SINCE 1945 THE ARMY has developed, in conjunction with motor manufacturers, several specialist vehicles to suit the needs dictated by a changing world. One piece of equipment that has stood the test of time along with the main battle tank (MBT), is the ubiquitous Land Rover. Developed as a private venture, the Land Rover went into production in 1948 and was soon ordered in quantity for the army.

The civilian vehicle is altered accordingly for the military; there are many modifications carried out to the current standard Defender 90 and 110 models. Notably, the army Defender is now equipped with the excellent Rover 2.5-litre diesel direct-injection four-cylinder or the five-cylinder 2.5 litre diesel. Both engines have five-speed transmission, and the Td5 variant is offered with ABS.

For the British Army four levels of Land Rover Defender core military vehicles are manufactured including the 90 or 110 wheelbase general service vehicles (GS), the demountable armoured system (DAS), and the rapid deployment vehicle (RDV). The DAS allows installation of armoured panels and glass screens to a GS vehicle.

Transformed in 48 hours, it protects against high-velocity assault rifles and can be combined with anti-personnel mine protection. DAS is also available as a permanently armoured vehicle. The rapid deployment vehicle (RDV), modular equipment and weapons platform, is based on standard Tdi 90 or Tdi 110 GS. Used f or peacekeeping support and humanitarian and refugee support, it has a ring mount suitable for a range of grenade launchers. RDV can be fitted to a prepared base by the manufacturer. The 24v Tdi GS has a 50-amp alternator delivering 1.2kW with electromagnetic compatibility (radio suppression).

It is fitting that Land Rover is still the preferred choice for the British Army as an all-purpose work-horse. From time to time the army tests other four-wheel-drive vehicles in the Land Rover class but the newcomers continue to fail the stringent army trials. Competition for army contracts is fiercely fought and many manufacturers, from the UK and abroad, research and develop vehicles that may be suitable. If a type is chosen for UK use it may attract foreign buyers, making the exercise worthwhile.

In the case of the Alvis 8 Mamba II, it was designed by Mechem and developed by Reumech (now Alvis Vickers), both in South Africa, and entered service with the South African Defence Force. The concept was excellent and Alvis (Vickers) in the UK took the project over and further developed it. Production commenced at GKN (now Alvis Vickers) in Telford and the vehicle is in use by the British army, proving very successful as a mine-clearing vehicle in Bosnia and elsewhere.

The Mamba II Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) makes use of many Unimog parts to enable better NATO compatibility. It is powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM352 six-cylinder water- cooled diesel engine. It has a V-shaped all-steel welded hull to provide a high level of protection against anti-tank mines. The armoured hull also protects against small arms fire and shell splinters; all glass is bullet-proof and wire-mesh grilles that can be fitted to windows afford further protection. Crewed by two, the Mamba can carry nine fully equipped troops seated on opposite sides of the rear cabin.

All occupants enter the Mamba through a large rear-access door. It is capable of defending itself; firing ports may be fitted to windows in the rear compartment and a 12.7mm machine gun can be mounted on the roof. Additionally, smoke grenade launchers, night-vision equipment, run-flat tyres and a variety of radio communication and suppression equipment may be fitted. There are six roof hatches in the rear compartment and two above the driver and commander's position. In normal operational use the Mamba has a range of 900km and a maximum road speed of 110km/hr or 80km/hr cross country. Alvis also produces the Mamba 4, a short-wheelbase variant. What it lacks in looks is made up by efficiency, as does the German-built Thyssen-Hensche-Fuchs APC.

This was already in service with the German army when examples were loaned to the British during the Gulf War. They were impressed and 10 are now in service with the Royal Armoured Corps primarily for reconnaissance. They are equipped to detect gamma radiation and identify either surface deposits of chemical agents or chemical vapour. Each vehicle is equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) and the crew has integral collective protection. Fully amphibious, the Fuchs has a crew of two and space for 10 fully equipped infantrymen. For defence it carries a roof-mounted 7.62mm machine gun along with a bank of six smoke grenade launchers. Powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM 402A V-8 liquid-cooled diesel engine, the Fuchs has a range of 800km and a maximum road speed of 105km/hr. Its success during the Gulf War led to a large order from the US Army that knows it as the M93.

A new entrant and on order from the MoD, is the German-UK-Dutch Boxer MRAV. Shown publicly for the first time on December 12, 2002 the ARTEC MRAV (multi-role armoured vehicle) is a collaboration between Alvis and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH in Germany and Stork PWV BV in the Netherlands. The British army will purchase 200 from the first batch with an option for up to 1,400 vehicles. Boxer is the largest collaborative armoured-vehicle programme in the history of NATO. Eleven fully armed troops can be carried with a high level of protection against anti-tank mines and medium-calibre ammunition. It will be manufactured in six or eight-wheel versions, sharing a common power unit, drive train and suspension. Boxer has a useful payload of 25.2t and will be offered in various guises. The all-drive eight-wheel MRAV has a range of 1,050km with a maximum speed 103km/hr.

Last year six new future command liaison vehicles (FCLV) contenders were put through their paces at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit at Bovingdon Camp in Dorset and four bidders were invited to participate in a further round of tendering. The chosen FCVL that will be announced later this year, will replace the Land Rover, the tracked AFV 432 and the AT 105 Saxon.

It is proposed to purchase 422 wheeled vehicles armoured against small arms fire, shell splinters and mines, to carry a crew of two and up to three passengers. Armed with a standard 7.62mm machine gun and other ordnance, the FCVl will be able to carry new weapons as they are developed. Communications will use the Bowman system that at present is delayed by development problems but is expected to be in service by March 2004 to replace ageing Clansman radios.

Alvis Vickers and INSYS are the main contenders; Alvis Vickers showed the Scarab, Iveco MLV, RG-31M and RG-32M. INSYS offered a modified ACMAT APC (ACMAT and Marshalls Specialist Vehicles comprise INSYS) powered by a Cummins diesel engine and a five-speed Allison automatic gearbox. Run-flat tyres and ABS are fitted as standard. The armoured body is said to meet fully all the protection requirements although increased protection can be achieved with appliqué armour that will not compromise either mobility or payload. No report of the trials has been forthcoming and a decision still has to be made.