MAP45 Armoured Personnel Carrier
Encyclopedia
The MAP45 Armoured Personnel Carrier is a Rhodesian/Zimbabwean 4x4d heavy troop-carrying vehicle (TCV) first introduced in 1978 based on a Mercedes-Benz
truck chassis.
(‘MAP’ stands for mine and ambush protected in Rhodesian military jargon) was developed in 1977-78 by the Rhodesian Army
Workshops as a light version of the MAP75 TCV.
Production started early in 1978 at Army Workshops but in order to meet the increasing demand, manufacture was contracted out to the Rhodesian private firm Zambesi Coachworks Ltd of Salisbury (now Harare
).
4.5 ton Series LA911B truck chassis. Adapted from the MAP75 TCV, the open-topped hull or ‘capsule’ is faceted at the sides, which were designed to deflect small-arms’ rounds, and a flat deck reinforced by a v-shaped ‘crush box’ meant to deflect mine blasts. Three inverted U-shaped low ‘Roll bars’ were fitted to protect the fighting compartment from being crushed in case the vehicle turned and roll over after a landmine detonation. Due to the shortened top hull, their reduced height presented less of a problem since it did not hampered movements inside the troop compartment as in the MAP75.
-58 7.62mm Light Machine Gun
(LMG), sometimes installed on a locally-produced one-man MG armoured turret to protect the gunner. Vehicles assigned to convoy escorting duties (‘E-type’) had a Browning M1919A4
7.62mm heavy machine gun mounted on an open-topped, cylinder-shaped turret (dubbed ‘the dustbin’). For ‘externals’ twin Browning MG pintle mounts were sometimes fitted, placed behind the driver’s compartment. The Zimbabwean vehicles after 1980 sported single pintle-mounted Soviet-made 12.7mm and 14.5mm Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) instead.
guarding the Mutare
-Beira oil pipeline in 1982-1993.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
truck chassis.
History
The MAP45 Armoured Personnel CarrierArmoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
(‘MAP’ stands for mine and ambush protected in Rhodesian military jargon) was developed in 1977-78 by the Rhodesian Army
Rhodesian Army
The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of the Rhodesian Army, Royal Rhodesian Air Force, British South Africa Police, Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Guard Force.- Rhodesian Army :...
Workshops as a light version of the MAP75 TCV.
Production started early in 1978 at Army Workshops but in order to meet the increasing demand, manufacture was contracted out to the Rhodesian private firm Zambesi Coachworks Ltd of Salisbury (now Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
).
General description
The MAP45 consists of an all-welded body with a cut-down troop compartment built on a modified Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
4.5 ton Series LA911B truck chassis. Adapted from the MAP75 TCV, the open-topped hull or ‘capsule’ is faceted at the sides, which were designed to deflect small-arms’ rounds, and a flat deck reinforced by a v-shaped ‘crush box’ meant to deflect mine blasts. Three inverted U-shaped low ‘Roll bars’ were fitted to protect the fighting compartment from being crushed in case the vehicle turned and roll over after a landmine detonation. Due to the shortened top hull, their reduced height presented less of a problem since it did not hampered movements inside the troop compartment as in the MAP75.
Armament
Rhodesian MAP45s were usually armed with a FN MAGFN MAG
The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
-58 7.62mm Light Machine Gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
(LMG), sometimes installed on a locally-produced one-man MG armoured turret to protect the gunner. Vehicles assigned to convoy escorting duties (‘E-type’) had a Browning M1919A4
M1919 Browning machine gun
The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...
7.62mm heavy machine gun mounted on an open-topped, cylinder-shaped turret (dubbed ‘the dustbin’). For ‘externals’ twin Browning MG pintle mounts were sometimes fitted, placed behind the driver’s compartment. The Zimbabwean vehicles after 1980 sported single pintle-mounted Soviet-made 12.7mm and 14.5mm Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) instead.
Variants
- Troop-Carrying Vehicle (TCV) – is the standard IFV/APC version, armed with either a single LMG (Rhodesian SF 1978-79) or HMG (ZNA 1980-present) and capable of carrying 12 infantrymen.
- Convoy escorting version - designated ‘E-type’, this is a basic IFV/APC version fitted with the Browning MG ‘dustbin’ turret.
- Command vehicle – command version equipped with radios and map boards.
Combat history
Prior to 1980, the Rhodesians employed the MAP45 in their cross-border covert raids (‘externals’) on ZIPRA and ZANLA guerrilla bases in the neighbouring Countries. After the war, they went to serve with the ZNA forces in MozambiqueMozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
guarding the Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
-Beira oil pipeline in 1982-1993.
Operators
– some 200 or 300 vehicles in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1978-1980 passed on to successor state. – Still in service with the ZNA.See also
- MAP75 Armoured Personnel CarrierMAP75 Armoured Personnel CarrierThe MAP75 Armoured Personnel Carrier is a Rhodesian/Zimbabwean 4x4d heavy troop-carrying vehicle first introduced in 1978 based on a Mercedes-Benz truck chassis.- General description :...
- Crocodile Armoured Personnel CarrierCrocodile Armoured Personnel CarrierThe Crocodile Armoured Personnel Carrier or “Croc”is a Rhodesian/Zimbabwean 4x2d heavy troop-carrying vehicle first introduced in 1977 based on Japanese commercial trucks’ chassis.- General description :...
- Mine Protected Combat Vehicle - MPCV