You're welcome, glad to be of help.
New Zealand Army
- Thread starter Whiskyjack
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- army artilery gunner new zealand sas
kiwi in exile
Active Member
MAN recovery vehicles
Looking through the latest navy today, there was a short article of NZDF trialing the new MAN trucks with the Canterbury. The main picture shows a recovery version of the HX77 8x8 truck. I was hoping that we would be getting some recovery vehicles with out new trucks but I had not been able to find any specific references to this.
A little internet browsing later I found this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYb8KaWXYzo
I was wondering, do we own the recovery vehs in the Navy today pic and the youtube vid or are we merely trialing them?
No NZ number plates- number plate 'HX 8x8'
Look like they are a slightly different green from the rest of the fleet.
No 'like my driving' plates like other NZDF vehicles.
If its a trial, will we also be testing the MAN SX45 recovery truck that the Brits and others have? Would be interesting to compare.
Any further info appreciated.
Cheers
Looking through the latest navy today, there was a short article of NZDF trialing the new MAN trucks with the Canterbury. The main picture shows a recovery version of the HX77 8x8 truck. I was hoping that we would be getting some recovery vehicles with out new trucks but I had not been able to find any specific references to this.
A little internet browsing later I found this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYb8KaWXYzo
I was wondering, do we own the recovery vehs in the Navy today pic and the youtube vid or are we merely trialing them?
No NZ number plates- number plate 'HX 8x8'
Look like they are a slightly different green from the rest of the fleet.
No 'like my driving' plates like other NZDF vehicles.
If its a trial, will we also be testing the MAN SX45 recovery truck that the Brits and others have? Would be interesting to compare.
Any further info appreciated.
Cheers
Gracie1234
Well-Known Member
I do not think we owned the equipment in the video as in the credit it thanks the British Army. I presume we were testing the kit before we decided to purchase.
Does anyone know if we bought our own?
Does anyone know if we bought our own?
Zero Alpha
New Member
The bulk of the vehicle fleet has been purchased, but as far as I know there is still some specialist variants to be ordered. I think it's a 'yours to loose' to arrangement. The bridging units are all Mann vehicles. The air force bulk tankers are getting close to being replaced too. I've heard a rumour suggesting that the bulk fuel role will be combined (vehicles, not operators) and palletised systems will be part of the mix.
NZ Army new capabilities
Asia Pacific Defence reporter March 2015 has an update on1 (NZ) Brigade in the March 2015 Issue. The Brigade is still recovering from the NZDF 2010-2012 restructuring and the security contractor bubble. I know outside demand for Skilled Trades people is still high, which will be an ongoing challenge. Slightly off topic, the Navy currently has the budget to man the 4 IPVs but can only man 2 due to attractive jobs in the Marine Industry reducing trade numbers in the Navy.
Other new capabilities, Artillery LINAPS has arrived. A new Special service vehicle, (Army currently operates 13 Pinzgauer 6x6s SOVs).Reported elsewhere with 2 types, Supacat and a Bushmaster type will be supplied in limited numbers, this is the NZDF after all.
Along with New Gun Tractors for the Artillery.
Defence Technology Review : DTR DEC JAN 2015, Page 29
Asia Pacific Defence reporter March 2015 has an update on1 (NZ) Brigade in the March 2015 Issue. The Brigade is still recovering from the NZDF 2010-2012 restructuring and the security contractor bubble. I know outside demand for Skilled Trades people is still high, which will be an ongoing challenge. Slightly off topic, the Navy currently has the budget to man the 4 IPVs but can only man 2 due to attractive jobs in the Marine Industry reducing trade numbers in the Navy.
Other new capabilities, Artillery LINAPS has arrived. A new Special service vehicle, (Army currently operates 13 Pinzgauer 6x6s SOVs).Reported elsewhere with 2 types, Supacat and a Bushmaster type will be supplied in limited numbers, this is the NZDF after all.
Along with New Gun Tractors for the Artillery.
Defence Technology Review : DTR DEC JAN 2015, Page 29
NZSAS dont need large numbers of SOV they know exactly how many they need and for what roles, the heavy vehicle is a direct response to lessons learnt while using the LAV in Kabul.
CD
kiwi in exile
Active Member
Heres hoping that the new vehicles will open the door to getting a actually combat capable pinzgauer replacement for the regulars.
shanes_world_05
Member
I'll settle for a ride where the driver and front seat passenger don't feel the need for ear muffs.
Having said that its better than walking.
And if Ron marks had his way it'd be Bedford RLs and ancient M113 APCs.:rel
shanes_world_05
Member
Yeah on that, heard a story from my old boss that there was pre-lim work done at some point (don't know when) regarding the adoption of Humvees that involved conversion from LHD to RHD that would have used alot of the residual skill base in the hutt valley to make armour kits and a few other accessories. Catch was that if it was scalable and viable we would have tied into a larger acquisition by Australia and UK and I think another party. Can't remember who or how but NZ would have gained some of that production work in hand with Australia. Mark helped scupper that apparently. Not saying the Humvee is the best choice but can't say the Pinny's where either when they were chosen. G'Box troubles, cooling issues and still with the excessive cabin noise.
