Leopard security vehicle
Encyclopedia
The Leopard Security Vehicle is an unusual land-mine protected APC used by the Rhodesian Government and civilian population during the Rhodesian Bush War
. It offered basic but necessary protection against mine attack through the use of a V-hull
.
, but smaller as it carried a driver on the front right with 2 passengers behind him on the right and three on the left. All passengers were on bench seats fixed to the hull facing in.
The vehicle is notable for its highly unusual shape, all facets of which are intended to counter the effect of land mine blasts.
This vehicle is considered the first monocoque mine proof vehicle produced.
The example shown, from the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester UK was built in 1978-9 according to the attached label making this the Mk6 variant. It is powered by a Volkswagen Type 1 engine located in an un-armoured enclosure at the rear, behind the rear axle.
The Leopard was primarily intended for use as a vehicle to provide cost-effective protection to the civilian population which was particularly susceptible to the devastating effects of land-mine warfare, mine proof vehicles not being readily available due to the severe economic sanctions imposed on Rhodesia at the time.
Modified versions, particularly those with a double door on the rear, were produced for the Rhodesian Security Forces, though this vehicle never found particular favour with these armed formations. The surviving vehicles on display are fundamentally designed and were sold for civilian use.
This vehicle predates the South African 'Buffel' by several years, many Rhodesian designed vehicles being shipped to South Africa for trial and 'reverse engineering', giving rise to the first generation of South African monocoque mine proof vehicles.
The Leopard suffered from a number of practical problems, which included overheating of the 1600cc, VW, Dual port, Type 2, Air cooled engine, a lack of power to traverse difficult terrain and escape ambush situations, as well as the unintended parting of the front or rear sub-assemblies from the hull, in difficult terrain. The Rhodesian Police, BSAP
, particularly did not favour the vehicle and rather utilized various other mine resiting vehicles such as the Cougar (also designed by Konschel) and locally-produced armoured Land-Rovers in preference.
The pictures of the IWM Leopard show a lack of two essential pieces of protection equipment: a sturdy wire mesh curved to fit to the top of the roll bars which acted as an anti-grenade screen preventing these entering the hull and the canvas roof which stretched over the screen to further help as an anti-grenade measure and keep out rain. This vehicle has been repainted at some time in an incorrect colour.
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
. It offered basic but necessary protection against mine attack through the use of a V-hull
V-hull
The V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...
.
Design
The Leopard pre-dates and is similar in concept to the South African BuffelBuffel
The Buffel is a mine-protected APC used by the South African Army during the South African Border War. The Buffel was also used as an armoured fighting vehicle and proved itself in this role...
, but smaller as it carried a driver on the front right with 2 passengers behind him on the right and three on the left. All passengers were on bench seats fixed to the hull facing in.
The vehicle is notable for its highly unusual shape, all facets of which are intended to counter the effect of land mine blasts.
- V-hullV-hullThe V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...
cab, - circular external roll over bars,
- soft top roof, preventing undue pressure build up in the hull in the event of a land-mine blast.
- detachable front and rear suspension and engine sub-assemblies,
- all passenger seats are fitted with semi-adjustable over-shoulder and lap straps,
- road wheels deliberately positioned well away from the passenger compartment or hull, so that if a mine was triggered by a road wheel the hull was not directly over the blast field.
This vehicle is considered the first monocoque mine proof vehicle produced.
The example shown, from the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester UK was built in 1978-9 according to the attached label making this the Mk6 variant. It is powered by a Volkswagen Type 1 engine located in an un-armoured enclosure at the rear, behind the rear axle.
Production history
Produced in Rhodesia and possibly South West Africa (now Namibia), from a design by and under the supervision of, Ernest Konschel an engineer and Rhodesian farmer who also designed of the 'Pookie' mine detecting vehicle. Some 700 - 750 vehicles are recorded as being produced with only 3 complete examples surviving.The Leopard was primarily intended for use as a vehicle to provide cost-effective protection to the civilian population which was particularly susceptible to the devastating effects of land-mine warfare, mine proof vehicles not being readily available due to the severe economic sanctions imposed on Rhodesia at the time.
Modified versions, particularly those with a double door on the rear, were produced for the Rhodesian Security Forces, though this vehicle never found particular favour with these armed formations. The surviving vehicles on display are fundamentally designed and were sold for civilian use.
This vehicle predates the South African 'Buffel' by several years, many Rhodesian designed vehicles being shipped to South Africa for trial and 'reverse engineering', giving rise to the first generation of South African monocoque mine proof vehicles.
The Leopard suffered from a number of practical problems, which included overheating of the 1600cc, VW, Dual port, Type 2, Air cooled engine, a lack of power to traverse difficult terrain and escape ambush situations, as well as the unintended parting of the front or rear sub-assemblies from the hull, in difficult terrain. The Rhodesian Police, BSAP
British South Africa Police
The British South Africa Police was the police force of the British South Africa Company of Cecil Rhodes which became the national police force of Southern Rhodesia and its successor after 1965, Rhodesia...
, particularly did not favour the vehicle and rather utilized various other mine resiting vehicles such as the Cougar (also designed by Konschel) and locally-produced armoured Land-Rovers in preference.
The pictures of the IWM Leopard show a lack of two essential pieces of protection equipment: a sturdy wire mesh curved to fit to the top of the roll bars which acted as an anti-grenade screen preventing these entering the hull and the canvas roof which stretched over the screen to further help as an anti-grenade measure and keep out rain. This vehicle has been repainted at some time in an incorrect colour.
Operators
Primarily civilian, but utilized by many branches of the Rhodesian Govt. The vehicle did not find favour with the Army.External links
- http://www.baragwanath.co.za/leopard Preservation of Leopard No.596 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- http://www.rhodesia.com/book.html Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of Rhodesia, 1965 to 1980.
- British South Africa PoliceBritish South Africa PoliceThe British South Africa Police was the police force of the British South Africa Company of Cecil Rhodes which became the national police force of Southern Rhodesia and its successor after 1965, Rhodesia...
British South Africa Police "BSAP".
See also
- Infantry fighting vehicleInfantry fighting vehicleAn infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
- List of armored fighting vehicles
- MambaMamba APCThe Mamba is a South African armoured personnel carrier that offers protection against small arms fire and land mines. The vehicle, which uses a Unimog chassis and is powered by a Mercedes Benz engine, is suited for rough terrain and can carry up to 10 passengers plus the driver...
- BuffelBuffelThe Buffel is a mine-protected APC used by the South African Army during the South African Border War. The Buffel was also used as an armoured fighting vehicle and proved itself in this role...
- RCV-9RCV-9The RCV-9 is a light armoured vehicle manufactured by Land Systems OMC of South Africa.-Production history:It was developed in 1986 as a private venture by Sandock-Austral as an internal security vehicle for protecting high risk areas such as airports...
- RG-12RG-12The RG-12 is a multi-purpose public order vehicle with anti-personnel mine, grenade, fire bomb and small arms fire protection that is manufactured by Land Systems OMC of South Africa, with over 700 being in service globally in more than eight countries.Originally designed as a police public order...
- RG-19RG-19The RG-19 Caddie is a prototype Armoured Personnel carrier manufactured by TFM of South Africa. The company was later taken over by Reunert Defence OMC.-Production history:...
- RG-31RG-31The RG-31 Nyala is a 4×4 multi-purpose mine-protected armoured personnel carrier manufactured in South Africa by Land Systems OMC, a division of BAE Systems. It is based on the Mamba APC of TFM Industries...
- V-hullV-hullThe V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...