Jonga

Last updated
Jonga
WLUS (20).jpg
Jonga, mounted with 105 mm RCL gun which destroyed most of the tanks during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars
TypeMid-size off road vehicle
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service1969–1999
Production history
Manufacturer Vehicle Factory Jabalpur
Produced1969–1999
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications

EngineSix-cylinder 3956 cc in-line petrol engine
110 hp (82 kW; 112 PS) [1]
Payload capacity250 kilograms (550 lb) [1]
Transmission3-speed manual gearbox [2]

The Jonga was a Nissan designed vehicle formerly used by the Indian Army. Jonga was an acronym for Jabalpur Ordnance And Guncarriage Assembly, [3] manufactured by the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur. [1] They were produced for the Indian Army under an exclusive license granted by Nissan in 1965. [2] [4] [5]

Contents

The vehicle entered service in 1969 and production ceased in 1999. It served as one of the Indian Army's jeeps until it was phased out [6] and replaced mostly by the Mahindra MM540 jeep. [7]

History

The Indian Army showed an interest at the Nissan Patrol P60 and the Nissan 4W73 (also called the Nissan Carrier) in the 1960s. [7] A decision was made to prioritize the eventual production of the jeeps in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War. [8] The factory manufacturing the Jonga was commissioned for a cost of Rs. 12.06 crores by November 1965. [8] The costs were revised again twice; firstly, in December 1970 for Rs. 21.53 crores and again in January 1973 for Rs. 26.84 crores. [8]

The first Jongas made by VFJ were produced in 1969 for military use. [7] A civilian variant of the Jonga was later made in 1996. [2]

In 1999, the production of the Jonga stopped with 100 of them sold to civilians. [2]

In 2013, it was reported that 20,000 Jongas were still in service with the Indian military. [9] It also has reported sales of 2,000 Jongas to the state governments of Kerala, and Jammu and Kashmir. [9]

Design

Jonga that destroyed several tanks during battles Yoddhasthal Permanent Exhibition Southern command Indian Army Bhopal (87).jpg
Jonga that destroyed several tanks during battles

While the first 3500 vehicles were directly imported from Japan during the Sino-Indian War (these were the earlier 62-64 Nissan P60, identified by a 3-slot air vent on the windscreen, as well as 2-piece doors. The engine used a Hitachi Carburetor, which had a higher power rating, producing 145Hp and 31.7Kgm of Torque, and the distributor was water sealed too, which allowed a high fording depth of 2.5 feet, compared the Jonga manufactured by VFJ, which inturn was based on the later 64-66 Nissan Patrol P60, identified by a 2-piece air vent on the windscreen, which the single piece doors of the 64-66 patrol were replaced with a 2-piece door, with the lower section similar to the earlier 62-64 Nissan Patrol, but instead of the pressed steel top half of the earlier doors, it used a simple round bar metal frame, and it lacked the glass too, instead replaced with a canvas cover.

The earlier Jonga still used a Hitachi carburetor and a water-sealed distributor, and therefore had a similar power rating to the Nissan Patrol. However, as the indigenous content was increased, the distributor was replaced with a locally sourced unit which lacked the water-sealing of the earlier distributor, therefore fording depth dropped down to 17 inches, while the carburetor was replaced with a locally manufactured Solex unit, abruptly bringing down power rating from 145Hp to a mere 110Hp, and Torque to 27.5kgm.

The French sourced, but locally license manufactured Solex Carburetor - which was quite similar to the unit that replaced the Carter unit on Mahindra license manufactured Willys Jeep, and therefore suffered from similar design flaws as the Jeep unit. This carburetor had a smaller venturi bore compared to the Hitachi carburetor of the original Patrols, the biggest side effect of which was the power rating fell abruptly from 145Hp to a mere 110Hp, and torque suffered too, falling down to just 27.5kgm, while fuel consumption still remained unchanged).

Unlike Full-Floating axles where the wheels are mounted, via bearings, directly onto a stub shaft that is bolted, or sometime welded, into the axle housing, therefore the weight of the vehicle is loaded directly onto the stub shaft and the axle housing, allowing the axle shaft to be used only for connecting engine power to the wheels. A semi-floating axle assembly however, lacks this stub shaft, therefore in this case the axle shaft is used to double up as the weight bearing member of the axle assembly too, which in turn doubles up the stress on the axle shaft too - reason why semi-floating axles have a much larger diameter, especially close to the flange, compared to full-floating axles of similar gross weight rating. While this arrangement allows a semi-floating axle assembly an advantage, a simpler construction and fewer parts, and hence also cheaper than comparative full-floating axle assembly.

The major disadvantage of this design is that in the event an axle shaft is overloaded or fatigued and it snaps, then the axle shaft, along with the bearing as well as the wheel bolted to axle shaft flange, comes right off, which can sometimes turn into quite a dangerous scenario, particularly when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed).

