Pinzgauer at the front
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by Bob Morrison • The British Army's latest medium utility heavy duty truck, the Pinzgauer 716M, has entered service in Bosnia. Built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria, the forward control Pinzgauer dropside offers a payload of 1,400kg. Its main function is as a prime mover for the 105mm light gun and as an ammunition re-supply vehicle. It also has folding seats for eight in the rear.
The Pinzgauer will replace the 21-year-old one-tonne forward-control Land Rover gun tractor fleet. It can be moved by transport plane or support helicopter. Dimensions are similar to a standard LWB Land Rover
Defender, but the Pinzgauer uses a central torsion-resistant tube chassis and portal axles. This gives it a fording depth of 700mm without preparation.
Powered by a six-cylinder chargecooled 2.4-litre VW diesel engine, as fitted to the LT van, the Pinzgauer has a vacuum operated part-time four-wheeldrive system. The engine drives a five-speed ZF manual gearbox mated to a Steyr-designed twospeed transfer box. Disc brakes are fitted all round, with twin callipers at the front. When the engine is switched off, fourwheel-drive is automatically engaged and the twin disc transmission brake is locked.
The Ministry of Defence ordered 394 Pinzgauers in 1994, following a nine-month reliability trial. In basic configuration, the 716M has a removable fabric top and drop sides, but some hard top communications vehicles may also be manufactured. A battlefield ambulance version has recently been trialled and it is believed that Special Forces could be interested in a low-profile version with a weapons mount as an offensive action vehicle.
Pinzgauer gun tractors of 19 Regiment Royal Artillery are currently in use at Mount Igman above Sarajevo. They will provide mobile fire support for UN formations escorting aid to the city.