Every two years, the Daimler Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks (MBS) division presents customers and in-house sales under the heading “Defense Trucks Experience” with the current status and new developments of trucks that the company and its partners consider to be special military developments and configurations for security - and defense forces have in their portfolios. The information was made available to the trade press on a press day.
The focus of the presentation at the company's own test site was the Zetros, Arocs and Unimog series, which are in use in the Bundeswehr and numerous other armed forces worldwide. The special Unimog-based chassis also presented are the mobility basis for combat vehicles (such as Dingo or Enok 14.8) from system suppliers. The vehicles had to prove their performance on steep, off-road and rubble routes as well as in water. Participants were able to experience the vehicles personally in the field.
Unimog
The most traditional vehicle was the Unimog, which has been produced for over 75 years and has been used in the Bundeswehr for over 60 years. According to MBS, the Unimog is one of the most widespread off-road trucks in the world and is suitable for transporting personnel and materials even on rough terrain and in places that are difficult to access.
Modern developments include the Unimog U 5023 4×4 with a double cab, which can transport up to seven soldiers and their mission equipment to the deployment site. As an example, the U 5023 was equipped with a bow and tarpaulin over the loading area. The powerful Euro VI diesel engine OM 934 with 170 kW serves as the drive and can accelerate the vehicle to speeds of up to 89 km/h.
Der U 5000 kam mit einem 160-kW- Euro-III-Dieselmotor daher und bot als besondere Ausstattungsmerkmale u.a. eine Reifendruckregelanlage, einen Zyklon-Staubfilter, die Watfähigkeit von 1,2 Metern sowie eine 8-Tonnen-Bergungswinde.
The special chassis (FGA) are configured from mobility components according to the requirements of system manufacturers. Maximum total weight and drive power are among the most important differentiating features. The FGA 14.5 4×4 and 9.5 4×4 were shown for permissible total weights of 14.5 tons and 9.5 tons respectively and with Euro III diesel engines of 240 kW and 160 kW drive power. The chassis contains mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic interfaces that are suitable for many bodies. If desired, the FGAs are available as a “rolling chassis” onto which the system manufacturer's structure can be integrated with little effort.
Zetros
The Zetros hooded truck, which has been produced since 2008, was presented in three variants. All are powered by Euro III engines, so they are easily suitable for operation with bad fuel. The Zetros 3042 A is powered by a 310 kW diesel through an Allison automatic transmission and can therefore start and accelerate quickly and smoothly. As a 6×6 with single tires, it is designed for a total weight of 30 tons. The torsion-free platform body is particularly suitable for transporting materials and containers.
The Zetros 2743 is only two tons lighter and is powered by a 310 kW diesel engine via a Mercedes-Benz G260 transmission with a single-disc clutch (Allison automatic optional). For example, the vehicle was equipped with a 13,000 liter capacity for transporting diesel or gasoline.
The Zetros 1836 A 4×4 belongs to the “five-ton truck” class with a permissible total weight of 20 tons. To transport the military payload of around five tons, the vehicle has a torsion-free platform body with a tarpaulin. The Bundeswehr has been using a similar model - albeit with a protected cabin - as a protected transport vehicle (GTF) since 2012, some of which have proven themselves in Afghanistan.
Arocs
The Arocs, which has been produced since 2013, is supplied with Euro VI engines. It is deliberately designed for modular configuration and offers a particularly wide range of variation options according to customer needs.
With its permissible total weight of 35 tons, the Arocs 4152 AK 8×8 is particularly suitable for transporting heavy equipment and materials. The power of the 380 kW diesel engine is brought to the ground fully automatically or manually via a Mercedes-Benz G 330 transmission and Mercedes-Benz PowerShift 3. With the optional turbo retarder clutch (TRK) - a combination of hydraulic starting clutch and retarder, sensitive, low-wear starting and maneuvering with high input torques is possible even under high loads. Another advantage of the TRK is high continuous braking performance. The vehicle shown was equipped with a Palfinger crane with a maximum lifting moment of 20.9 meter tons and a frame-mounted hydraulic cable winch.
The Arocs 2243 A 6×6, which is slightly lighter at 26 tons, is powered by a 315 kW diesel engine via Mercedes-Benz PowerShift 3. The driver's cab has, among other things, a swiveling roof hatch. For loading, the vehicle is equipped with a torsion-free container changing frame with twist locks for container locking.
The smallest Arocs 1827 4×4 with a total weight of 16.5 tons can rely on a 200 kW diesel engine. Around five tons of military payload can be transported on the torsion-free container swap frame.
Partner solutions
Mobility technology from Daimler Trucks is the basis in many tactical trucks. It is partly delivered in the special FGA chassis described above. On display were the German Dingo 2 4×4 from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the Finnish GTP 4×4 from Sisu, the German Enok 14.8 from Armored Car Systems, the Spanish Ibero SMV from TSD, the French Arive from Soframe, the Turkish Dermann 8×8 from Koluman, the latter based on the Arocs with a protected cabin. The Austrian fire equipment manufacturer Rosenbauer presented a Unimog U 5023 4×4 as an unprotected vehicle with a 3,000 liter fire water tank.
Conclusion
A wide range of tactical and logistical trucks could be seen and experienced at the Defense Trucks Experience 2023. Daimler Trucks focuses primarily on logistical vehicles that are used in the armed forces without and with military adaptations. For tactical vehicles, Daimler Trucks leaves the solution to system houses with their expertise in protection solutions and mission equipment. Daimler Trucks' military vehicles used worldwide can rely on the company's global service network. This makes high availability possible.
Editorial staff / gwh
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