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| Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle | |
|---|---|
 Pinzgauer Turbo D Version | |
| Type | All-wheel drive vehicle |
| Place of origin | Austria United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Steyr-Daimler-Puch: 1971–2000 BAE Systems Inc. 2000–2007 |
| Produced | 1971–2007 |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | driver, co-driver +8/12 passengers – 710M , driver + 4 passengers 710K (4×4/6×6) |
| Engine | Inline 4-cylinder Steyr-designedpetrol/gasoline engine, orinline 5- orinline 6- cylinderdiesel engine 65 kW (88 PS; 87 bhp) |
| Payload capacity | 2.5 tonnes[1] |
| Transmission | 5-speedmanual 4-speedautomatic (Pinzgauer II) |
| Suspension | 4- or6-wheel drive |
Operational range | 400 km (249 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 4×4: 110 km/h (68 mph) /6×6: 100 km/h (62 mph) |
ThePinzgauer is a family of high-mobilityall-terrain4WD (4×4) and6WD (6×6) military utility vehicles. The vehicle was originally developed in the late 1960s and manufactured bySteyr-Daimler-Puch[2][3] ofGraz,Austria, and was named after thePinzgauer, an Austrian breed of cattle. They were most recently manufactured atGuildford,Surrey, England, byBAE Systems Land & Armaments. It was popular amongst military buyers,[3] and continued in production there throughout the rest of the century.
In 2000 the rights were sold toAutomotive Technik Ltd (ATL) in the UK.[2] ATL was acquired byStewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. in 2005. In May 2006, Stewart & Stevenson became a subsidiary of the aerospace and defence groupArmor Holdings, Inc. In 2007 Armor Holdings was acquired byBAE Systems plc, who discontinued UK production of the Pinzgauer, which was proving to be vulnerable to mines andimprovised explosive devices inAfghanistan. Production ceased around 2009. Development work (done in the UK) on a planned Pinzgauer II was evaluated by a BAE subsidiary inBenoni, Gauteng,South Africa, but no vehicle was ever made.
Being both unarmed and unarmoured, the Pinzgauer was designed for mobility and general utility functions rather than combat or reconnaissance roles.
The originalprototype was developed around 1969 and production began in 1971,[2] as successor of the Steyr-Daimler-PuchHaflinger 700 AP 4×4 light military multi purpose offroad vehicle.[2] The Pinzgauer first generation model (710, 712) was produced until 2000 bySteyr-Daimler-Puch in the city of Graz, Austria.
It was, and is, in use in many armies around the world, like Austria,[3] Switzerland,[3] the United Kingdom,[3] Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Albania, and Bolivia. When Austro-Canadian millionaireFrank Stronach took over the shareholder majority of Steyr-Daimler-Puch offroad vehicles, the rights to build Steyr's Pinzgauers were moved to Automotive Technik Ltd; and subsequently to a branch of BAE Systems. As of 2009, production of Pinzgauers seems to have stalled. The Graz plant has been building theMercedes-Benz G Wagon / Puch G SUVs / offroad cars.
The Pinzgauer is one of the most capable all-terrain vehicles ever made.[citation needed] While not as fast on-road (110kilometres per hour (68 mph)) as an AmericanHumvee, it can carry more troops, and move faster over rough trails.[4] Even the smaller 710M can carry 10 people or twoNATO pallets. Both the4×4 and6×6 models can tow 5,000kilograms (11,023 lb) on road; and 1,500 kilograms (3,307 lb) or 1,800 kilograms (3,968 lb), respectively, off-road. It has a range of over 400 kilometres (249 mi) on one tank of fuel, or nearly 700 kilometres (435 mi) with the optional 125 litre tank. The first generation Pinzgauer is available in bothfour-wheel drive (4×4) (model710) andsix-wheel drive (6×6) (model712) versions.
The Pinzgauer was designed to be reliable and easy to fix; it is shipped with anair-cooledpetrol engine with dual-Zenith 36 mm NDIXcarburetors. The engine in the Pinzgauer was specifically designed for the vehicle; it has more than one oil pump so that the engine will not get starved of oil no matter how the vehicle is oriented.
The Pinzgauer has a chassis design which contributes to its high mobility. It has a central tubechassis[2] with atransaxle which distributes the weight more evenly, and keeps thecentre of gravity as low as possible. Thedifferentials are all sealed units and require minimal additional lubrication. The Pinzgauer also hasportal axles like theUnimog to provide extra clearance over obstacles. The 710 4×4 was the more popular variant, but the Pinzgauer was designed to have a very capable 6×6 configuration from the start. The rear suspension on the back of the 6×6 712 is designed to provide maximum traction in the most demanding circumstances along with increasing its towing, load carrying, and off-road abilities.
During production from 1971 until 1985, 18,349 first-generation 710s and 712s were produced and sold to both civilian and military customers.
| M | soft top with rear passenger seats (10 passenger total) |
| T | flat bed carrier |
| K | 5door hard top station wagon (5 passenger total) |
| AMB-Y | ambulance with 3 doors |
| AMB-S | ambulance with air-portable removable shelter |
| M | soft top with rear passenger seats |
| T | flat top carrier |
| FW | fire truck |
| K | 5-door station wagon |
| W | workshop with air-portable shelter |
| DK | 4-door crew cab pickup |
| AMB-S | ambulance, with air-portable removable shelter |
The most common body types are either "K" (hard-topped) or "M" (soft-topped) types.
