New Zealand's Army has received first 20 Pinzgauer 718 6x6 light tactical vehicles out of the total of 321 to be delivered.

The contract, which is worth $66.4 million, was awarded to the Land Rover company of Britain. The contract envisages delivery of vehicles in 13 versions, viz.: 122 command vehicles, 95 general purpose trucks, 68 armed transporters, 15 vehicles with armoured sides and 8 ambulances.

23 command vehicles and 37 transporters out of the above versions will be developed on the basis of a newly-developed armoured variant of the vehicle.

The Pinzgauer Model 718 cross-country vehicles were developed by the Steyr-Daimler-Puch company of Austria more than 30 years ago by request of the Swiss Army. In 1987, they were upgraded. In particular, they were fitted with a 104 hp diesel engine with a maximum torque of 195 Nm.

Sergyi Wey
15.02.2005

www.army-guide.com