Vickers OMC Gemsbok

     Notes: This is an armored recovery vehicle based on the Casspir APC.  The South Africans use the Gemsbok and in addition to its use by the South African Police and the Indian Army, the Gemsbok is not only available on the international arms market, but also to private collectors, movie companies, and suchlike.  It should be noted that the Gemsbok is classed as an armored repair vehicle; it has no heavy-duty winch and is not expected in general to recover stuck vehicles.

     The rear area carries twin cranes each with a capacity of 5 tons, and a winch with a capacity of 12 tons.  The rear area also carries a selection of tools, including basic and wheeled vehicle tools, small arms and large weapon tools, a hydraulic jack with a capacity of 20 tons, and a welding set, air compressor, and a large storage area for spare parts.  On the roof of the cab over the commander's position is machinegun mount behind an AV2 gun shield. The rear is open, and there are lockers in the rear area for spare parts and some of the larger tools.  In addition to personal gear, the Gemsbok has a 31-liter drinking water tank inside the cab. The Gemsbok has only one spare tire, mounted on the outside.

     The commander of the vehicle is also the senior mechanic, he has a simple hatch with a pair of MG4 on a pintle behind an AV 2 gun shield.  The gun shields angle around to protect him from shots, except the rear angles. The commander also has a position in the cab, normally, this is taken up by personal items and water.  There is also a space behind the seats for more personal gear.  There are three seats behind the front of the cab, and while these are often occupied by a rescued crew, they are more likely occupied by additional mechanics and specialists.  The crew does not have night vision, but there is a spotlight for work at night and the crew is normally issued NODs.

     The Gemsbok is based on a Casspir Mk 2 chassis, which is in turn based on a 10-ton commercial truck chassis.  Being a Casspir modification, it has the same engine, an ADE 352T 162.5-horsepower turbocharged diesel.  The transmission is automatic. The suspension is 4x4, and has run-flat tires. It has all the advantages against mines of the Casspir, It has all the advantages against mines of an MRAP. The Gemsbok is capable of continuing to move (at one-half speed) with one wheel missing.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$91,630

D, A

4.62 tons

14.8 tons

2+3

13

WL Spotlight (G)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor*

114/58

32/16

234

54

Stnd

W(3)

HF5  HS3  HR3*

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

None

None

2xMG4 (C)

3000x7.62mm

*Floor armor is 6Sp.  Roof Armor AV is for the cab only; the rest of the Gemsbok has no roof and is AV0.

 

BAE South Africa RG-33 MRRMV

     Notes: The RG-33 MRRMV (Mine-Resistant Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle) was designed in South Africa from the RG-33 MRAP APC, but is used primarily in the US to service their own RG-33s and Strykers.  It's primary mission is to repair and recover RG-33s and other trucks and light MRAPs, as well as assist in their maintenance, particularly in the field or combat.  It has a secondary mission in the US Army to service and recover the Stryker. Unlike the standard RG-33, the MRRMV is a 6x6 vehicle. 

     The prime crew for the RG-33 MRMRV is only two, a driver/tools operator and a commander/crane operator.  It has seats inside for two members of the recovered vehicle's crew; alternatively, more mechanics can be carried.  The tool set is fairly standard for such a vehicle: basic tools, wheeled vehicle tools, a spare tire, an air compressor, power tools, a chainsaw, small arms tools, a hydraulic jack, and large weapon tools.  In addition, a number of spare parts are carried, as well as block and tackle, ropes, chains, and wire ropes.  These are carried in a collection of bins, drawers, and chests. In US service, the Blue Force Tracker system is also carried. The MRRMV has a crane on the right rear side which can lift 40 tons and rotate 360 degrees.  A winch on the front of the vehicle can pull 40 tons (more with block and tackle), and has 61 meters of useful cable.  The vehicle is fitted with a 6kW APU to power things while the engine is turned off.  The rear almost looks like the bed of a pickup truck, and is the place where a powerpack and some of the spare parts are carried. This rear section has a hydraulically-operated rear ramp for unloading some of the other contents of the rear area. Three lockers on each side carry most of the rest of the spare parts and the larger tools, as well as some personal gear like rations and water.

     When he is not recovering of fixing vehicles, the commander mans an RWS-type turret armed with an M-2HB or Mk 19 AGL.  On the RWS, the commander has a full suite of firing and visual aids, while the driver has a thermal imager and an LLTV backup camera.  The LLTVs and remote controls allow the RG-33 MRRMV to be NBC sealed with overpressure and still carry on recoveries and some repairs. The vehicle, of course, has an MRAP Class II hull, and all that entails.  Atop the rear deck is a flat space where a powerpack or other large cargoes can be tied down.  The deck is also reinforced against overhead blasts.  The entire vehicle can be equipped with spaced or passive appliqué armor, or even ERA.  The crane and recovery operations may be done from inside the vehicle, due to a set of remote LLTV cameras.  The driver and commander sit in the front, with large windshields to the front and sides.  These are made from a new plastic/glass material known as Transparent Armor, and is as strong as the vehicle body.  The commander has downlinked controls for the RWS, and no dedicated gunner is necessary.  The MRRMV can carry two other troops in the front of the working compartment; these may be rescued crewmembers of a knocked-out vehicle, but are more likely to be additional mechanics or specialists.  A small computer is carried which has most of the tech manuals of American Vehicles, and some allied vehicles. One of these may man the RWS, if desired and properly trained.

     As a subtype of the 6x6 version of the RG-33, the engine is a Cummins I6 400-horsepower diesel and is coupled to an Allison 3200 automatic transmission, and has central tire inflation and antilock braking. The amount of different types of appliqué armor the MRRMV can mount is large, ranging from passive metal plates or spaced metal plates to MEXAS to ERA.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$1,215,151

D, A

5 tons

40 tons

2+2

30

Thermal Imaging (D), Thermal Imaging, 2nd Generation Image Intensification (C), LLTV (3xR, 2xS)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor*

96/48

27/14

448

59

Stnd

W(3)

HF9Sp  HS9Sp  HR4

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+2

Fair

M2HB, Mk 19 (RWS)

1500x12.7mm, 560x40mm

*In addition to the benefits of an MRAP hull, floor AV is 8Sp and roof AV is 3.