Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle
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| Pinzgauer High Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle | |
|---|---|
 Pinzgauer 716 (second generation) |
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| Specifications | |
| Crew | driver, co-driver+8/12 passengers (4x4/6x6) |
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| Engine | Inline 4-cylinder Steyr-designed gasoline engine 87 hp (65 kW) |
| Suspension | 4 or 6 wheel drive |
| Operational range |
400 kilometres (250 mi) |
| Speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) / 100 km/h (62 mph) (4x4/6x6) |
The Pinzgauer is a family of high mobility all-terrain 4x4 and 6x6 military utility vehicles. They are manufactured in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom, by BAE Systems Land Systems. The vehicle was originally developed in the late 1960s by Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Graz, Austria, and was named after the Pinzgauer, an Austrian breed of horse. It was popular amongst military buyers, and continued in production throughout the rest of the century. In 2000 the rights were sold to Automotive Technik Ltd (ATL) in the UK. ATL was subsequently acquired by Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. in 2005; in May 2006, Stewart & Stevenson became a subsidiary of the aerospace and defence group Armor Holdings, Inc. One year later Armor Holdings was itself acquired by BAE Systems, who continue production of the Pinzgauer.
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[edit] First generation
The original prototype was produced in 1965 and production began in 1971, as successor of the Haflinger. This first generation model was produced until 1985 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch.
The Pinzgauer is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made. While not as fast as the American HMMWV it can carry more troops. Even the smaller 710M can carry 10 people or two NATO pallets. Both the 4x4 and 6x6 models can tow 5000 kg (11023 lb) on road and 1500 kg (3307 lb) or 1800 kg (3968 lb), respectively, off-road. It has a range of over 400 kilometres (250 mi) on one tank of fuel or nearly 700 kilometres (430 mi) with the optional 125-litre tank. The first generation Pinzgauer is available in both four-wheel drive (model 710) and six-wheel drive (model 712) versions.
The Pinzgauer was designed to be reliable and easy to fix; it is shipped with an air-cooled dual-carburetor engine. (Air-cooled carburetor engines are still in use in many small aircraft due to their reliability. This is partly because air-cooled engines have been around longer and partly because they are simpler and have fewer parts.) The engine in the Pinzgauer was specifically designed for the vehicle; it has more than one oil pump so that the engine will not get starved of oil no matter how it is oriented.
It also has a very advanced chassis contributing to its high mobility. The Pinzgauer has a central tube chassis with a transaxle which distributes the weight more evenly and keeps the center of gravity as low as possible. The differentials are all sealed units and require minimal additional lubrication. The Pinzgauer also has portal axles like the Unimog and the HMMWV to provide extra clearance over obstacles. The 710 4x4 was the more popular variant, but the Pinzgauer was designed to have a very capable 6x6 configuration from the start. The rear suspension on the back of the 6x6 712 is designed to provide maximum traction in the most demanding circumstances along with increasing its towing, load carrying, and off-road abilities.
During production from 1971 until 1985 18,349 first-generation 710s and 712s were produced and sold to both civilian and government buyers.
[edit] Body type variants:
[edit] 710 4x4
| M | soft top with rear passenger seats (10 passenger total) |
| T | flat bed carrier |
| K | 5 door hard top station wagon |
| AMB-Y | ambulance with 3 doors |
| AMB-S | ambulance with air-portable removable shelter |
[edit] 712 6x6
| M | soft top with rear passenger seats |
| T | flat top carrier |
| FW | fire truck |
| K | 5 door station wagon |
| W | workshop with air-portable shelter |
| DK | 4 door crew cab pickup |
| AMB-S | ambulance, with air-portable removable shelter |
The most common body types are either "K" (hard-topped) or "M" (soft-topped) types.
[edit] Specifications
All the first generation Pinzgauers are equipped with:
- 2.5 L air-cooled four cylinder engine
- Power: 87 hp (64 kW)
- Torque: 180 N·m (133 ft·lbf)
- 5 speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case
- 4 or 6 wheel drive with on-the-fly hydraulic differential locks
- Fully independent suspension
- Backbone chassis tube
- Integrated differentials
- 24 volt electrical system
- Vacuum assisted drum brakes
- Portal axles to give extra clearance
[edit] Importing
A popular idea in North America and other countries is to import first generation Pinzgauers for individual use. Any Pinzgauer can be imported but, due to the high cost and the difficulty in certifying them, the second generation Pinzgauers are very rarely imported. First generation Pinzgauers are often imported because they are widely available and cheaper. Both Switzerland and Austria have released many 1st generation Pinzgauers into the civilian marketplace as they converted their fleet to newer trucks. First generation Pinzgauers sold to civilians in Europe are likewise occasionally found and imported.
