Buffel
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| Buffel | |
| Country Of Origin: | South Africa |
| Designation: | Armoured Personnel Carrier |
| Configuration: | 4 x 4 |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Length: | 5,1m |
| Width: | 2,05m |
| Height: | 2,95m |
| Weight: | 6,14t |
| Ground Clearance: | mm |
| Trench: | m |
| Speed: | 96km/h (road) km/h 30(off-road) |
| Range: | 1000km |
| Primary armament: | Optional 7.62mm LMG |
| Secondary armament: | |
| Power plant: | |
| Crew: | 1+10 |
The Buffel was the primary mine-protected APC of the South African Army during the Angolan conflict. It was certainly not the most comfortable vehicle, but it offered the necessary protection. The Buffel was also used as an armoured fighting vehicle and proved itself in this role. It has been replaced by the Mamba
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Production History
The Buffel was introduced in 1978 after it was found that the South African Army had the need for a basic mine protected vehicle. More than 1400 was delivered before production stopped. A few of these vehicles found its way into other Armies.
The Buffel was not a wholly South African built vehicle, but made use of the chassis, engine and some other components of the Mercedes Unimog, which were married to the armoured driver's cab and separate armoured troop compartment. Later examples did not use the original Mercedes engine but copies built by Atlantis Diesel Engines factory near Cape Town.
Land mine protection was provided by the V-shaped undersides of these compartments, which quite effectively deflected the blast. The troop compartment contained two plastic tanks in the vee, beneath the floor, a 200 litre diesel tank and a 100 litre water tank. The water tank provided drinking water to the occupants by means of a tap at the rear of the vehicle. It was a commonly held misconception amongst troops that the weight of the water added to the blast protection.
Variants
- Buffel
- Buffel Variant 1 - Improved engine and bushgaurd/bumper
- Bulldog
- Log Buffel - Logistic/Cargo version
- Moffel - Open cargo-bed version
Operators
Combat History
See also: Infantry fighting vehicle, List_of_AFVs and Mamba.