Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2022) |
Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle | |
---|---|
PS; 87 bhp) | |
Payload capacity | 2.5 tonnes[1] |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic (Pinzgauer II) |
Suspension | 4- or 6-wheel drive |
Operational range | 400 km (249 mi) |
Maximum speed | 4×4: 110 km/h (68 mph) / 6×6: 100 km/h (62 mph) |
The Pinzgauer is a family of high-mobility
In 2000 the rights were sold to
Being both unarmed and unarmoured, the Pinzgauer was designed for mobility and general utility functions rather than combat or reconnaissance roles.
First generation
The original prototype was developed around 1969 and production began in 1971,[2] as successor of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch Haflinger 700 AP 4×4 light military multi purpose offroad vehicle.[2] The Pinzgauer first generation model (710, 712) was produced until 2000 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in the city of Graz, Austria.
It was, and is in use in many armies around the world like Austria,[3] Switzerland,[3] United Kingdom,[3] Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Albania, and Bolivia. When Austro-Canadian millionaire Frank Stronach took over the shareholder majority of Steyr-Daimler-Puch offroad vehicles, the rights to build Steyr's Pinzgauers were moved to Automotive Technik Ltd; and subsequently to a branch of BAE Systems. As of 2009, production of Pinzgauers seems to have stalled. The Graz plant has been building the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon / Puch G SUVs / offroad cars.
The Pinzgauer is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made.[citation needed] While not as fast on-road (110 kilometres per hour (68 mph)) as an American Humvee, it can carry more troops, and move faster over rough trails.[4] Even the smaller 710M can carry 10 people or two NATO pallets. Both the 4×4 and 6×6 models can tow 5,000 kilograms (11,023 lb) on road; and 1,500 kilograms (3,307 lb) or 1,800 kilograms (3,968 lb), respectively, off-road. It has a range of over 400 kilometres (249 mi) on one tank of fuel, or nearly 700 kilometres (435 mi) with the optional 125 litre tank. The first generation Pinzgauer is available in both four-wheel drive (4×4) (model 710) and six-wheel drive (6×6) (model 712) versions.
The Pinzgauer was designed to be reliable and easy to fix; it is shipped with an air-cooled petrol engine with dual-Zenith 36 mm NDIX carburetors. 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 the vehicle is oriented.
The Pinzgauer has a chassis design which contributes to its high mobility. It has a central tube
During production from 1971 until 1985, 18,349 first-generation 710s and 712s were produced and sold to both civilian and military customers.
Variants
710 model, 4×4
M | soft top with rear passenger seats (10 passenger total) |
T | flat bed carrier |
K | 5 door hard top station wagon (5 passenger total)
|
AMB-Y | ambulance with 3 doors |
AMB-S | ambulance with air-portable removable shelter |
712 model, 6×6
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.
Specifications
All the first generation Pinzgauers are equipped with:
- 2.5 inline four-cylinder air-cooled engine. An exception was made on certain 712 variants towards the end of production that came with a 2.7-litre air-cooled four-cylinder engine. This was primarily on ambulances.
- PS; 87 bhp) (105 hp SAE)
- Torque: 180 newton-metres (133 lbf⋅ft)
- Five-speed manual transmission with two-speed transfer case
- differentiallocks
- Fully independent suspension
- Backbone chassis tube[2]
- Integrated differentials
- 24 volt electrical system
- Vacuum assisted drum brakes
- Portal axles to give extra clearance
Second generation
In 1980,
however production has ceased.The four-wheel drive (4×4) model is now called a 716,[3] and the six-wheel drive (6×6) model[5] is now called a 718.[3] 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 II:
- D24T
- ZF Friedrichshafen four-speed automatic transmission, or five-speed manual transmission[2]
- Slightly wider track
- Slightly bigger tyres
- Disc brakes
- Standard automatic transmission, with optional manual transmission
The second generation
Worldwide markets
The Pinzgauer (or Pinz as it is known to most British soldiers) is more common as a utility vehicle in Royal Artillery units due to its employment as a light gun tractor.
A new lightly-armoured version called the "Vector" briefly entered service in the British Army in early 2007, as part of an effort to provide safer patrol vehicles for troops in Afghanistan. The 6×6 Vector PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) would, 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". However, the Vector PPV was found to have unreliable suspension and wheel hubs as well as poor protection against improvised explosive devices. It quickly lost the confidence of field commanders and was withdrawn from service.[6]
The Pinzgauer is the basis for the Tactical Ground Station (TGS) element of the Raytheon Systems Limited Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR). The TGS comprises two workstation vehicles, a mission support vehicle, and a standard utility vehicle.
