ "United States Park Police". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  47. ↑ "sts51f". Ktb.net. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  48. ↑ "Alaska State Troopers purchase three Lenco BearCats 4x4 armoured vehicles 2203132 – Army Recognition". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  49. ↑ "Boulder County sheriff buys new armored vehicle with Homeland Security grant". Dailycamera.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  50. ↑ "Has Homeland Security spending paid off since Sept. 11?". Los Angeles Times. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  51. ↑ "Photograph" (JPG). Images31.fotki.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  52. ↑ http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/politics/21012234-95/federal-weapons-recalled-from-local-police-as-lawmakers-try-to-limit-use-of-military. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  53. ↑ "Dallas PD_011". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  54. ↑ "Photograph" (JPG). Images12.fotki.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  55. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20110711161939/http://www.erietvnews.com:80/story/15050454/erie-swat-team-to-soon-get-new-armored-vehicle. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  56. ↑ "LENCO's LE BearCat". Tactical Life. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  57. ↑ "Swat Vehicle Gives Hudson County New Important Regional Role In The Fight To Protect Our Residents". Lencoarmor.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  58. ↑ "Louisiana State Police_102". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  59. ↑ "LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT (LASD)". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  60. ↑ "081609-WilshireDiv-LAPD-SWAT-038". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  61. ↑ Barbara LaBoe. "Bearcat armored vehicle for region's law enforcement agencies arrives". Longview Daily News. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  62. ↑ "SPECIAL THREAT RESPONSE". Miami-police.org. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  63. ↑ "Watch Miami SWAT: Episode 4 Online – On Demand – Sky Go". Go.sky.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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  65. ↑ "P013s NYPD Emergency Service Unit Police Vehicle, Lower Midtown, New York City". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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  67. ↑ digboston (weekly), Vol. 17, Iss. 44, 11/4-11/2015, p. 10
  68. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20101105005826/http://swattrucks.com:80/news/Pasadena%20CA_9-10.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  69. ↑ "Passaic County's SWAT team gets $400K BearCat armored vehicle". NJ.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  70. ↑ "Prince William County Police SWAT Unit". Flickr. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  71. ↑ "Photograph" (JPG). Updsl.org. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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  73. ↑ "Photograph" (JPG). I.imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  74. ↑ "Patriot 3 – Testimonials". Patriot 3. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  75. ↑ Jenna Tico (15 July 2010). "Unleash the Beast". Independent.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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  77. ↑ "Bannock sheriff upset by how tribal leadership treated SWAT team at Fort Hall standoff". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  78. ↑ "Stockton police unveil new SWAT vehicle". recordnet.com. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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