Development

As the Jonga's design was based on the Nissan P60 and 4W73, it made maintenance easy due to access to COTS parts. [7] In 1996, the VFJ introduced the new 3.0L Hino diesel engine for civilian versions, [2] [10] which was sourced with assistance from Ashok Leyland. [11] It was known for its high ground clearance at 222 mm, its power at 3,800 rpm and peak torque at 1,800 rpm. [12]

The Jonga was originally made for 6 people before changes were made to allow seating capacity for up to 8 people. [9]

In 2014, it was reported that the Advanced Material and Process Research Centre (AMPRI) was working on an aluminum-based composite material, which was used to develop a brake drum from a combination of metal, ceramic and aluminum, and for other automobile components; this was produced in partnership with the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE). [13] According to AMPRI, the item was tested by VFJ on a Jonga, which reported an increase in braking efficiency. [13]

Variants

The Jonga was known to be used as a general purpose vehicle, ambulance, gun carrier for recoilless rifles, recon and patrol vehicle. [2] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axle</span> Central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear

An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle is supported. In the latter case, a bearing or bushing sits inside a central hole in the wheel to allow the wheel or gear to rotate around the axle. Sometimes, especially on bicycles, the latter type of axle is referred to as a spindle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four-wheel drive</span> Type of drivetrain with four driven wheels

Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case providing an additional output drive shaft and, in many instances, additional gear ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan RB engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The RB engine is an oversquare 2.0–3.0 L straight-6 four-stroke gasoline engine from Nissan, originally produced from 1985 to 2004. The RB followed the 1983 VG-series V6 engines to offer a full, modern range in both straight or V layouts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan KA engine</span> Motor vehicle engine

The KA engines were a series of four-stroke inline-four gasoline piston engines manufactured by Nissan, which were offered in 2.0 and 2.4 L. The engines blocks were made of cast-iron, while the cylinder heads were made of aluminum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Patrol</span> Motor vehicle

The Nissan Patrol is a series of full-size SUVs manufactured by Nissan in Japan and sold throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan CA engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The CA engine is a series of 1.6 to 2.0 L Inline-4 piston engines from Nissan. It is designed for a wide variety of smaller Nissan vehicles to replace the Z engine and some smaller, four-cylinder L series engines. The "CA" stands for Clean Air, due to the installation of Nissan emission reducing technology, called NAPS-X.

The Ford Motor Company produced straight-six engines from 1906 until 1908 and from 1941 until 2016. In 1906, the first Ford straight-six was introduced in the Model K. The next was introduced in the 1941 Ford. Ford continued producing straight-six engines for use in its North American vehicles until 1996, when they were discontinued in favor of more compact V6 designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeep Comanche</span> Motor vehicle

The Jeep Comanche is a pickup truck variant of the Cherokee compact SUV (1984–1992) manufactured and marketed by Jeep for model years 1986-1992 in rear wheel (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) models as well as two cargo bed lengths: six-foot and seven-foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan L engine</span> Motor vehicle engine

The Nissan L series of automobile engines was produced from 1966 through 1986 in both inline-four and inline-six configurations ranging from 1.3 L to 2.8 L. It is a two-valves per cylinder SOHC non-crossflow engine, with an iron block and an aluminium head. It was the engine of the Datsun 510, Datsun 240Z sports car, and the Nissan Maxima. These engines are known for their reliability, durability, and parts interchangeability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Z engine</span> Motor vehicle engine

The Nissan Z engine is a series of automobile and light truck four-cylinder engines that was engineered by Nissan Machinery, manufactured by the Nissan Motor Company from 1979 through August 1989. All Z engines had 4 cylinders, a total of 8 valves and a single overhead camshaft (SOHC). Displacements ranged from 1.6 L to 2.4 L.The Z series' engine blocks were nearly identical to those of the earlier L Series with the exception of the Z24. While the Z16 and Z18 engines had a deck height similar to the earlier L13/L14/L16/L18 variants, the Z24 had a taller deck height to accommodate a longer stroke. The most notable difference between the Z-series engine and its predecessor was the introduction of a new crossflow cylinder head which reduced emissions by moving the intake ports to the right side of the engine opposite the exhaust ports. This change allows the exhaust port velocity to more effectively scavenge the cylinder and reduce reversion pulses to enhance induction. This change also limits maximum valve lift/lobe lift profiles rendering the cylinder head and valve train configuration undesirable for high-performance uses. The Z series evolved into the NA and KA engines which, along with the smaller CA series, replaced the Z series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Hemi engine</span> Series of I6 and V8 engines built by Chrysler

