Mamba APC

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Mamba
SANDF Armed Forces Day 2017 - South African Army Mamba MkIII APC (32203158584).jpg
Mamba Mk2 of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Type Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin South Africa Flag of South Africa (1982-1994).svg
Service history
Used bySee Operators
Wars Kosovo War
Somali Civil War
Iraq War
Kivu conflict
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed1988 [1]
Manufacturer Reumech OMC [2]
Produced1990–present [1]
No. built~800 [1]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass6.45 tonnes (7.11 short tons; 6.35 long tons) (Mk1) [1]
6.8 tonnes (7.5 short tons; 6.7 long tons) (Mk2) [2]
6.5 tonnes (7.2 short tons; 6.4 long tons) (Mk3) [1]
Length5.88 m (19 ft 3 in) (Mk1) [1]
5.46 m (17 ft 11 in) (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
Width2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) (Mk1) [1]
2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
Height2.46 m (8 ft 1 in) (Mk1) [1]
2.49 m (8 ft 2 in) (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
Crew2 (commander, driver) + 9 passengers [1]

Main
armament
12.7mm Browning M2 machine gun, optional [1]
Engine Toyota JO 5C four-cylinder diesel (Mk1) [1]
Mercedes-Benz OM352 six-cylinder diesel (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
139 hp (104 kW) at 2,900 rpm (Mk1) [1]
123 hp (92 kW) at 2,800 rpm (Mk2, Mk3) [1]
Power/weight18 hp/tonne (13.4 kW/tonne) (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
Suspension Coil spring
Ground clearance0.34 m (Mk1) [1]
0.39m (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
Fuel capacity220 litres (Mk2, Mk3) [2]
Operational
range
900 km [2]
Maximum speed 102 km/h (63 mph) [1]

The Mamba is a South African armoured personnel carrier designed for internal security purposes. [1] It was developed during the late 1980s to replace the Buffel in service with the South African military and security forces. [1] The first models were built on a 4X2 Toyota Dyna chassis, which was subsequently replaced in production around 1994 by a more reliable Unimog chassis. [1] All marks of the Mamba were designed to be mine-resistant and blastproof. [1]

Contents

Development history

Mamba Mk1

The South African Army issued a requirement for a new armoured vehicle in 1987 capable of a wide variety of roles, namely border protection and internal security. [1] The Mamba Mk1 was developed the following year and utilised the chassis of a Toyota Dyna 4X2 truck. [1] A number were accepted into service between 1990 and 1994. [1]

Subsequent marks

After 1994, the Mamba utilised a Unimog truck chassis for better off-road performance and ground clearance. The first units were derived from surplus Buffel vehicles. [3] Its V-shaped hull is designed to deflect a mine blast away from the occupants. [3] 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 Mamba Mk2 and Mamba Mk3 versions, with 600 Mk2s upgraded to Mk3 configuration. [4] [5]

The Mamba is 546 centimetres (215 in) in length, 220.5 centimetres (86.8 in) in width, and has a height of 249.5 centimetres (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. [5] [6] The newest Mamba, the Mk5, is manufactured by N4-Trucks in South Africa, and delivers 240 hp (180 kW) 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.

Combat history

Mambas have been deployed primarily with peacekeeping missions mounted by the United Nations and the African Union. [1] The Mamba has seen active service with the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA), the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), and the British contingent of the Kosovo Force. [1] During the Iraq War, it was widely deployed by private security contractors in Iraq. [7]

Operators

Variants and derivatives

RG-31 Nyala, an APC closely resembling the Mamba. RG-31.JPG
RG-31 Nyala, an APC closely resembling the Mamba.
The Reva APC, which was derived from the Mamba design. Reva APC.jpg
The Reva APC, which was derived from the Mamba design.

Numerous variants of the Mamba have been produced, as well as vehicles derived from it. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

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The South African defence industry is the most advanced in Africa and one of the most advanced and largest in the world with over 20 defence companies. The defence industry provides weapons and equipment to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and for export customers. The South African defence industry develops weapons and combat systems such as rifles, armored fighting vehicles, tanks, artillery, military aircraft, navy ships and missiles.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Christopher F. Foss (2000). Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide (2000 ed.). Harper Collins Publishers. pp.  294–295. ISBN   978-0-00-472452-2.
  3. 1 2 Engelbrecht, Leon (21 January 2010), Fact file: Mamba APC/MRAP, DefenceWeb, retrieved 9 July 2013
  4. "Mamba". Deagel.com. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Mamba". South African Army. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  6. "Mamba Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  7. Scahill, Jeremy (2011). Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. London: Profile Books. p. 3. ISBN   9781847654786.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Ukrainian Defense Forces Will Get Several Alvis APC from Estonia | Defense Express". en.defence-ua.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  10. "Mamba MK2 SWB: Rantis Serbu MRAP Sat-81/Gultor Kopassus TNI AD". 26 July 2015.
  11. "Mamba APC". Tibs Transport. Retrieved 28 March 2010.