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MILITARY MIGHT
Page 62
Page 63
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Being surrounded by military vehicles in an enclosed area might not sound like a good idea, but in this case everyone was getting
along. Dylan Gray rounds
up the latest DVD military vehicle show.
Millbrook Proving Ground was the setting for this year's DVD show, which displayed an international array of military vehicles ranging from small Mad Max-type buggies to 8x8 recovery vehicles. As well as plenty of outdoor space. Millbrook also has an off-road track. For the exhibitors a 'show' vehicle was not on show' unless at least three quarters covered in mud.
MAN was displaying its range of support vehicles, which helped it secure an MoD contract to replace an ageing fleet.rIbis contract sees MAN supplying the MoD with more than 7,000 vehicles over the next five years.The vehicles comprise six, nine and 15-tonne payload cargo vehicles in 4x4,6x6 and 8x8 axle configurations, along with 7.000litre unit support tankers on 6x6 chassis and recovery vehicles on 8x8 chassis.
Ed Simpson, head of government sales at MAN-ERF UK, says:—Ibe whole thing now is about delivery.We're on time, on cost and on quality."
Currently,161 vehicles are undergoing mandatory inspection and are set to be released to a training unit directly afterwards. As well as providing the vehicles, MAN will retrain current Army vehicle technicians. Simpson adds:"We will be providing conversion training for the next three years.After having trained everyone, the MoD will take over with steadystate training.'
EGR engines All the vehicles are running MAN's Euro-4 compliant Exhaust Gas Recirculation engines; when the military's unified fuel (J8) is used during a conflict the engine does not reach Euro-4 standards, though it will do so when filled with regular diesel.
The show also played host to some Foden and Leyland trucks, which are being replaced by the new-generation MANs.A Paccar spokesman says: "We are showing the vehicles that are currently in service with the Army. Though we will not be producing any new vehicles, we are here as a sign of support and to show that we arc still providing parts and service for the vehicles that could he in service for more than another five years."
Having recently closed a deal to supply the Canadian Army, Mercedes-Benz was showing its range of military vehicles. M-B's Atego 1018A, which is currently being delivered to the German Army, comes with engines ranging up to 279hp and a payload up to nine tonnes.
The Unimog was also on display in armoured and un-armoured configuration with space for 12 troops and a payload of up to 2.5 tonnes. However, it was not one of the big boys stealing the show that was the GWagon,Mercedes' answer to the Land Rover Defender.This reporter was invited to go for a drive around the test track (the last time I was taken around the track I almost got soaked head to toe).After negotiating some pretty tricky obstacles with ease, the 2.7-litre diesel powered vehicle stopped before a downward slope —with a one-to-one gradient! With the diff locks engaged, the G-Wagon went down it with ease, and up in reverse even more easily Mercedes-Benz was also keen to highlight that its range of military vehicles meets Euro-4 requirements, like their road-going cousins, with Selective Catalytic Reduction. As with MAN, when the trucks are in wartime situations Army fuel is used and AdBlue is not added (fine. so long as war doesn't break out in a low-emission zone).
In true American style, bigger is better and Oshkosh Paccar was displaying its heavy duty trucks. One of those was the MIT 6x6, which is regarded as one of the smaller vehicles in the range. Oshkosh describes its duty profile of 30% off-road and 70% on-road and claims the vehicle can travel up a 60% gradient and a 30% side slope with its maximum crosscut] niry load.
One for the civvies Another American beast on show was International's MXT-MV vehicle,which can also be purchased as a regular passenger vehicle in the US, Canada and Mexico. It is powered by an International V8 with up to 300hp and 718Nm of torque.
A spokesman for International gave us an explanation of the vehicle's appeal: "Our payload capability is our main selling point. We offer a high level of arrnourability while retaining a very high payload. We are also very aggressively priced."
With a very futuristic-looking truck, Finnish company Sisu Defence was showing off its newest 8x8 off-road vehicles:The company, which specialises in military vehicles,has delivered its first ETP 8x8 vehicles and related logistics systems to the Lithuanian Defence Forces. Sisu claims its Caterpillar-powered offroad trucks are ballistic and mine-protected. The company also offers 10x 10,6x6 and 4x4 trucks that are also powered by Caterpillar engines. Caterpillar claims its ACERT technology is able to reach Euro-4 and Euro-5 emissions regulations without any additives.
Included in Iveco's offering were the mighty Trakker and the LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle).The LMV, similar in looks to the US Hummer (governor Arnold Schwarzencgger's preferred choice of car). can be fitted with a light, medium or heavy protection kit, depending where it is being deployed. It has a payload of 2.3 tonnes and can tackle a gradient of 60%.
The Trakker, capable of reaching Euro-5 emission standards through SCR technology, comes equipped either with the eight-litre Cursor 8 or 13-litre Cursor 13 engine.At its top spec, the Italian Army will have 450hp and 2,200Nm of torque available.This equates to a lot of pizzas being shipped to the troops.