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.