Combat vehicles / Reconnaissance / Landsverk Unimog

Landsverk Unimog

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Reconnaissance vehicle

  • ORIGIN
    Sweden

  • NICKNAMES
    Pansarbil Unimog (manufacturer's designation)

  • DESIGNED
    1958

  • DESIGNER
    Landsverk

  • PRODUCTION
    Late 1950's

  • PRODUCERS
    Sweden - Landsverk

  • QUANTITY
    24 production vehicles plus at least 2 prototypes

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Well armored
    Limited costs
    Steering issues
    Cramped inside

Introduction

The Landsverk Unimog is an armored reconnaissance vehicle of Swedish origin. The Landsverk Unimog was produced in small numbers and was actively used during the Congo conflict in the 1960's. It should not be confused with the German UR-416, which is also an armored vehicle based on the Unimog chassis.

Layout

The Landsverk Unimog is based on the commercial Mercedes-Benz Unimog 4x4 all terrain utility vehicle. The chassis has permanent front wheel drive and optional all wheel drive. The engine is mounted at the rear, resulting in a complex drive train. The exterior is made up of sloped steel armor plating.

Firepower

A total of six weapon options were available for the Landsverk Unimog and included armored machine gun turrets and SS-11 anti-tank missiles. However, production vehicles were only fitted with pintle mounted machine guns. Those used by Ethiopia were fitted with two Madsen-Saetter medium machine guns. In Irish service a single M1919 or Bren was installed.

Protection

The steel armor protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. The armor plating is rather thick and well sloped allowing it to withstand point blank 7.62mm rounds. There are no NBC system or smoke grenade dischargers.

Mobility

The 4x4 chassis makes the Landsverk Unimog perform well off road. A standard Mercedes-Benz petrol engine provides propulsion. In Irish service it was found that the powered steering was unreliable and imposed a maximum speed of 50 km/h, although the vehicle is capable of 80 km/h.

Users

The Landsverk Unimog was ordered by the gendarmerie in Belgian Congo, who desired 24 units. Before these could be delivered conflicts erupted. Eventually 9 were acquired by the UN for Ethiopian use in the Congo. The remaining 15 plus 2 prototypes were eventually sold to Ireland. Since they were scrapped in 1986 the Landsverk Unimog is no longer operational.

Variants

Landsverk Unimog

The Landsverk Unimog is an armored car of Swedish origin that is based on the Unimog chassis. Prototypes of several versions were built, but only the open top variant with pintle mounted machine guns was produced.

TypeReconnaissance vehicle
Crew5 or 6 (driver, gunner, 3 or 4 passengers)
Length4.60 m
Width2.25 m
Height2.10 m (roof)
Ground clearance0.41 m
Weight5.2 t
Ground pressure?
WheelbaseWheeled chassis, 4x4, 2.38 m wheelbase, 1.66 m track
Turn radius10.4 m
EngineMercedes-Benz 2.2 L V6 petrol, 90 hp
Power ratio17.3 hp/t
Transmission?
Speed80 km/h on road
Fuel?
Range?
Wall0.35 m
Trench?
Gradient60% gradient
Fording1.0 m
ArmorSteel, up to 10 mm
NBC equipmentNo
Night visionNo
SmokeNo
Remarks-
Armament7.62mm Madsen-Saetter machine gun (2x)
Weapon17.62mm Madsen-Saetter machine gun on roof (2x)
manual traverse and elevation
non-stabilized
Weapon2-
Weapon3-
Weapon4-
Weapon5-
Weapon6-

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