MINE PROTECTED COMBAT VEHICLE The pinnacle of Fnogesa's venice developments during the war- the mine-roteced ‘compat vii. The registration plate inaicaes the 18th vit, ith specialist (2) armoured (£) bodywork registered in 1978. In August 1978 Collan Stansield, Quartermaster Generalof the Rhodesian Army, put out a requirement for a mine-proiected infantry fighting vehicle. The ‘General Specifications’ were for 2 low, al-terrain MAP vehicle for 10 men. The base whicle specified was the Rodel 25 because ofits general suitabiliy and because 65 chassis were on hand, standing idle. Zambesi Coach- works (a Lonrho-ouned company whose slogan was ‘Proud to Serve’) and Tinto Industries (a Rio Tinto Rhodesia company) ‘were amongst the companies that submitted prototypes. Zambesi Coachworks had a lot of experience in mine-protect- ed vehicles and designed an open-iopped vehicle that was diamond in cross section. Stansfield had encouraged these firms to adopt the unitary or chassisless approach and, with Zambesi Coachworks, he was successful “The prototype they produced,” according to an Stansfield, tried to protect the vehicle gearbox, prop shaft and differential by including in the design a box structure under the main body of the vehicle. This forced them to change the rear suspension Mine AND AmBusH PRoTECTED VEHICLE GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS 1. Mechanical components to be Flodet 25 only 2. Maximum mine and ambush protection required 3. Monocoque construction to be adapted as far as is practical 4. 12mm mild steal plate hull with 4mm armour plate sidas. 5. ‘Vee angle on hull to be as acute as is possible, maximum obluse angle 120° 6, ‘Vee’ height to be at least 0.59m above ground 7. Minium axle loadings, maximum possible is 3.7 tonnes | 8. To scat driver, co-driver and eight passengers 9. Extermal fuel tank, capacity 200 litres 10. Maximum protection for all personnel from 7.62mm x 38mm armour piercing 11. 52mm. laminated glass to be usedin front windscreen. Side visibility necessary for driver, but must be protected 12. All compo nents to have mechanical accessibility 13. Gun ports for ‘each passenger with close-down protection 14. Maximum angular slope on front, rear and sides 1. Easy to open rear door 16, Silhouette to be as near as possible te 2.1m 17. Anti gronade and shrapnel roof 18. Wheel base to suit new ‘wide wheels 19. All drive and transmission angjes to be as por standard Rodst 25 20. Tip angle to be minimum 25° 24 Engine, transmission and axle ventilation to prevent over- heating 22. Maximum protection for engine and transmission from srrall arms fire (7.62mm x 39mm), from coil springs toleaf springs. This certainly affected periorm ance but I think it is unfair to sav it failed. During tests with the ‘SAS at Golden Quarry the vehicle was on several occasions fully airborne and the springs did not break. In order to influence Stansield’s choice of vehicles, Zambesi Coachworks’ Marketing Manager Jock Dakers dubbed the vehi- cle ‘Bullet’ (after Stansfields schoolboy rugby nickname). After the Bullethad been ejected itwas shoun to the editor of Soldier of Fortune and saw the war out training with the RhACR. ‘The Tinto Industries’ prototype had a narrow hull, with very large circular roll bars, rather similar to the Rhino. It used a Rodef 25 chassis with the engine turned back to front, which enabled the wheelbase to be lengthened. “In fact the long wheelbase was a major part of the problem,” according to lan Stansfield. "On rough or ploughed land the centre of the hull bbottomec’ quite badly. “Both of these companies produced designs,” Stansfield recounts, “which, while containing interesting features, did not comply with my requirements." Consequently both prototypes were rejected. At about this time Major Peter Arnold of Army HQ appreached Kew Engineering in Guelo to make a prototype and sent the Armoured Cars’ MTO Lt Guy