The UR-416 armoured personnel carrier was developed by Rheinstahl Maschinenbau (which has changed its name on numerous occasions and in 2000 became Rheinmetall Landsysteme) as a private venture, the first prototype being completed in 1965. Production commenced in 1969 and, by the time production had been completed, a total of 1,030 UR-416 series armoured vehicles had been built, most for the export market.

The UR-416 series is no longer being marketed or manufactured by Rheinmetall Land Systeme (previously Thyssen Henschel) replaced by the now Rheinmetall Landsysteme TM-170 (4 × 4) vehicle covered in detail in a separate entry. This is manufactured on an as-required basis only for the export market. As far as it is known, there has been no recent production of the TM-170 by Rheinmetall Landsysteme.

The company is now marketing the Condor (4 × 4) APC for a wide range of roles. The latest version is the Condor 2, which is based on the UNIMOG U-5000 chassis. The first customer is the Kuwait National Guard, which took delivery of seven units in 2004. Description

The last production model of the UR-416 was called the UR-416 M. The modifications and improvements have been included in the following detailed description.

The UR-416 is essentially the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG (4 × 4) cross-country vehicle fitted with an armoured body.

The hull of the UR-416 M is of all-welded steel armour construction which protects the crew against small arms fire, shell splinters and anti-personnel mines.

The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left, just behind the engine, with the vehicle commander to his right. Both have a large bulletproof front and side window for improved visibility. Armoured flaps covering the commander and driver front windows are lowered by gas pressure. The side windows are protected by swivelling armoured flaps. Forward observation is maintained by two single day periscopes in the forward part of the roof.

The Mercedes-Benz OM 352 six-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine develops 120 hp and is coupled to a manual gearbox which has six forward and two reverse gears. For normal road use only the rear axle is engaged but for cross-country travel the front axle is also engaged and when travelling across very rough country the front and rear axle differential locks are engaged.

The eight fully equipped troops are seated to the rear of the commander and driver, three down each side of the hull facing outwards and two at the back facing the rear. Each man has an individual seat, which can be folded upwards. There are three doors, one in each side of the hull and one at the rear. The side doors are in two parts: the lower part folds downwards to form a step and the upper part is hinged on one side and folds flat onto the side of the hull. The rear door is a wide gas spring supported ramp allowing fast mounting and dismounting of the crew with the replacement wheel and tyre mounted externally.

There are six firing ports altogether, two in the rear door, one in each of the side doors and a further two ports in the hull side. In addition, each sidewall has an observation block fitted with a spherical ball mount underneath.

In the roof of the UR-416 M, behind the commander and driver, is a circular single-piece hatch that opens to the rear and is secured on the roof. The basic model is normally armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun with a shield, which has an elevation of +75°, a depression of -10° and a total traverse of 360°. It could also be delivered with a horseshoe-shaped rail on which a 7.62 mm machine gun and shield with a traverse of 235° can be mounted. To the rear of this armament installation is a forward-opening single-piece hatch cover, normally with a single firing port which can be used when the hatch is locked vertical.

Forward of the commander and driver position are two side-mounted ventilators, which draw in fresh air from the outside and pipe it to two channels, which run down either side of the crew compartment. Each channel has six controlled air outlets which can be adjusted by the crew. The crew compartment also has handrails, lights and mountings for personnel equipment.

A feature of the UR-416 M is that the armoured body can be removed and lifted from the chassis for major repairs and overhaul such as changing the engine. The lifting equipment consists of three jacks, one of which is fitted under each side of the hull and the third at the rear, which acts as a pivot. The chassis can be driven away once the superstructure has been lifted.

Optional equipment includes an automatic fire warning and extinguishing system, an independent heater, night vision periscopes, run-flat tyres, smoke dischargers (either turret- or hull-mounted) and an air conditioning system. A 5,000 kg capacity winch with 40 m of 12 mm diameter cable can also be fitted. This can either be driven by the PTO of the engine or an independent unit mounted on one half of the exit door. Variants

Carrying eight sitting, or four sitting and two stretcher patients plus a crew of two.

Fitted with additional communications equipment and map boards.

The internal security model can be fitted with an obstacle-clearing blade at the front of the hull.

The vehicle can be fitted with the same turrets as the reconnaissance model but one cupola has been specifically developed for the internal security role. This cupola can be rotated through 360° and is infinitely lockable in any required position.

This could be fitted with most types of one-person turret on the market.

This has a full range of tools, workbenches, a vice and cutting equipment, and an A-frame can be erected at the front of the hull to enable the vehicle to change engines and other components. When the A-frame is in use, two stabilisers are lowered at the front of the hull.

A total of 10 of these vehicles were purchased from Germany many years ago and of these it is understood that eight remain in service. For additional protection against RPG-7-type rocket propelled unguided anti-tank grenades, some have been fitted with wire mesh screens. These detonate the HEAT warhead of the projectile before it comes into contact with the main armour of the vehicle. They are normally armed with a roof-mounted .50 (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun. It has been observed that some vehicles have been fitted with a shield for the .50 (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun and some of these also have a 7.62 mm M60D machine gun and shield mounted on the roof at the rear. Some UR-416 vehicles in service with El Salvador have now been fitted with appliqué passive armour on their hull sides.

Recent information suggests that these are locally developed vehicles. A number of versions were built in the 1970s based on the UNIMOG (4 × 4) chassis, including a Mine Protected Vehicle fitted with a one-person turret armed with a 12.7 mm MG. Up to 138 vehicles are understood to have been built in the former Rhodesia.