- Mamba APC
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Mamba Mk3 Type Armoured personnel carrier Place of origin 
South AfricaSpecifications Weight 5,565 kilograms (12,270 lb) Length 5,460 millimetres (215 in) Width 2,205 millimetres (86.8 in) Height 2,495 millimetres (98.2 in) Crew 11 Main
armament12.7 mm MG Engine 312N Mercedes Benz turbocharged diesel
92 kilowatts (123 hp)Suspension 4x4 wheeled Operational
range650 kilometres (400 mi) Speed 102 kilometres per hour (63 mph) The Mamba is a South African armoured personnel carrier that offers protection against small arms fire and land mines. The vehicle, which uses a Unimog chassis and is powered by a Mercedes Benz engine, is suited for rough terrain and can carry up to 10 passengers plus the driver. It has been used by a number of countries as well as peacekeeping forces of the United Nations, and the improved Mk2 and Mk3 versions are in service with the South African military. It is also used in Iraq by private security contractors. Several variants have been developed from the Mamba.
Contents
Design and features
The Mamba was developed by Land Systems OMC, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa. It utilizes a Unimog truck chassis and is specifically designed to suit the African terrain. It is powered by a 352N Mercedes Benz 6-cylinder diesel engine. The Mamba entered service in 1995, and is still in use with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and several other countries. The SANDF now uses the improved Mamba Mk2 and Mamba Mk3 versions, with the Mk2 able to be upgraded to Mk3 configuration.[1][2]
The Mamba is 5,460 millimetres (215 in) in length, 2,205 millimetres (86.8 in) in width, and has a height of 2,495 millimetres (98.2 in). The four-wheeled vehicle can carry up to 10 passengers, excluding the driver. A roof hatch allows a gunner to use the weapon mount, which can be equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun. A large door at the rear of the vehicle provides access to the passengers and crew. The Mk3 features better ballistic protection over the Mk2 – the latter can withstand impacts from up to 7.62x51mm NATO rounds, while the former is capable of handling 5.56x45mm NATO impacts. The Mk3 is also lighter, more stable, has lower operating costs and comes with an 8-speed transmission compared to the 4-speed transmission of the Mk2. However, the Mk3 has a range of only 650 kilometres (400 mi) whereas the Mk2 has a range of 900 kilometres (560 mi). The Mamba also provides protection against mines of up to 7 kilograms (15 lb). It has four-wheel drive capability, and can achieve a top speed of 102 kilometres per hour (63 mph). Apart from the APC role, the vehicle may also be used as an ambulance, a command vehicle, a VIP transport, or a logistics vehicle.[2][3]
Operational history
The following countries operate the Mamba or have used it in the past.[4]
In addition, the Mamba is used by United Nations peacekeeping forces,[5] such as in Angola, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sudan. Apart from South Africa, Argentina and the United Kingdom have also exported their Mambas. Sudan has received the most number of Mamba APCs, with South Africa having delivered 62 Mamba Mk3 units to assist in the peacekeeping operations there.[6] The Mamba has also been used by private security contractors employed in Iraq by the United States military. According to them, the vehicle has an aesthetic appeal and appears "less aggressive".[7]
Variants and derivatives
RG-31 Nyala, an APC based on the Mamba.
The Taipan APC, based on the Mamba.Numerous variants of the Mamba have been produced, as well as vehicles derived from it.[5]
- Mamba Mk1 - Original 2x4 (Over 500 built by TFM Industries later becomes Reumech OMC)
- Springbuck Mk1 - modified version
- Reva Mk1 - modified version by ICP
- Puma - modified version with a Toyota Dyna 7-145 powerplant and drivetrain
- Mamba Mk2 - 4x4 (built by Sandock Austral and TFM) Mamba Mk II - Improved production version.
- Mamba Mk2 EE - Version produced for the Estonian Army
- Mamba Mk2 SW - Version produced for the Swedish Army
- Komanche - A short wheeled base (SWB) version which can carry up to 7 troops
- Sabre - 4 man cab with a cargo area in the rear
- Alvis 4 - Version produced by Alvis UK for the British Army
- Alvis 8 - Komanche SWB version produced by Alvis UK for the British Army
- RG-31 Nyala - redesigned version by TFM
- Romad - modified version by Sandock Austral)
- Reva Mk2 - modified version by ICP with Cummins powerplant
- Springbuck Mk2 - modified version
- Mamba Mk3 - 4x4 version fitted with Mercedes Benz 312N engine. Built by Alvis OMC
- Reva Mk3 - modified version by ICP
- Taipan - a version with a Mercedes Benz OM366LA turbo-diesel engine that lost the bid for the Australian Specialised Vehicle System (ASVS) proposal (Project Bushranger)
See also
- Infantry fighting vehicle
- List of AFVs
- Buffel
- RCV-9
- Reva APC - similar vehicle produced by ICP South Africa.
- RG-12
- RG-19
- RG-31
- RG-32
- RG-33
- RG-34
- RG-35
References
- ^ "Mamba". Deagel.com. http://www.deagel.com/Tactical-Vehicles/Mamba_a000674001.aspx. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Mamba". South African Army. http://www.army.mil.za/equipment/vehicles/mamba.htm. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "Mamba Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rsa/mamba.htm. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "Mamba Operators". Deagel.com. http://www.deagel.com/maps/fullframe.aspx?map=a000674001&t=Mamba+operators. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Mamba APC". Tibs Transport. http://armouredvehicles.co.za/mambaAPC.htm. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "2001 - 2007 Transactions involving Mamba". Deagel.com. http://www.deagel.com/equipment/Tactical-Vehicles-Mamba-a000674.aspx. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Loyn, David (8 October 2006). "Choose the wrong car in Baghdad and you die". The Sunday Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article661018.ece. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
Categories:- BAE Systems
- Armoured personnel carriers of South Africa
- Armoured personnel carriers of the United Kingdom
- Military trucks
- Mamba Mk1 - Original 2x4 (Over 500 built by TFM Industries later becomes Reumech OMC)
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