The Dragon 4×4 Wheeled APC & Patrol Vehicle (aka Dragon 300) was originally developed for the US Army Military Police by former company Verne Corporation who completed the first prototype in 1978. The US Army and Navy took delivery of first vehicles in 1982, the later using it to patrol nuclear storage facilities.
The vehicle uses components of the tracked M113 APC and M809 truck. The vehicle is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by its wheels. Vehicle commander and driver sit up front and rear compartment accommodates up to x6 troops (exit through side doors) or variant equipment.
In 1984 Verne Corporation and Arrowpointe Corporation merged to form AV Technology Corporation which developed the vehicle in to a family of Variants and exported it other nations.
The Dragon 4×4 Wheeled APC & Patrol Vehicle Variants
Armoured Personnel Carrier, Armoured Security Vehicle, Command & Control, 81mm mortar carrier, turret with 90mm main gun, 40mm or 12.7mm turret, maintenance vehicle, electronic warfare, logistics and Anti-Tank Missile carrier.
The Dragon 4×4 Wheeled APC & Patrol Vehicle Spec’s
Crew: 2 to 3 depending on variant
Configuration: 4×4
Armaments: various turrets and MG’s
Length: 5.89m
Width: 2.49m
Height: 2.08m (hull top)
Ground Clearance: 0.68m
Combat Weight: 12.7 tonne
Power To Weight Ratio: 23.62hp / per tonne
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V-53T 300bhp
Top Road Speed: 115.9mk/h
Operational Range: 869km
Operators
USA, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and Police enforcement agencies.