Filling defence order books
Page 53
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Designated VA 4400 the aur-wheel-drive units will evenJelly replace the VA 314 and 'A 328 models which were also upplied by OAF in the mid'Mies. A pre-production batch if ten units is being completed or evaluation tests in mid-sumner.
Valued at almost Fl 345 nillion (£86.5 million) at 1975 irices the order will be spread iver a four-year term commencng in 1978 to .provide rnployrnent for 350 men. Vhile many of the main cornionents, engines, etc for the )utch army contract are drawn rom standard OAF engineering iractice the hand-over to the 'ierman -Bundeswehr"") at the !nd of 1976 of the first producion units for a new generation if German military vehicles evealed that design, philosophy here for "forward area' load :arriers makes few concessions
civilian practice.
Axles, power units and transfissions admittedly have been aken from established :ommercial models but the :hassis design, suspension echnology and cab layout have )een evolved in a programme iriginating in 1970 when the iriginal consortium included (HD. Hanomag-Henschel, )aimler-Benz and MAN.
The last-named menuacturer was appointed general :ontractor for the supply of 3385 category I vehicles in )ecember 1975 and, six nonths later, received a supplenentary contract (reported in calling for 4,000 general )urpose 7-ton and 10-ton lownobility load carriers of a civiian pattern.
Although, or more probibly because, they are designed o meet the exacting German requirements the new defence vehicle programme has already attracted foreign interest and the first major order, for 350 Bundeswehr-type army trucks, is now in course of construction by OAF — Graf and Stift AG of Austria.
The specification for the new OAF Type 20.320 6 X 6 army truck for a 10-ton payload makes interesting reading. The MAN 02538 MT V-B 12.8 litre diesel engine`of 320bhp drives through a ZF Transmatic /6 S 90 transmission into a transfer box and then into the three axles. These are of the hub-reduction type and, on special coil spring suspension, are single tyred all-round. On size 14.00-20 tyres a ground clearance of 410mm is obtained.
A torque compensator is interposed between the axle drives; this can be locked up in difficult terrain. The front axle is braked by an air-over-hydraulic system while the two rear axles are straight air_ Maximum front axle lock is 42 degrees.
The oddly contoured welded sheet metal cab is rubbermounted on the chassis frame which is built of full box section main members with welded-in tubular cross-members. The cab is divided into forward crew accommodation and a separate
heater installation (EbersOcher).
Another sign of the times in which the modern army has apparently become humanely concerned — that is, for its own members — is the fitment to each truck of a Palfinger hydraulic lorry loader suitable for a 360 degree traverse. This is powered by a hydraulic pump which alternatively also feeds a chassis-mounted winch with an 8-ton pull.
A well thoughti-out adaptation of the Club-of-Four contribution by Magirus-Deutz has resulted in a light two-tonner with four-wheel drive. Designated 130 M 7 FAL the short wheelbase vehicle has a pressed steel body and the standard Club cab modified to take an observer's' roof batch, Headlights have been moved from the high-pitched cab into the steel bumper which also carries a brush guard. For a gross design weight of 7.5 tonnes the vehicle is on 12.5-20 single tyres.
The new vehicle is a pointer to the outlets Magirus-Deutz is now seeking as its largest-ever contract — that of almost 10,000 vehicles for the USSR — is coming to a close.