Mechem BAT

     Notes: This South African vehicle is described by the SADF as a “special forces utility vehicle.”  It is based on a civilian lightweight off-road vehicle, with a great deal of strengthening of the chassis, suspension, and frame, better brakes, different starter, and weapons mounts.  The rear of the BAT can carry a variety of weapons or pallets, from cargo boxes to communications setups to light multiple rocket launchers.  Also commonly carried are recoilless rifles and ATGM.  There are two mounting points for weapons, equivalent to NATO tripods, one over the windshield and one on the roll bar.  The engine of the BAT may be a 3-liter 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 138 horsepower or a 4-cylinder 2-liter turbodiesel developing 110 horsepower. The brakes are power assisted, but the transmission is manual. The rear cargo section may carry personnel or a variety of pallets, including bulk cargo or weapons like light MRLs.

     The BAT Mk2 is a larger version of the BAT. It is powered by a Mercedes-Benz 5-cylinder diesel developing 120 horsepower, coupled with an automatic transmission. It has the same weapons mounts, with the same ability to carry palletized loads and weapons.

Armscor Jakkals

     Notes: This is a jeep-like vehicle used by South Africa.  Instead of metal, the body is made of glass fiber that is impact resistant and lighter than metal.  It is very small, and 10 of them can fit inside a C-130 aircraft, with trailers.  They can be airdropped, and were in fact designed for South African airborne units.  No weapon is provided, but the vehicle has a post behind the front seats that can mount any two NATO tripod compatible weapons, as well as one of several 20mm autocannons, or an M40 recoilless rifle.  The trailer designed for this vehicle weighs only 180 kg and can hold 350 kg; alternatively, the Jakkals may tow other equipment of 530 kilograms weight or act as a tractor for heavy autocannons or mortars weighing the same, such as a Valkiri-5 MRL, 120mm mortar, or ZU-23-2. The Jakkals is powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine developing 63 horsepower.

Armscor SAMIL 20

     Notes: This is a fairly common light truck in South African service.  It has numerous variants, including a cargo/troop carrier, van body, rocket launcher, workshop, container carrier, and may even be armored with plates giving AV 2 to all faces.  The cab and cargo area are covered with canvas.  The sides and tailgate may be dropped.  The standard truck has a forward control-type cab with a canvas roof, removable side windows, and a steel roll bar.  The rear cargo area uses aluminum side boards and a steel framework over which a canvas tilt may be placed.  Troops seats are placed down the center, but they may be folded up along the sides or removed altogether when more cargo space is needed.  The floor of the cargo area has tie-down points and locking points for containers or shelter bodies.  Between the cab and the cargo area is a spare tire, complete with a light crane to help the crew lower it or raise it.  The Bulldog variant of this truck has a mine-protected body shape (the underside is V-shaped to deflect the blast of a mine).  It has an underside AV of 2, though it is not actually armored.  The shaping unfortunately takes away some of the cargo area, which is physically smaller than that of the standard truck (though the Load figure is identical).  The engine of the Mk I is a Deutz F6L 913F with a power of 124 horsepower, with a Synchromesh transmission. The Mk I has locking differentials to aid mobility on rough terrain. Variants range from hard van bodies to the Bulldog with mine-resistant underside and Kwevoel with an MRAP cab to the Rhino fully armored truck.

     The Mk 2 is a light truck used by South Africa and Mozambique.  It was developed from the SAMIL 20 Mk 1, but has a much lighter engine and a stronger fuel tank; the ADE352 129-horsepower engine (a license-built Mercedes OM353) is also better suited to the dust and heat of South Africa.  The transmission is also altered to suit the new engine.  Most importantly, the Mk 2 is sourced from over 90% local parts.  The cab is fully enclosed, and the underside is a V-hull.  The only versions are the cargo/troop carrier, Ambulance, and light mobile workshop.

*The underside of these vehicles is a V-hull and has an effective AV of 2Sp.

**The listed AV is for the cab only; the rest of the vehicle has an AV 1. The underside of the cab is a V-hull.

***The floor AV of the Rhino is 4Sp and is a V-hull.

Armscor/Vickers OMC Wasp RDRV

     Notes: This is roughly equivalent to the US RAMP-V in concept, being a heavier version of a fast attack-type vehicle to carry more troops and/or more cargo.  The Wasp has three seats in front, with four more in the back (the troops in the back have their legs dangling over the rear of the vehicle).  The rear seats may be folded down or removed and sides added to produce a cargo area.  Under the rear seats is also a small area for more cargo.  The roll cage has a single weapon mount able to take a weapon in size up to a light 20mm autocannon such as an MG151 or something like an ASP autocannon. The rear area may mount a weapons pallet able to mount the same sorts of weapons or a 60mm mortar. The engine of the Wasp is a VM Motori 4-cylinder turbodiesel developing 113 horsepower. The Wasp has considerable torque and can tow 1.5 tons. Included with the vehicle is a 60-liter tank for drinking water. 

*Floor AV is 4Sp.