This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2013) |
DURO series | |
---|---|
Place of origin | Switzerland |
Service history | |
In service | 1994 - Present |
Used by | Switzerland, Germany, Venezuela, UK, Ireland, Denmark |
Production history | |
Designer | Bucher-Guyer AG |
Designed | 1994 |
Manufacturer | Bucher-Guyer AG, 1994-2003 GDELS/MOWAG, 2003-present |
Produced | 1994 - Present |
No. built | 4000 |
Variants | DURO [1]
Contents
|
The DURO (Durable Robust) is a series of wheeled, multi-purpose military transport vehicles produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems/MOWAG in both four and six wheel drive.[ citation needed ] It was initially developed for Switzerland by Bucher-Guyer AG in Niederweningen, Switzerland.[ citation needed ] An initial 3000 vehicles order for the Swiss Armed Forces came through in 1994.[ citation needed ] In January 2003 the production was transferred to MOWAG in Kreuzlingen. [5] Over 4,000 DURO 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles are now in service worldwide.[ citation needed ] The main customers are Switzerland, Germany, Venezuela, and the UK.[ citation needed ] In addition to these, the vehicle is used in many other countries for special purposes.[ citation needed ]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019) |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2019) |
The DURO III is available as a 4x4, 6x6, and an armoured 6x6 with modular shelter.
The DURO IIIP ( also named DURO GMTF) is a version only available in 6x6 form. It is heavily armoured and has a remote controlled machine-gun. It is used by the Danish Army as an ambulance, and by the Swiss Army in the roles of APC, NBC-Reconnaissance and ambulance in international peace support missions of Swissint. [6] The DURO IIIP is also used by Germany. [7]
The YAK is an upgraded, ballistic and mine-protected, variant of the DURO IIIP 6x6 chassis used by the German Army. It is made by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles.[ citation needed ] [8] [9]
The German Army uses the YAK for a variety of roles. The first batch of DURO III vehicles for Germany consisted of 30 vehicles, consisting of ambulance (12), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) (10), military police (four) and support vehicles for the LUNA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (four). Final deliveries were made late in 2005. Another 100 vehicles were ordered, with deliveries between 2006 and 2009. The actual contract covered the supply of 100 Yak chassis and a total of 114 bodies in the following configurations: 31 × mobile medical team; 8 × prisoner transport; 6 × water cannon; 23 × command post for military police; 23 × air base security; 2 × military geography; 21 × explosive ordnance disposal. Late in 2007 an order was placed by the German Army for another batch of seven Yak vehicles, six additional LUNA ground stations and a BIO reconnaissance vehicle. [8] [9]
In 2008, RMMV delivered three armoured NBC field laboratories to the Swiss Army which are similar to the Yak. [9]
The 420 Duro GMTF ordered by the Swiss Army are equipped with a Protector RWS and a diesel engine Cummins ISB5-9 (275 hp). [10]
232 Duro-3P were exported, and are equipped with a diesel engine Cummins 6BTA-5.9 (245 hp). [10]
The MOWAG Eagle IV and V were based on the DURO IIIP chassis.
The 4X4 and 6X6 Duro was also offered in various configurations as a fire engine:
These vehicles are in use in different fire units in Switzerland, such as the fire departments of Bern, Frick, Baar.
In the 1990s, consideration was given to introducing the Duro to the fire service of the former GDR as a substitute for the Robur LO. Robur and Duro have similar exterior dimensions, therefore existing fire houses required no structural alterations for new vehicles. The conversion failed due to the purchase price of Duro, which exceeded the financial strength of the fire departments.
The 4x4 Duro was also offered as a commercial vehicle for communities and municipalities as dump trucks or with solid aluminum construction as service vehicles, but there were no significant sales. Also in the configuration as a civilian ambulance, there were no successes.
A small number of vehicles are provided as expedition vehicles, privately owned. Converted from civilian companies or individuals as offroad campers, coach expedition and expedition vehicle based on 4x4 and 6x6 Duro.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force uses the LFAV, a vehicle based on the chassis of the Duro, the Red Rhino [11] [12] .
The Johannesburg fire department purchased Duro as firefighting vehicles. [13]
The M109 is an American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s to replace the M44. It has been upgraded a number of times, most recently to the M109A7. The M109 family is the most common Western indirect-fire support weapon of maneuver brigades of armored and mechanized infantry divisions.
The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss company Mowag.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, sometimes colloquially called the G-Wagen is a four-wheel drive automobile manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria and sold by Mercedes-Benz. Originally developed as a military off-roader, later more luxurious models were added to the line. In certain markets, it was sold under the Puch name as Puch G until 2000.
The Mowag Eagle is a series of wheeled armoured vehicle designed by Mowag a Swiss company now owned by GDELS.
Mowag is a Swiss company founded in 1950, which develops, designs and produces armoured fighting vehicles for military applications in both land-only and amphibious configurations. These vehicles have gross vehicle weights ranging from 9 tonnes to 30 tonnes. In 2003, the company was acquired by General Dynamics, and is now known as GDELS-Mowag, part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS).
The Cougar is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and infantry mobility vehicle structured to be resistant to landmines and improvised munitions.
The Condor is a 4×4 wheeled armoured personnel carrier originally designed by Thyssen-Henschel of Germany and manufactured by Henschel Wehrtechnik GmbH. The first prototype was completed in 1978. The Condor was designed as a successor to its UR-416 APC. The upgraded Condor 2 was first sold in 2004. Today, the Condor is considered a legacy product of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, part of Rheinmetall's Vehicle Systems Division. The nearest vehicle to the Condor in RMMV's current product range is the Survivor R.
Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş., also known simply as Otokar, is a Turkish bus and military vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey. Otokar is a subsidiary of Koç Holding.
The GFF4, previously KMW Grizzly, is a medium weight MRAP armored personnel carrier, developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), designed for operation with the German Army based on the 6x6 Trakker chassis from Iveco adapted to meet the needs of the German Army. It is being developed under the direction of the German Ministry of Defence Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement. The first vehicle will be delivered as early as November 2007.
The Pars is an amphibious armoured combat vehicle family with 4x4, 6×6 and 8×8 versions, produced by FNSS Defence Systems of Turkey.
Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RMMV) is a joint venture company between German companies MAN Truck & Bus AG and Rheinmetall AG. RMMV is part of Rheinmetall's Vehicle Systems Division. Rheinmetall AG holds a 51% stake in RMMV, with the remaining 49% held by MAN Truck & Bus. RMMV was initially a provider to security and armed forces of a wide range of armoured and unarmoured transport, command and role-specific wheeled vehicles, but since 2019 and a restructure has focused on military specific and militarised commercial trucks.
The MOWAG Roland is an armoured personnel carrier of Swiss origin. The vehicle was developed in 1960 and the prototype was tested in 1963. The Roland production was from 1964 to 1980.
The Swiss Military Museum is located at Full-Reuenthal in the Canton of Aargau.
The Saurer 6DM is a heavy truck manufactured by Adolph Saurer AG.
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDLS) is an automotive and arms manufacturer spread across Europe, with a headquarter in Madrid, Spain. It is a business unit of General Dynamics which consolidated in one structure all European subsidiaries of GDLS.
The M109, a widely-used American howitzer, has been operated by the Swiss Armed Forces since 1971. Under Swiss operation, the M109 has received numerous modernisations, though it is gradually being phased out of service, as its service life is approaching its end.