Anyway, has anyone heard anymore on the IW Steyr replacement? Really curious. The contenders are all have merits and the Defence force would make any of them work, but I hope its still the Steyr. So handy and we know it so well now.
Having said that. We get Colt C8's and use the left overs to get Leopard 2's and Bradley's and I'll go for that......Dreams are free
TBH tracked armour is history in NZ methinks. I'm old school and would prefer a proper battle rifle. I think that this Desert Tech MDR rifle could have had a possible future in NZDF if it was available sooner. I came across it earlier in the year and it is near the end of its development. A write up of it here. It would save the cost and logistics of have two separate rifles in a squad / platoon; 5.56mm and 7.62mm because it is easily interchangeable between the two calibres plus a couple more.
Some more good news for defence. Recruitment and retention will always be hard against civi rates but the pay has got better, just need to sell the unique defence lifestyle, hold onto the remaining 'perks' and trim some (alot) of the BS and pers will come and stay regardless of financial incentive.
No doubt we will go with supacat for ease of operation with their closest counterparts and because it is obviously a good platform. Bushmaster will be a good tick for defence and could open up more uses in the regular arena as no doubt cost benefits to be had with a larger/wider pool.
NZSAS is not a overly large unit so @20 vehicles (these are specialist) is a still good number and still an increase. If they keep to a similar fleet org then should be around 7 bushmasters with 13 supacats (I'd go for 10 4x4s and 3 6x6s as mothers), again a big improvement in mobility and protection. Hopefully the 13 pinz SOVs will be handed over to BN or even QA recon elements or better yet replaced (along with the other armoured pinz) with something more adequate and survivable. An expensive excersize but worth every dollar especially after Afghan lessons learned.
Artillery guntrucks? Thought the MANs would be more than adequate for this role unless they are getting spec variants like the brits (armoured crew pod and hiab)? Either way good news as that's at least 12-16 new role specific trucks to add to the fleet.
Zero Alpha
New Member
You should read the report by the Office of the Auditor General on the project.
Essentially what happened was some half-wit wrote the requirements for the Landrover replacement based on AM General's brochure. Other vendors got more than a little upset by that.
When the project developed proper specifications, using the NATO mobility model, the requirement went out to the market and Pinzgauer was the only vehicle that met the requirements. Cabin noise levels were never specified.
The gearbox problems came later when the project office agreed to substitute the gearbox tendered (and proven) with a new gearbox design.
Thankfully the arse kicking that followed led to much better project management across NZDF.
There was at least one Right-hand-drive Humvee built and evaluated in NZ - it was eventually sold on and I think now fitted out in Red Bull colours with a DJ booth.
Heres an ad for it at a car dealer from a few years ago: $129,990 NZD :crazy
kiwi in exile
Active Member
Thanks for the link to DTR, what a great source of updates. Looking through other issues has got me thinking. I know there are plans to upgrade our LAVs in several years. The April DTR has articles of ADFs future Combat Recce Vehicle Land400 program (AusLAV upgrade/replacement) and the USMCs AAV replacement program. Hopefully we will be able to leverage some technology and knowledge off these programs. Interesting to see what capabilities we might acquire.
Technologies that have been discussed in terms of both Supacats and LAV variants
-mast mounted sensors
-mounting an ATGM (javelin) on a RWS
http://ocb.net.au/board/uploads/gallery/album_50/gallery_2_50_77544.jpg
There is also an extendable version of the supacat that can be converted from 4x4 to 6x6. Seeing as we will only have a relativly small fleet, purchasing these would ad some versatility.
kiwi in exile
Active Member
kiwi in exile
Active Member
Kongsberg weapon station for Australian Supacats
Hopefully we can score some for our light/heavy SOV vehicles, maybe with a few spares for the regular forces to play with.
Ages ago when NZDF posted a you tube clip of one being trialled on a pinz, the video also showed them battle lab testing a polaris ATV. These were shown again in the media recently when a visiting royal got to drive them around Linton. Have they been adopted?
Hopefully we can score some for our light/heavy SOV vehicles, maybe with a few spares for the regular forces to play with.
Ages ago when NZDF posted a you tube clip of one being trialled on a pinz, the video also showed them battle lab testing a polaris ATV. These were shown again in the media recently when a visiting royal got to drive them around Linton. Have they been adopted?
First off NZ Army does not operate the supacat extender SOV a very different vehicle to our Pinz SOV, battle lab is there to inform NZDF of the capabilities available on the market, trials would be called by tender and would then go to a full out competition between the makers to decide which product meets the requirements as laid out in the RfT. A RfT for a new SOV vehicle to replace the Pinz hasn't been called yet no one knows what capability requirements NZSAS are after with there replacement vehicle.
The results of the trials for a number of equipment are currently held within NZDF no decision has been made if they will go and purchase any remote weapon station or ATV both are classified as concept demonstrators only and will remain so for a few years yet.
CD
kiwi in exile
Active Member
Thanks.
A new SF vehicle is on the horizon (it's in the DWP consultation doc), and although there has been no RfT issued, a supacat variant would be a logical contender.