All the first generation Pinzgauers are equipped with:
In 1980,Steyr-Daimler-Puch started development on a second generation Pinzgauer. After six years ofresearch and development, the initial second generation Pinzgauer II rolled off theassembly line in 1986. In 2000,Magna, who boughtSteyr-Daimler-Puch, sold its rights to the Pinzgauer toAutomotive Technik in the UK who took over production of the Pinzgauer.[3] The Pinzgauer is now owned and produced byBAE Systems Land Systems in Guildford, Surrey,[1][5] however production has ceased.
Thefour-wheel drive (4×4) model is now called a716,[3] and thesix-wheel drive (6×6) model[5] is now called a718.[3] The same letter body type designations apply. The new 716 has the same payload rating as the old 712, and the new 718 also has a similarly higher payload capacity.
There were a few minor changes to the design of the Pinzgauer II:
The second generationmotor vehicle went through several minor revisions through its life, unlike the first generation which used the same design throughout production. The first second-generation Pinzgauers were designatedP80 (1980). It went through a minor revision in 1990 (P90), and 1993 (P93), when an intercooler version of the VW engine (D24TIC) was substituted. A more significant engine change was carried out in 2002 when a newVolkswagen GroupTurbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) engine[2] was introduced to meet the new Euro3emissions requirements.[2]
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The Pinzgauer (or Pinz as it is known to most British soldiers) is more common as a utility vehicle inRoyal Artillery units due to its employment as a light gun tractor.
A new lightly-armoured version called the "Vector" briefly entered service in theBritish Army in early 2007, as part of an effort to provide safer patrol vehicles for troops inAfghanistan. The 6×6 Vector PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) would, according to the manufacturer, "Build on the existing proven design, with enhancements that will include a combination of physical protection, as well as the use of sophisticated electronic counter measures to maximise survivability while on patrol". However, the Vector PPV was found to have unreliable suspension and wheel hubs as well as poor protection againstimprovised explosive devices. It quickly lost the confidence of field commanders and was withdrawn from service.[6]
The Pinzgauer is the basis for the Tactical Ground Station (TGS) element of the Raytheon Systems Limited Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR). The TGS comprises two workstation vehicles, a mission support vehicle, and a standard utility vehicle.
Many Pinzgauers were sold to military forces (initiallyAustrian[3] and Swiss[3]) to be used as non-tactical utility vehicles. Typical military roles are as general-purpose utility truck, command vehicles, troop carrier,ambulance, and tow vehicle. Roles very similar to other civilian sourced vehicles like Land Rover in the UK, the Blazer CUCV in the US, and the Mercedes G in many European countries.
Yugoslavia bought 3975 Pinzgauers from 1971 in all variants 4x4 and 6x6.[7]
TheNew Zealand Army[2] has purchased 321 Pinzgauer vehicles in 8 variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role.
TheMalaysian Army purchased 168 2 Ton 4×4 716 Gun Tractors and 164 2 Ton 6×6 718 Mortar Transporters to replace olderVolvo C303 andC304 in their inventories. It is affectionately called "Piglet" due to its design.
The US Army purchased 20 Turbo Diesel 718M during the early 1990s, imported for the Army’s Delta Force as a deep reconnaissance platform. They were used in the 1991Gulf War as well as the 2003Iraq war, and eventually phased out at 2010–2011.
The Pinzgauer was marketed to the civilian marketplace worldwide for use as campers, farm trucks, ambulances,[3] fire-trucks,[3] and rescue vehicles.[3] Likewise, many ended up being used as tourist vans due to their large passenger capacity and stable, reliable platform.
Pinzgauers have been used as tourist transports in Africa, Australia, South America, Hawaii, and other exotic locales. Some are still in use today. TheNavajo Nation has a small fleet of these for tourist transport withinCanyon de Chelly in Arizona, still in use in 2024.
Pinzgauers were marketed to- and used extensively by energy companies for oil exploration purposes. A few Pinzgauers were used for off-road racing, including the famousParis to Dakar Rally and the International Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia.
Military users include:
Argentina
Austria[8]
Bolivia
Croatia
Cyprus[9]
Eswatini
Ghana[10]
Jordan[9]
Lebanon
Lithuania
Malaysia[9]
Montenegro
New Zealand[11]
Nigeria[12]
North Macedonia
Oman[13]
Pakistan[9]
Saudi Arabia[9]
Serbia
Seychelles[9]
Sudan -Transitional Sovereignty Council[14]
Switzerland[14]
Thailand[9]
Tunisia[15]
United Kingdom[15][2]
United States[9]
Ukraine[16][17] – Pinzgauer Vector: at least 3 armored ambulances and at least 8 APCs as of June 2022
Venezuela Argentina -National Reorganization Process.svg)
Republic of Bolivia (1964 - 1982) /Republic of Bolivia (1982 - 2010)
Republic of Cyprus (Flag 1960–2006)
Republic of Macedonia /MacedoniaMilitary dictatorship in Nigeria
Sultanate of Oman (1970–1995)
Republic of SeychellesRepublic of Sudan (1985–2019) /Sudanese transition to democracy (2019-2021)Kingdom of Swaziland
Yugoslavia[7] /
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro
Republic of Venezuela
The Pinzgauer is a highly accomplishedoff-road vehicle. Its capabilities, in some operational scenarios, are better than that of theHumvee and theLand Rover Defender.
