Mamba APC

Mamba Mk3

South African soldiers being transported in Goma in their Mamba armoured personnel carrier.
Type Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin South Africa
Specifications
Weight 5,565 kilograms (12,269 lb)
Length 5,460 millimetres (215 in)
Width 2,205 millimetres (86.8 in)
Height 2,495 millimetres (98.2 in)
Crew 11
Main
armament
 12.7 mm MG
Engine 312N Mercedes Benz turbocharged diesel
92 kilowatts (123 hp)
Suspension 4x4 wheeled
Operational
range
 650 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. A new Mamba version has been designed and built by N4 Trucks (Pty) Ltd, in their Pretoria Factory in South Africa and marketed globally by Osprea Logistics as the Mamba Mk5 and deployed by African Union peacekeepers in Somalia. It is offered in two variants, one built on the Magirius air-cooled drive train and the other on an Iveco Eurocargo drive train in water-cooled configuration. It is also used in Iraq by private security contractors. Several variants have been developed from the Mamba. Recently blast tested by the Pretoria-based Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, (the CSIR) the Mamba Mk 5 defeated a 10 kg explosive blast under its hull. The Mk 5 survived a blast test of 14 kg of explosive beneath its wheels in earlier tests.

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. The first units were derived from surplus Buffel vehicles.[1] Its V-shaped hull is designed to deflect a mine blast away from the occupants.[1] 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.[2][3]

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 7.62×51mm NATO rounds, while the former is capable of handling 5.56×45mm 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.[3][4] The newest Mamba, the Mk5, is manufactured by Osprea Logistics in South Africa, and delivers 240 hp (176Kw) from a water-cooled Iveco engine, a range over 600 km, over 4,500 kg payload, and a B7 ballistic protection versus previous B6 capabilities of the Mk1-Mk3.

Operators

Map of Mamba operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

Former operators

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.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Engelbrecht, Leon (2010-01-21), Fact file: Mamba APC/MRAP, DefenceWeb, retrieved 2013-07-09
  2. ↑ "Mamba". Deagel.com. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Mamba". South African Army. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  4. ↑ "Mamba Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Mamba Operators". Deagel.com. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  6. ↑ "Mamba APC". Tibs Transport. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
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