Posted on 05/09/2006 5:42:02 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
Britain is buying 80 armored trucks for their troops in Afghanistan, who are facing a more hostile environment that they did in Iraq. Eighty Pinzgauer military trucks are being bought, at a cost of $788,000 each. The Pinzgauer was developed, in the early 1970s, by the Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch (which now has an assembly plant in Britain). This new cross country truck design proved very popular with the civilian market, and then with military users. Cheaper and, to their users, more versatile and reliable than trucks from the larger military vehicle manufacturers, there are now over 30,000 Pinzgauers in service in 24 countries. The 4x4 wheel drive models carry up to 2,400 pounds, the 6x6 3,300 pounds. Each can carry twelve troops comfortably (and more than twice as many uncomfortably.) The Pinzgauer has kept up with the competition. When the American Humvee appeared two decades ago, the Pinzgauer design was modified to create a wider, lower vehicle (a feature of the Humvee that proved very successful). The Pinzgauer isn't cheaper than the Humvee, but is considered a better value and, for nations with anti-American leanings, makes them feel better.
The armored model the British are getting is called the Pinzgauer Protector and is a 6x6 vehicle that will protect its passengers from rifle bullets and roadside bombs. The protection includes a Kevlar floor, bullet proof glass and tires that will run when flat. The British, however, probably won't get their vehicles until next Summer.
"Lord won't you buy me, a Mercedes-Benz;
My friends all drives Humvees, I must make amends.."
When the Pinzgauer first came out, it had a windshield in the toeboard, for looking at where it would fall when rounding the top of a steep hummock.
[with apologies to Hanna-Barbera & The Cartoon Network]
Can you get it with shag carpet inside?
It would be the ultimate hippie van
'developed, in the early 1970s, by the Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch (which now has an assembly plant in Britain).'
The article is wrong - SDP don't have a production facility in the UK, a British company called ATL bought the sole production rights in 2000 and set up a factory to build them in the UK. They are now owned by the US defense contractor Stewart & Stevenson.
http://www.pinzgauer.uk.com/default.php?category=top&pageName=History
They are amazing off-road at speed and are able to leave both Land Rover Defenders and Humvees for dead in the rough stuff without slowing down. Check out these videos:
http://www.buypinzgauer.com/videos.htm
I'll be praying for you, man.
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