Suppose conventional military forces were unavailable but you had to do battle. In today's world, that means technicals i.e. trucks with crew served weapons mounted on them. Yes, like good old Car Wars!

What kind of technical would you use?

What is the opposition?
What is the terrain?
What do you mean by 'truck'? Are we limited to pickup trucks, or can we use 5-ton trucks like the M939?

Historically technicals have done best when used as infantry transport rather than a (un)armored fire support vehicles.

Any vehicle that you have access to is fine.  If you have a 5-ton truck then ok.

Terrain is - your neighborhood!

 

Sticking to pick-up trucks for focus' sake..

Main use:  A mobile fire support unit, a rear-shooting MG-nest. 3 - 4 men. Gunner, gunner aide, driver and driver aide. 

I would either weld additional metal plates or fix sandbags to the back of the truck; both to support the back window and thus the driver section and also the prone machine gunner in the rear. 

So all added armor protection in the rear to minimize added weight and complexity. The prone firing position for the (general purpose, rifle caliber) MG-shooter in the back, firing through a hole in the back hatch. The vehicle is now able to take direct small-arms hits from the rear with both the gunner and driver safe. Some considerations on protecting tires and fuel tank.

Gunner and gunner aide firing prone in the back, driver always behind the wheel ready to go and the possible fourth guy in a knee position in front of the truck. The fourth guy is there to give eyes to the sides and for additional situation awareness to spot flanking attempts and such.

As we haven't cramped the back section with a fixed gun installation there is still one 50cm x 200cm slot for either supplies or one wounded guy, all while remaining operational.

I would fix some kind of low-tech signaling system from the gunner's aide to the driver; four strings inside a tube each signalling, if pulled, actions like "reverse", "forward", "forward like hell" and "stop".

The system works also for sniper use and can be implemented to other car types capable of fitting a prone shooter in the back, as well with same technologies. You need no weapons grade tech, and the design - thus training too - is general and easily distributed and maintained.

M 

 

Opposition and mission are general purpose in anarchic conditions.  In the inner city I'm thinking smaller can be better perhaps due to constricted terrain. 

 

Re: single directional armoring and fixed weapon are interesting.

 

I remember seeing a news article about a man who encased a tractor in concrete with guns embedded all over it to shoot out from and started going nuts with it in the street.  It was a ghetto technical tank!

the possible fourth guy in a knee position in front of the truck.

 

Like a hood ornament? Hope the driver doesn't crask...LOL

...kept preferably inside the cabin when driving. 

Indeed I forgot to mention the scenario I designed my Mikko-technical for. It is of no use against heavier firepower such as tanks, 12.7 mm machine guns, helos and such. Instead it would be a sitting duck against any regular military formation but that naturally applies to all technicals. 

Best used in harassing rivaling tribes and local unrest by shoot'n run's. By irregulars against irregulars. Against superior firepower the truck is best used as troops transport and in logistics and the four guys are better off with AK's and improvised infantry tactics.

In irregulars vs. irregulars the best use would be always with supporting infantry on its sides, the truck coming ass first down a road when entering villages and such, or nose first when retreating from them. Excellent on roadblocks as it can't be taken out easily with surprise attacks. It must never go ahead of infantry as it is soft on the sides. Also entering dense and high built urban areas Mikko-technical best left home. It is of little comfort to the shooter having his vitals protected but calves shot to minced meat from the top of every three-story building. 

M