Van der Merve to help with design. By this time the project had gained an air of urgency ~ Kew was asked to complete the prototype in 8 weeks. Kew Engineering's Ken Winsor and Norrie Taylor had gained ‘much experience, in this area, having worked with Capt Bob Trigg in the Army's workshops in Gwelo on the Mine Protected Mortar Carrier. The rear tray ofthis wes itself a development of 1 mine-resistant v-shaped vehicle base designed by Trigg for fitting to a Rodel 25, “This was the start of the development of the MPCV,” according to Nerrie Taylor. After the mortar carrier had been bull, a mobile operations or command vehicle was ordered Irom Kew. “At the suggestion of one of the Territorial Engineers Peter Van der Merwe who was on call upat 10th Battalion, the [mortar carrier's] mine-protect td base was extended to cover the full Ingth of the vehicle with cut outs for the engine and transmissicn. This base was sent to 10 Battalion RR for the top ‘o be fitted.” Major Arnold sent Kew a pamphlet of a West German APC. lthe Rhetnstahl-designed UR416 made by Thyssen) and asked if they coulé adapt this design to the mine-protected base. The images from the UR416 pamphlet were scaled up by Norrie Taylor and Guy Van der Merwe and the first plans, taking intoOnly 60 Mine Protected Combat Vehicles wore ‘marufactured during the var but none sa. action. These are awating finishing atte Army workshops in Givelo, next to bodyless Unieogs avating comersion. consideration the maximum size of armour plate available, done iia day. The hull was fabricated and dropped onto the Unimog chassis which had been strengthened in places. Other modifica tions requested by the RKACR, involving engine, steering and brakes, were also incorporated One of the biggest problems with the MPCV was that al-up weight was al the maximum of the chassis manufacturer's specification [6 ton},” said Norsie Taylor. New larger col springs, With second internal spring that came into operation when lly loaded, were developed and added ‘Whilst armour plate of 8mm was preferred, only 6mm armour plaie was avallable (with 4.5mm mild steel used for the roo!) "although the sides, front and rear plate angles could dellect, bullets, a square-on shot from an AK could penetrate the armour,” recounts Taylor, “The forensic people advised us that 2 7.62mm (AK] bullet tunbles, after penetrating a steel plate, once every 90mm, We therefore lined the sides and roof of the Capsule with 45mm of Keylite polystyrene and rubber matting, which we reckoned should catch the bullet half way though its {umble,” The Kaylite also insulated the vehicle from weather and noise, Plkinglon armour glass was used for the vision ports Other companits made camo paint, eats and the turret brake After 6 weeks the prototype was ready. It was tested by Army unt driving rom Salisbury to Kazungula near Victoria Falls, via Op Hurricane and Lake Karibo!) unt the end of the year and 0 steering problem was sorted out. It then went through its only mine test, which was obligatory for any new design in Rhodesia “Two mines were detonated under the right-hand rear wheel, Mine Prorecreo Combat Venice + Manufacturer - Kew Engineering, Gwelo + Quantity Teal 115 {65 to ncpondenee) * Donor Voice - Mercedes Benz Uf100 Unimog 16 44 Dimension Sine: 495 24x 28n* Weight 72tomes in cont order || -enaine «standard 5671 6-oyinder (M352 Ban se of 11009 Fuel 90 ites Spee: B0}h/60kph + Grew Orv, commanderané 8 men (an eleventh man coud bethe gue). + Protection -Gnm armour alate (45mm coo) bacee by 45mm Kalla poysyeneand rubber conveyor Daling Loner hull was 1C-12mm teinored double iateina shane, Vane 120° Ground clearance #50mn* + Armament original 7Stmm MAGS in ‘he ture, ar 127mm NB, ining prs or trooies Fiowring Venictes: which almost somersaulted the vehicle nose first,” Taylor says, ‘Obviously the rear drive assembly, springs etc melted away with the blast and the capsule