Casspir
A Casspir Mk II on display in 2010
TypeMine-resistant ambush protected vehicle
Place of originSouth Africa
Specifications
Mass10.88 t
Length6.9 m (22.64 ft)
Width2.45 m (8.04 ft)
Height2.85 m (9.35 ft)
Crew2+12
Main
armament
various: 3 × 7.62 mm MG or 20 mm cannon
Secondary
armament
12 firing ports
EngineAtlantis Diesel Engines OM352A turbo-charged diesel
124 kW
Suspension4×4-wheeled
Operational
range
770 km
Maximum speed 98 km/h on road
70 km/h off-road

The Casspir is a Mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle that has been in use in South Africa since the 1980s. It is a four-wheeled, four-wheel drive vehicle, used for transport of troops. It can hold a crew of two, plus 12 additional soldiers and associated equipment. The Casspir was unique in design when launched, providing for passive mine defence. The main armoured steel body of the vehicle is raised high above the ground, so when a mine is detonated, the explosion is less likely to damage the crew compartment and kill the occupants. The cross-section of the hull is V-shaped, directing the force of the explosion outwards, further protecting the occupants.

The vehicle also offers crew protection from small arms fire. The capabilities of the Casspir were the basis of the outline capabilities required by the U.S. Marines for their Mine-resistant ambush protected or MRAP vehicle project.[1]

Design history

A Casspir at the South African Police Museum, Pretoria

The name 'Casspir' is an anagram of the abbreviations of the customer, the South African Police, and the design authority, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR – Applied Chemistry Unit that later became MECHEM).[2] Although the Casspir was deployed in townships during the apartheid era, it was initially designed specifically for conditions encountered in the South African Border War.

It was at first extensively used by the infamous "Koevoet" police counterinsurgency unit in northern Namibia during the apartheid era and later also by the South-West Africa Territorial Force's 101 Battalion and the SA Army's 5 Reconnaissance Regiment. The chief criteria for the design was good off-road mobility, armour protection against small arms fire and anti-personnel mines, and ease and speed of repair by a light workshop crew in the field after detonating an anti-tank mine.[3] These requirements led to the distinctive V-shaped hull (for mine protection) and a wheeled chassis.

The Casspir was designed by the Defence Research Unit (DRU)[3] of CSIR specifically to protect vehicle occupants against landmines. It is certified to protect its occupants against a triple TM-57 mine blast (equivalent to 21 kg of TNT) under a wheel, or a double blast (14 kg of TNT) under the hull. The Casspir has a V-bottomed armoured monocoque hull, designed to deflect the force of an explosion outwards, to which a leaf-spring suspension is attached.[2]

Production history

After two years of field testing, the South African Police were eventually satisfied they had a good vehicle and in March 1980 placed an order for an initial 140 Casspirs. Some 190 Mk1 Casspirs were manufactured by Henred Fruehauf. In 1981 production was taken over by TFM, which improved the design to the Mk 2. TFM was subsequently taken over by Reumech OMC. Reumech in turn was taken over by Vickers Defence Systems of the UK and renamed Vickers OMC. When Alvis purchased Vickers Defence Systems to become Alvis Vickers, Vickers OMC became Alvis OMC. In 2004 BAE Systems acquired Alvis Vickers and Alvis OMC was renamed Land Systems OMC. Land Systems OMC was 75 per cent acquired by Denel in 2015.[4] An estimated 2800 Casspirs of all types have been built.[3] In 2018 the ADE 352 engines, gearboxes, shock absorbers, differentials and other parts are still being supplied by ADE (Atlantis Diesel Engineering) in South Africa as well as the later model Casspir NG2000.

The South African Police Service sold some of their surplus Casspirs to the public at a 2008 auction.[5] A new Casspir known as Casspir NG 2000 is being manufactured by Denel Mechem.[6][7] The vehicle was launched in April 2013.[3]

Variants

Crew compartment of a South African Police Casspir. Note the weapons storage.
Sesspir prototype undergoing field tests
  • Casspir Mk 1. It made extensive use of Mercedes-Benz truck components.[3] First use in combat: Koevoet, South West African Police
  • Casspir Mk 2 First user: 101 Battalion, South West African Territorial Force
  • Casspir Mk 2C (I)
  • Casspir Mk 3 – 170 hp (127 kW) ADE-352T 6-cylinder turbo-diesel
  • Casspir 2000 & NG2000A (Mercedes Benz based)
  • Casspir 2000B (Powerstar – North Benz based)
  • Casspir 2000C (SINO Truck Military based)

The Casspir was built in different configurations:

