The South African military Marauder Military off road vehicle was recently seen on Top Gear a very popular television show. This new vehicle...
The South African military Marauder Military off road vehicle was recently seen on Top Gear a very popular television show. This new vehicle will make a big difference for the south African military. The Marauder[1] is an armoured, mine-protected vehicle that is produced by Paramount Group in South Africa. It was launched during the 2007 International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and Conference in Abu Dhabi, the largest arms exhibition in the Middle East.[2][3][4]nnDesign and Specifications[edit]nThe Marauder was developed for reconnaissance and peacekeeping missions. It carries a crew of up to ten, including a driver and commander.nnOriginally designed to operate in urban, built-up and confined areas it is smaller in both size and weight than the Matador, a similarly armoured vehicle. Vehicle configuration is either 4x4 or a 6x6. The Marauder has a cruising speed of around 100 to 120 km/h (62–75 mph), and a maximum range of 700 kilometres (430 mi).nnThe Marauder’s double-skin monocoque hull provides protection against projectiles up to STANAG 4569 Level III for the crew compartment.[5]nnThe Marauder’s payload capacity allows for the fitting of various defence and weapons systems, including light and medium-calibre machine guns, cannon weapon installations, and missile launchers, as well as command, surveillance, and control systems. The vehicle can be configured such that mortars may be fired from the payload platform.[6]nnType Armoured personnel carriernPlace of origin South AfricanService historynUsed by Azerbaijani Armed ForcesnAfrican UnionnProduction historynManufacturer Paramount GroupnProduced 2008–presentnNumber built ~250nSpecificationsnWeight Curb: 9,900 kg (21,780 lb)nCombat: 15,000 kg (33,000 lb)nCrew 2 + 8 passengersnArmor Ballistic protection: STANAG 4569 level III (7.62 × 51 mm AP WC Core at 30 meters) and mine blast protection: STANAG 4569 3a and 3b (single anti-tank mine (8 kg of TNT under the hull and under any wheel)nEngine Cummins ISBe4-300 Diesel (221kW/300hp @ 2500rpm, 1100Nm @ 1200-1800rpm)nMAN D0836LOH Diesel (176kW/240hp @ 2300rpm, 925Nm @ 1200-1800rpm)nPayload capacity 6,000 kg (13,227 lb)nSuspension 4x4 or 6x6 wheeled[1]nGround clearance 420 mmnOperationalnrangen700 km (435 mi)nSpeed 100–120 km/h (tyre dependent)nnProduction[edit]nIn 2008, for the manufacturing and production of the Marauder, the Paramount Group entered into an agreement with the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), Jordan’s primary governmental military agency that develops and manufactures defence systems,[7] and which serves as an independent technical advisor to the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). As well as being a manufacturer, Jordan was the first customer for the Marauder.[8]nnIn popular culture[edit]nIn June 2011, the civilian version of the Marauder was featured in British motoring program Top Gear,[9] with Richard Hammond.nnThe focus of the roadtest was to test the Marauder against the discontinued Hummer H3. Unlike the original Hummer H1, the Hummer H3 is a civilian model based on the Chevrolet Colorado. Among the activities tested were ordering fast-food from a drive-through restaurant, driving off-road, through/over obstacles (solid brick walls and parked cars, respectively) and testing how well it could withstand an explosion (seven pounds of plastic explosives) directed at its underside.[10]nnUnlike the (civilian spec) Hummer H3, which was completely destroyed by the explosion, the Marauder was still operational and sustained only minor damage for the most part, Hammond easily managing to drive it away despite its dislodged/blown tyre.nnOperatorsn Azerbaijan — 65nSouth Africa South Africa — ~50nJordan Jordan — ~50nnThe South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of the Defence Department.nnThe military as it exists today was created in 1994,[4][5] following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution. It replaced the South African Defence Force.nnHistory[edit]nThe SANDF took over the personnel and equipment from the SADF and integrated forces from the former Bantustan homelands forces,[6]:5 as well as personnel from the former guerrilla forces of some of the political parties involved in South Africa, such as the African National Congress's Umkhonto we Sizwe, the Pan Africanist Congress's Azanian People's Liberation Army and the Self-Protection Units of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).[4]nnAs of 2004, the integration process was considered complete, with retaining personnel, structure, and equipment from the SADF. However, due to integration problems, financial constraints, and other issues, the SANDF faced capability constraints.'[7] Less
