Pinzgauer

Description: The Pinzgauer is a high mobility 6x6 (or lighter 4x4 chassis) all-terrain truck designed and built by Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch since 1971. More than 25,000 vehicles have been sold to customers in 29 countries. It is suitable for tactical military customers, fire fighting and emergency services. Each Pinzgauer vehicle has an estimated service life of 20 years. Currently, the Pinzgauer vehicle is being manufactured by Pinzgauer Ltd - formerly Automotive Technik Ltd - owned by UK-based Stewart & Stevenson Services Inc.

The latest models feature powerful turbo diesel engines, ABS, Auto Transmission and increased payload over their predecessors but the unique centre tube chassis concept and drive chain remain largely unchanged. Pinzgauer X-M (eXtreme Mobility) is the latest development in the Pinzgauer series introducing various advanced features such as increased payload, higher torque and more power. For military customers Pinzgauer can be equipped for NATO ballistic and blast protection standards and is air portable inside C-130 aircraft and Chinook helicopter.

The Pinzgauer is powered by a water cooled 5-cylinder turbo diesel engine named Euro III with a 120/145 liters fuel tank has a range of 800 km that can be extended to up 2,000 km with further fuel tanks. Its top speed is about 120 kph on-road. In addition to the 2.4-t internal payload, the Pinzgauer 6x6 is able to tow a trailer with a max weight of up to 5-t. The Pinzgauer 4x4, having a gross weight of 3.85-t, results lighter and can carry a payload of 1.4-t.

In July 2006, the UK MoD approved a further order for approximately 100 Pinzgauer 6x6 vehicles featuring enhanced armor with deliveries due to begin early in 2007. Previously, the MoD had placed an initial order for 66 vehicles with enhanced armor. This version is apparently named Pinzgauer Vector. These vehicles equipped with additional armor and BOWMAN radios were purchased to support military operations carried out by British forces in Afghanistan.