  • APC – armoured personnel carrier[8]
  • Artillery Fire Control vehicle
  • Ambulance
  • Blesbok Freighter – with drop side cargo area for up to 5 tons (160 built). Can be used as a weapon platform.
  • Duiker Tanker – 5000 litre tank (30 built); originally with 3000 litre tank[3]
  • FISTV – Fire Support Team vehicle
  • Gemsbok Recovery vehicle – 15-ton capacity (30 built)
  • Mechem Mine clearing vehicle – uses steel wheels to detonate mines
  • MEDDS (Mechem Explosives and Drug Detection System) Mine Sensor vehicle
  • Mechem VAMMIDS (Vehicular Array Mine Detection System) Vehicle
  • Plofadder Mine clearing System – carrier of the containerised Plofadder 160AT rocket-propelled mine clearing system
  • Riot Control vehicle – Police version with larger windows to increase visibility
  • Mechem LP (Low-Profile) and short-wheelbase vehicle
  • Casspir Dumpy – A shortened version (1 m shorter) developed and purchased by the SA Army in 1982 to be evaluated against the requirements for the Buffel replacement project. Did not enter production[3]
  • Sesspir – In 1984–85 the CSIR developed a prototype Casspir with six wheels. An additional non-driven axle was fitted in front of the front drive axle, this to be sacrificed in the event of a landmine detonation. It steered along with the regular driven front wheels and was equipped with winch cables to hoist either side of the axle clear off the ground in the event of the loss of a wheel. The theory being the vehicle would remain mobile. The idea was shelved as one of numerous problems was simply a lack of power from the engine to push the undriven axle along through bush and soft sand. Only one prototype was built.[3]
  • Casspir NG Series or Casspir 2000 is known as the new generation hence Casspir NG 2000. Available in various models 2000, 2000A; 2000B; 2000C and a possible D model, all to house various drive trains. The NG design allow a common hull to fit various drive trains and either manual or automatic drive. The latest in the NG series is a design that is based on a monocoque design and chassis cab design, specific in the support variants. The NG2000 Series currently offer the following variants.
    • Casspir NG Troop Carrier – specific Military application
    • Casspir NG Personnel Carrier – specific for Humanitarian purposes
    • Casspir NG Security/Police special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Command and Control special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Ambulance special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Reconnaissance special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Weapons Platform Carrier special variant- to be suitable for Indirect Mortar; Anti-Tank or Anti-Aircraft
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Cargo special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Fuel Carrier special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Water Carrier special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Recovery Light special variant
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Recovery Heavy special variant (6x6) "Eland"
    • Casspir NG Wide Body Art Light Gun Tractor special variant (6x6)
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Cargo special variant (4x4 & 6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Water Carrier special variant (4x4 & 6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Fuel Carrier special variant (4x4 & 6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Hooklift special variant (6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Art Gun Tractor special variant (6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Tipper Truck special variant (6x4 & 6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Truck Tractor special variant (6x4 & 6x6) – "Likkewaan"
    • Casspir NG Chassis Cab Recovery special variant Light, Medium and Heavy (4x4, 6x6 & 8x8) – "Likkewaan"

Operators

Casspir operators, past and present
Burundi National Defence soldiers demonstrate squad movements with a Casspir during a mechanized infantry course

Combat history

An embroidered Casspir armoured vehicle outside the Iziko Art Museum in Cape Town
A London bus in 1989 carrying the "Boycott Apartheid" message. An image of a Casspir is crossed out symbolising the rejection of apartheid.

The Casspir has entered South African popular culture as an icon of apartheid-era state repression and is controversial for its continued deployment in South Africa for policing tasks.[22] A beadwork Casspir, with Ndebele designs, outside the Iziko South African National Gallery was installed as a representation of this iconography of the vehicle.[23] Created by interdisciplinary contemporary artist Ralph Ziman, the artwork is titled The Casspir Project.

A Casspir also forms part of the South Africa Apartheid Museum's exhibit on repression in the townships in the 1980s.[24]

Casspirs were extensively used by the human characters to enter into the alien settlement zone in the 2009 movie District 9.

A Casspir is seen in the music video for the song "Dirty Harry" by Gorillaz.[25]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Casspir.
  1. ↑ "Retasking MRAP: Life after Afghanistan". Jane's International Defence Review. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Casspir". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Camp, Steve; Heitman, Helmoed-Romer (19 September 2014). Surviving The Ride. 30 Degrees South. ISBN 978-1-928211-17-4. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "BAE Completes S. African Unit Sale to Denel". Deagel.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Independent Newspapers Online. "A chance to own a Casspir". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Mechem sells CASSPIR 2000s to Benin and the UN". DefenceWeb. 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Denel Introduces the Next Generation Casspir 2000 Mine Resistant Vehicle". Deagel.com. 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "2011 February". Sadfgroup.org. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Leon Engelbrecht (3 January 2011). "South African Arms Exports". Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  10. ↑ The Military Balance 2021, p. 450.
  11. ↑ "Scramble for the Congo – Anatomy of an Ugly War" (PDF). ICG Africa. 20 December 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  12. ↑ The Military Balance 2021, p. 462.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Camp, Steve; Heitman, Helmoed-Römer (November 2014). Surviving the Ride: A pictorial history of South African manufactured mine-protected vehicles. Pinetown: 30 Degrees South. p. 240. ISBN 978-1928211-17-4.
  16. ↑ "ROCA (United Nations Register of Conventional Arms)". Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "An MRAP for India". Defenseindustrydaily.com. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  18. ↑ (in French)http://www.opex360.com/2019/07/19/lallemagne-livre-29-vehicules-blindes-dorigine-sud-africaine-aux-forces-armees-maliennes/
  19. ↑ "UN Register". Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  20. ↑ Military Balance 2017
  21. ↑ "home". Army.mil.za. 13 December 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  22. ↑ "City defends move to purchase casspirs amid outcry | IOL". Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  23. ↑ Kleinsmith, Melody (13 December 2016). "Unveiling The Casspir Project". Iziko. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  24. ↑ Mafika (10 April 2002). "South Africa's Apartheid Museum". Brand South Africa. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  25. ↑ "Gorillaz - Dirty Harry (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021.

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