Yes,
I did use the BV202 and BV206 during my 17 years serving with British Commando's and went to Norway ever year for 3 months to carry out Arctic warfare training. The BV 202 had a 2.5 litre petrol engine which was a nightmare at temps of -53 (The clod temp i have ever been in) as the engines would ice up and run rough etc. at - 30 we would light brass blow lamps to put heat over the engine to stop it from freezing and lessen the starting problems 30 mins before we would move off!
These 202 were made of metal and made the temp inside just as cold as out side. We used to lag the rear articulated cabin with thick felt to try and keep the heat in and lessen the condensation effects inside from breathing and making hot drinks on Coleman multi fuel small stoves 'They were the day's.
We used to try and stop the power steering fluid from leaking all over the place and for ever filling the bloody things up when we stopped and did our vehicle first and last parades before setting of or shutting down. Great joy's when you had thick gloves on and could not feel a thing in your finger tips?
The vehicles could wade to a degree but not like the BV206 which i did a water proofing course on and went into the water up to the bottom of neck along with the Land Rover defender we used at that time. The vehicle was prone to rust around the engine bay, sides, cab area and, well, all over really! We used to fly them under slung from Sikorsky S55 and S61 (Wessex and Sea King) and land them out remote area's well above the tree line and deep in the mountains. Some of the BV202's would tow a 105mm light Howitzer Artillery gun with ammo with the gun on skies, some towed two 'sankey' trailers towed one behind the other! This would test any ones reversing skills, believe me!
The BV 202 was in service right the way into the early 90's before being replaced by the Hagglunds BV206, they come in petrol or Diesel and were like going from a Morris Minor to a Ford Mustang! What a vast difference, Warmth, I could hear the person sat next to me, i had a boiling vessel for hot water permanently going whether the vehicle was running or not, hot air on the button, room in the main cab for 4 persons and room for 8 in the back. No need to find lagging material, in fact you had more problem controlling the heat from the internal radiators and blowing system which was a nightmare when you deployed out side and was hit by - temps when you leave your + temps in the cabs?
The BV 206 was a vast improvement over the aging BV202, they are made of a GRP type composite material and were light for the helicopters to lift and fly for many miles over the mountainous terrain. These vehicles had a 3 litre Diesel Mercedes Benz engine which was awesome and delivered masses of power over the old 202 petrol. I had the pleasure at least twice of rolling a BV202 with full kit and men in Norway! i did not roll a BV206 though! not through trying though i can tell you.
Some of the fun was to be pulled behind the 206 on your skies ('ski oaring'- not sure how you spell that?)attached to a long rope 'Great fun until some one in front of you falls down and then you all end up falling over like domino's!
Back home there are some 202's and 206's have made it on the civilian market and are being used for transporting of 'Guns' on commercial pheasant shoots and Deer stalkers on estates in the Scottish highlands etc.
I will see if i can find all my old photo's of life in the Commando's in Norway and send to the forum for all to see. I just need to find them when i go home in August.
Well that was a quick insight into the BV202 and BV 206 from my perspective and I'm sure some one else will have some stories to tell out there so lets hear them!
That's all folks, pic's to follow when i put my yellow Snow Trac on the forum as well.