The Chrysler Hemi engines, known by the trademark Hemi or HEMI, are a series of American V8 gasoline engines built by Chrysler with overhead valve hemispherical combustion chambers. Three different types of Hemi engines have been built by Chrysler for automobiles: the first from 1951 to 1958, the second from 1964 to 1971, and the third beginning in 2003. Although Chrysler is most identified with the use of "Hemi" as a marketing term, many other auto manufacturers have incorporated similar designs. The engine block and cylinder heads were cast and manufactured at Indianapolis Foundry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan MR engine</span> Kind of engine made by Nissan

The Renault-Nissan MR engine family consists of straight-four 16-valve all-aluminium automobile engines with variable valve timing co-developed by Renault and Nissan. Renault calls it the M engine. Other noteworthy features of this engine family include acoustically equal runner lengths and a tumble control valve for the intake manifold, a "silent" timing chain, mirror finished crankshaft and camshaft journals, and offset cylinder placement in an attempt for increased efficiency.

The SD engine was replaced by the Nissan TD engine. It was manufactured by Minsei Diesel Industries, Ltd., which was renamed Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UAZ-469</span> Soviet military light utility vehicle

The UAZ-469 is an off-road military light utility vehicle manufactured by UAZ. It was used by Soviet and other Warsaw Pact armed forces, as well as paramilitary units in Eastern Bloc countries. In the Soviet Union, it also saw widespread service in state organizations that needed a robust and durable off-road vehicle. Standard military versions included seating for seven personnel.

Renix was a joint venture by Renault and Bendix that designed and manufactured automobile electronic ignitions, fuel injection systems, electronic automatic transmission controls, and various engine sensors. Major applications included various Renault and Volvo vehicles. The name became synonymous in the U.S. with the computer and fuel injection system used on the AMC/Jeep 2.5 L I4 and 4.0 L I6 engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout</span> Automotive configuration

In automotive design, an F4, or front-engine, four-wheel drive (4WD) layout places the internal combustion engine at the front of the vehicle and drives all four roadwheels. This layout is typically chosen for better control on many surfaces, and is an important part of rally racing, as well as off-road driving. In terms of racing purposes, whether it be on-road or off-road, can be described as follows,

A team that pursues the Weak LS4WD architecture will minimize the development cost of the front-wheel drive system at the expense of having a larger rear powertrain. The Weak architecture produces a vehicle with a large powersplit between the front and rear powertrains, while the Strong architecture recommends a vehicle with more similar power and torque requirements for the front and rear.

The 10.5" Corporate 14 Bolt Differential is a heavy duty differential found on many 1973-2013 Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs, as well as certain versions of the Cadillac Escalade. Additionally, this differential is found on Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans produced from 1973 to current day. Debuting in 1973, this differential is a full floating design with a ring gear diameter of 10.5 inches (270 mm). As the name implies, this differential has 14 bolts holding on the differential cover. The ring gear is not held on with 14 bolts, but rather 12. The 14 bolt differential is a popular axle swap option for Jeep Wrangler owners, and is referred to as the "corporate" 14 bolt because of the odd nature of GM's corporate structure in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willys M38</span> Type of 1⁄4 short ton (230 kg) 4x4 truck

The Willys MC, formally the 14-Ton, 4 x 4, Utility Truck M38, or the G‑740 by its U.S. Army Standard Nomenclature supply catalog designation, is a quarter-ton four-wheel drive military light utility vehicle made by Willys between 1949 and 1952. It replaced, and succeeded the World War II Willys MB and Ford GPW models, with a total production of some 50,000 units — less than one tenth the number of WWII models built. Unlike during WWII, Ford was no longer involved in the production.

Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, is a military motor vehicle factory, located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, part of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited which was previously a part of Ordnance Factory Board, controlled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

Vehículos Industriales y Agrícolas, S.A. was a Spanish automobile company, a division of parent company Construcciones y Auxiliares de Ferrocariles (CAF).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jonga (4x4)". Bharat Rakshak. September 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gupta, Ritvik (May 16, 2020). "Jonga | A Nissan Patrol made for the Indian Army".
  3. "Metro Plus Coimbatore / Wheels: Monster on the move". The Hindu . June 13, 2009. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009.
  4. "End of the road for Jonga". Hindustan Times. February 27, 2009.
  5. "New gen would go wow over this 1 Ton of Dhoni from the Army". OnManorama.
  6. "AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IN INDIA:INNOVATION AND GROWTH" (PDF). ijcrt.org. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "On Patrol" (PDF). nissanpatrolclub.org. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  8. 1 2 3 https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/4561/1/pac_6_109_1979.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  9. 1 2 3 Singh, Sanjit (December 13, 1997). "Jonga May Shed Fatigues, Go Commercial". Business Standard India via Business Standard.
  10. "Jonga Military SUV – All You Need To Know". April 2, 2015.
  11. "Unsealed 4X4 | THE LIVING DEAD". August 21, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "The Jonga and its cult following", Business Standard, August 25, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "AMPRI develops cheap auto parts for army vehicles | Bhopal News". The Times of India. 19 November 2014.