Vehicles over 25 years old are much easier to import due to a rolling 25 year exemption to DOT regulations and a rolling 21 year exemption for EPA requirements. The first generation Pinzgauers were equipped with typical safety equipment for that era: seat belts, emergency flashers, etc. and have no difficulty meeting US standards for vehicles of that age. In many aspects the Pinzgauer was better equipped from a safety perspective than many contemporary 4x4s (Jeeps, Land Rovers, etc.) coming from the factory with seat belts, power brakes, integral roll bars, and other safety focused design features. Like most 4x4s, the driver has to be aware of the high centre of gravity. As with other 4x4s, it is possible to tip them if driven aggressively or inappropriately.
The first generation trucks are popular with off-roaders world-wide due to their low cost and their ability in off-roading. There are several shops in the USA that deal with importing Pinzgauers from both individual sales and government auctions. Dealers are also found in Canada and other countries.
[edit] Second generation
In 1980 Steyr-Daimler-Puch started development on a second generation Pinzgauer. After 6 years of R&D the initial second generation Pinzgauer rolled off the assembly line in 1986. In 2000 Magna, who bought Steyr-Daimler-Puch sold its rights to the Pinzgauer to Automotive Technik in the UK. They took over production of the Pinzgauer and still make it to this day. The Pinzgauer is now owned and produced by BAE Systems Land Systems in Guildford Surrey.
The four-wheel-drive Model is now called a 716 and the six-wheel-drive model is now called a 718. The same letter body type designations apply. The new 716 has the same payload rating as the old 712, and the new 718 also has a similarly higher payload capacity.
There were a few minor changes to the design of the Pinzgauer:
- Inline 6 cylinder Volkswagen turbo diesel engine
- Slightly wider track
- Slightly bigger tires
- Disk brakes
- Standard automatic transmission with optional manual transmission
The second generation vehicle went through several minor revisions through its life, unlike the first generation which used the same design throughout production. The first second-generation Pinzgauers were designated P80 (1980). It went through a revision in 1990 (P90), 1993 (P93), and an engine change in 2002. This was a new Volkswagen TDI engine to meet the new Euro III emissions requirements.
[edit] Worldwide markets
The Pinzgauer is used quite widely in the United Kingdom as a fire engine in smaller towns and villages and is increasingly replacing the Land Rover Defender in the military utility vehicle role despite its high cost of upwards of US$100,000 per unit. A new armoured version called the "Vector" entered service in the British Army in early 2007 as part of an effort to provide safer patrol vehicles for troops in Afghanistan. The 6x6 Vector PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle), will according to the manufacturer, "Build on the existing proven design, with enhancements that will include a combination of physical protection as well as the use of sophisticated electronic counter measures to maximise survivability while on patrol". Yugoslavia has been the first generation Pinzgauer customer in huge numbers. Serbian forces added armor and successfully used these field modifications in Balkans conflicts. Many Pinzgauers were sold to military forces (initially Austrian and Swiss) to be used as non-tactical utility vehicles. Typical military roles are as general purpose utility truck, command vehicles, troop carrier, ambulance, and tow vehicle. Roles very similar to other civilian sourced CUCV vehicles like Land-Rover in the UK, the Blazer CUCV in the US, and Geländewagen in many European countries.
The New Zealand army has purchased 321 Pinzgauer vehicles in 8 variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role. The Malaysian Army had purchased this model to replaced older Volvo C303 in their inventories.
The Pinzgauer was also marketed to the civilian marketplace world-wide for use as campers, farm trucks, ambulances, fire-trucks, and rescue vehicles. Likewise, many ended up being used as tourist vans due to their large passenger capacity and stable, reliable platform. Pinzgauers have been used as tourist transports in Africa, Australia, South America, Hawaii, and other exotic locales. Some are still in use today. Pinzgauers were also marketed to and used extensively by energy companies for oil exploration purposes. A few Pinzgauers were used for off-road racing, including the famous Paris to Dakar Rally.
Similar-purposed vehicles include the German Daimler-Benz Unimog and Geländewagen trucks, the British Land Rover Wolf, and the American HMMWV "Humvee".
[edit] Military Users
[edit] Pinzgauer capabilities
The Pinzgauer is a remarkable offroad vehicle. Its capabilities are comparable to that of the HMMWV (Hummer) and vastly exceed the Jeep.
- 45 degree approach and departure angle
- 100% slope or until tyres lose traction
- 700 mm (27.6 in) fording depth
- Can climb down a 360 mm (14.2 in) wall
- 43.5 degree side-slope
- 1000/1500 kg of payload (4x4/6x6)
- 335 mm (13.2 in) of clearance (lowest point when fully loaded)
- 110 km/h (68 mph) / 100 km/h (62 mph) top speed(4x4/6x6)
- Full engine power available at 4 km/h (2 mph)
- M body type carries 10 people (4X4), 14 people (6x6)
[edit] See also