over the blast area was dented and crumpled. Shrapnel had penetrated the floor in one place but otherwise there was relatively little damage.” This prototype hull was repaired and, on another chassis, was used lo train drivers. {A deflector plate was developed as a result of the mine tests to protect the gearbox area against centre blasts. ‘A turret designed for the 7.62mm FN MAG machine gun had been fitted to the prototype, and large stiffeners were addled cither side of the turret opening to brace the rocl for the added ‘weight, This turret was blown off in the mine test. Later a gun turret for the French chain-fed M621 20mm cannon (as used in K-Cars) was made by Kew and trialled but not adopted. Army ‘workshops at Cranborne Barracks also fitted other armaments, 127mm in 1979 and 14.5mm after the war, in protolype turzts, Production started early in 1979, Kew Engineering turning ‘out four a week until 60 vehicles had been made. The bare vehicles were to be finished, adding the electronics and arma- meat, by mechanics at 10 Battalions Gwelo workshops. The incomplete MPCV were still, however, sitting at the Guelo workshops when the ceasefire was called because there were not enough territorials to complete them. They did not see active senice in the war. The MPCV may have been evaluated by the The sandwich ef armour pla, polystyrene and rbber can be seen in this [MPCV' rear doar. The chassis were reregistered ater completon at Gvel's Army base workstops.Frownine Ves Tough designed fr the 7 a6, this Spank fs bese armed Wiha ‘20mm MG outs the sure, Pi pardent nt ag puted 25 rst liagash i) ory Harare 1360 Eatomatane fight beteen fe ge ftegate ae Mat oF Coy, 1 RAR, vt a al sgn a te ture independ successfully tested by the 2NA agalnst t other protat Simithlicld Fatm onthe Mazoe Road. Im pressed with its e2NA Pra urements Ofkiee, ri by Ian Stansfield, or- dered another 55: ‘aich they called Spock because of the secrecy sur South Alticans before 1980 who showed films of their own MPCV. chaee-edvanaed AFVS tothe Rhodesian, sounding eal, The MP 9a Wooded in ihig when he Though very basic wohl, faults era fe. Over new Govern ohm laments ot always a problem, erpacaiy whon Eniumbons in Nosembar 1980, They have since saved inthe closed, -Bo8 Trigg ltl curso the fans ut they sll ran het,” Beira Comidor patrols from L®82-93 iprotecting ine ral route Taylor says. Though proof aga the and Laneho owned ol ppeline tothe sea, in Tete province aa rim amour plate was not impervious te 7.62 Armour ping efforts Somalia from 1992. fn 1995 Piercing ammunition, At 1.2m internal height the MPC! looked to pradecing another 300, possibly selling some cramped. and it leaked in the raln to 4 neighbour, Kew Engineering was assssiag what chassis These nastvar ensign marhige were i ian ove ely sr Moat the eutgony Guavtorowsier Gane Cl la Stes gad sess Ditenea Crapany, TREMPCY was 9 Bran, father nanan Anny HO, print ane oo wera ganar to up ie aew Again, Mae Giga hones ragresent respecte fe 1 #aech Bn ¢ cormpanes,pateone and seenonsA RPCW wit a iret medio’ fora 12 Zan would be best for it and looking for 2 more slubarale tux The MPCV was inlended as a madular concept whered Alferent types of capsules could be ilted to the Redel 25 ‘chassis. “There was a requirement after the war. in the At moured Car division, Taylor says, and these were supplied as pal ofthe above are) for fring in Salsbury but a proposed amaulhnes: werssan ws Ao) “Ce of the test features of the MPCV was its cross-country cagabililes,” sald Norrie Taylor, “Unlike most other wehicles of this type bullt in Rhodesia, the MPCV was not continuously solid-mounted to the chassis.” The capsule was iixed at the contre of the chassis sith silent-block pivats Fitted lengthways to ich end. *This allowed the chassis to ilex to lis full eapacity 1g an excellent off-road performance,” and also helped gi cushlen the vehicle from mine bla