Many Pinzgauers were sold to military forces (initially Austrian[3] and Swiss[3]) 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 vehicles like Land Rover in the UK, the Blazer CUCV in the US, and the Mercedes G in many European countries.
Yugoslavia bought 3975 Pinzgauers from 1971 in all variants 4x4 and 6x6.[7]
The New Zealand Army[2] has purchased 321 Pinzgauer vehicles in 8 variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role.
The Malaysian Army purchased 168 2 Ton 4×4 716 Gun Tractors and 164 2 Ton 6×6 718 Mortar Transporters to replace older Volvo C303 and C304 in their inventories. It is affectionately called "Piglet" due to its design.
The US Army purchased 20 Turbo Diesel 718M during the early 1990s, imported for the Army’s Delta Force as a deep reconnaissance platform. They were used in the 1991 Gulf War as well as the 2003 Iraq war, and eventually phased out at 2010–2011.
The Pinzgauer was marketed to the civilian marketplace worldwide for use as campers, farm trucks, ambulances,[3] fire-trucks,[3] and rescue vehicles.[3] 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 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 and the International Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia.
Military users
Military users include:
- Argentina
- Austria[8]
- Bolivia
- Croatia
- Cyprus[9]
- Eswatini
- Ghana[10]
- Jordan[9]
- Lebanon
- Lithuania
- Malaysia[9]
- Montenegro
- New Zealand[11]
- Nigeria[12]
- North Macedonia
- Oman[13]
- Pakistan[9]
- Saudi Arabia[9]
- Serbia
- Seychelles[9]
- Sudan[14]
- Switzerland[14]
- Thailand[9]
- Tunisia[15]
- United Kingdom[15][2]
- United States[9]
- Ukraine[16][17] – Pinzgauer Vector: at least 3 armored ambulances and at least 8 APCs as of June 2022
- Venezuela
Former users
Pinzgauer capabilities
The Pinzgauer is a highly accomplished off-road vehicle. Its capabilities, in some operational scenarios, are better than that of the Humvee and the Land Rover Defender.
- 38°/45° approach and departure angles
- 100% slope, or until tyres lose traction
- 700 millimetres (27.6 in) fording depth
- 335 millimetres (13.2 in) of ground clearance (lowest point when fully loaded)
- Can climb down a 360 millimetres (14.2 in) wall
- 43.5° side-slope
- 1000/1500 kg of payload (4×4/6×6)
- top speed
- (710 – 4×4): 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph)
- (712 – 6×6): 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph)
- (716 – 4×4): 125 kilometres per hour (78 mph)
- (718 – 6×6): 115 kilometres per hour (71 mph)
- Full engine power available for 710/712 at 4 kilometres per hour (2 mph)
- M body type carries 10 people (4×4), 14 people (6×6)
See also
- Steyr-Puch Haflinger
- Humvee (HMMWV)
- Jeep
- Land Rover Wolf
- Land Rover 101 Forward Control
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Toyota Mega Cruiser
- Toyota Type 73 Medium Truck
- UAZ-469
- Unimog
- Volvo C303
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-7106-1912-9.
References
- ^ a b "Pinzgauer". BAE Systems. BAESystems.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "the Volkswagen powered Pinzgauer" (PDF). Marshalls Industrial. MI-UK.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "What Pinzgauer". SDP-Pinzgauer. SDP-Pinzgauer.org. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ What the heck is a Pinzgauer? Everything You Ever Wanted to Know ! – The Fast Lane Truck
- ^ a b "Pinzgauer II". BAE Systems. BAESystems.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ "Troops in Afghanistan face delays getting vital equipment, says NAO". The Daily Telegraph. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Pinzgauer – Page". www.paluba.info. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Foss & Gander 1999, p. 727.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Foss & Gander 1999, p. 338.
- ^ Foss & Gander 1999, p. 729.
- ^ "Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicles". New Zealand Defence Force. October 2004. Archived from the original on 15 December 2004.
- ^ Foss & Gander 1999, p. 731.
- ^ Foss & Gander 1999, p. 732.
- ^ a b Foss & Gander 1999, p. 733.
- ^ a b Foss & Gander 1999, p. 734.
- ^ Wharton, James. "The Army vehicles being given new roles as Ukrainian ambulances". Forces Network.
- ^ "Українські військові отримали автомобілі Pinzgauer". Мілітарний (in Ukrainian).