The Aussie take on the Land Rover 110
Development
The Land Rover "Perentie" was the local nickname for the model 110 produced by JRA Limited, for the Australian Army. It was partly manufactured and assembled in Moorebank (New South Wales from 1984 to 1992 before a new serie took over. The first contract ended in 1988 but the model was introduced 1987 to replace the ageing fleet of Series 2A and 3 Land Rovers.
The Land Rover Perentie was a pure product of Australia, only sharing the general design and parts with the mother company back in UK. Most were manufactured locally however, notably through the many suppliers already implicated on the production of the Serie 2A and serie 3.
The Aussie Land Rover Series 2A
The first, called Land Rover Series 2A, 3/4 ton General Service, entered service in 1962. The bodywork was made of pressed steel and riveted construction on common chassis rails, with four wheel leaf spring suspension, 7.50 x 16 non directional bar tread tyres and finished in overall olive drab which was the standard army livery in the 1960s.
Powered by a torquy four cylinder petrol engine it was not fast but could negociate the most adverse terrain, as expected. As the ultimate tests, some were sent to Tasmania. Most were used by Supply Battalions and soldiered on until the 1980s. They served in as general cargo and troop carriers as well as light artillery tractors to haul the L5 105mm Pack Howitzer.
The Aussie Land Rover Series 3
The Australian Land Rover Serie 3 was "freshened up" with an estimated 2300 vehicles wihch parts were purchased from the UK, but modified in Australia from April 1977 to March 1981. The contract was signed by mid-1976 five years after the late Series 2A Land-Rovers were purchased. The chassis were supplied by the Leyland Australia Pty Ltd and others by British Leyland Cars Ltd with differing chassis numbers.
The range of variants was limited to the basic body type, LWB ¾ ton GS, FFR and Workshop. Ambulances, Fire Tenders and Station Wagons were not updated on the serie 3, from 2A. Thus, many specialized Series 2A remained active past the end of the cold war. In between others Series 2A ¾ ton as well as ¾ ton variants removed from service and nt repaired if damaged or for too expensive repairs.
Australian Army's Series 3 ¾ ton specs was still different to the Series 2A with an updated drivetrain for greater speeds and extra towing power, via a strong 6 cylinder engine with a Rover 6 cyl. 2.6 litre petrol from late 1973, with oil cooler, all-synchro 4 speed box and larger fuel tank instead of twin 10 gallon tanks. The rear differiential was also new, provided by Leyland Australia. Series 3 ¾ ton had a new "ribbing" on the edges of the canvas with no side windows, extra 3 inches of rear wrap around, lightweight with new ripstop.
The Land Rover 110 revolution
The land Rover perentie was a complete revolution went introduced and doubled, since for the first time it was produced in 4x4 and 6x6 variants and powered by an Isuzu 3.9-litre four-cylinder 4BD1 diesel engine, or 4BD1-T turbo. Also for the first time, most components were now built in Australia, futher cementing it as a pure "Kanguru" product. They had notably a few differences with UK military models, well tailored for the dursty, hot, harsh conditions of the outback, or tropical conditions encountered in New Guinea or Tasmania.
As a reminder, the Land Rover 110 was unveiled in 1983, initially equipped with engines inherited from the series II-III (2.25 Diesel), or the Rover V8 3.5-litre. It was quickly joined in 1984 by DWB (92.7 inches wheelbase) Land Rover 90, but the latter was not adopted for military service. The 110 referred also to the wheelbase and was the main military model. The civilian name "defender" was adopted. The military models stuck to "Land Rover 110".
The name "Perentie" originated from Land Rover's successful tender to "Project Perentie", the official Australian Army trial for the selection of two new 1 and 2-tonne light vehicles. Project Perentie trials pitted eagainst the Land Rover/Isuzu 110 and 6x6 variants with the Jeep AM10, Mercedes-Benz 300GD and Austrian Unimog. The Toyota Land Cruiser was evaluated two years later. The name "Perentie" derived from the local Varanus giganteus, a lizard specie, largest goanna lizard native to Australia.
Initial studies for project Perentie commenced in 1981. Tenders for a truck, utility, lightweight, MC2 with a payload of 0.7 to 1.0 tonne, and a truck, cargo, light, MC2 with a payload of 1.5 to 2.0 tonnes were called in June 1982. Seven companies submitted tenders and three were selected to provide test vehicles for trials.
Jaguar Rover Australia (JRA) was selected to supply 2500 4x4's (1-tonne) and 400 6x6's (2-tonne). The Perentie 4x4 and 6x6 are Australian-designed and built derivatives of the Land Rover 110. They come in a variety of body styles - soft-top, van, ambulance, long-range patrol vehicle and so on. Many vehicles are fitted with a P.T.O. winch. Power comes from an Isuzu 3.9L 4-cyl diesel, which is turbo-charged on the 6x6. Isuzu diesels were factory fitted to many Australian Land Rovers in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The 4x4 is a modified 110. The chassis is galvanised and extended slightly so that the spare-wheel can be carried under the rear body. This is the vehicle that Les Hiddins used in the Bush-Tucker Man T.V. series. Deliveries of the 4x4 began in August 1987. Picture of six wheel drive.
The 6x6 is designed to carry two tons or more across country and has its own unique chassis. Front suspension is by coil springs, as per the 110. Rear suspension is by leaf springs with a clever cross-over rocker for load-sharing. Deliveries of the 6x6 began in March 1989.
Design
The major differences between the Land Rover Perentie and British Land Rovers are:
-The relocation of the spare wheel under the rear of the load
-A galvanised chassis
-The Isuzu engine.
The original army contract called for unusual features such as being hung from a helicopter by one corner without the chassis distorting. The 6x6 also unique to Australia (albeit the concept was not not new, see the Jeep 6x6 and others) with a wider cab and load-sharing leaf-sprung rear axles as well as a turbocharger boost the original Isuzu 6-cylinder. The original order called for 2,500 4x4 and 400 6x6 vehicles manufactured between 1987 and 1990, and further vehicles added under the later Project Bushranger.
They were equipped with black-out and convoy lighting circuitry. The 6X6 Perentie wheelbase is 3040mm (119.7") forward and a rear axle of 3940mm (155"). Only 2,500 Perentie 4x4s made and roughly 600 (other sources, 400) 6x6 variants.
specifications 4x4 |
| All data: | As the Land Rover 110 LWB |
| Propulsion: | Isuzu 4BD1 T. 3.9 Litre, 4 cylinder Turbo Diesel |
specifications 6x6 |
| Dimensions: | 6 x 2,43 x 2,5 m |
| Weight: | 3,5t (Without Winch), 5.6t gross, 7.1t CGM |
| Payload: | 900kgs trailer, 2t cargo |
| Crew: | 3+12 |
| Propulsion: | Isuzu 4BD1 T. 3.9 Litre, 4 cylinder Turbo Diesel |
| Transmission: | 4 speed LT95A |
| Speed (road): | c90 kph |
| Range: | 2x 62 Litre tanks, c800 km |
| Armament: | None, small arms (see spec ops variant) |
| Production: | 600 |
Variants
4x4 Variants
- Truck, Utility, Lightweight, MC2 (Mobility Category 2) (1222 Vehicles)
- Truck, Utility, Lightweight, Winch, MC2 (314 Vehicles)
- Truck, Utility, Lightweight, FFR (Fitted For Radio), MC2 (964 Vehicles)
- Truck, Utility, Lightweight, FFR, Winch, MC2 (208 Vehicles)
- Truck, Panel, Lightweight, Survey, FFR, Winch, MC2 (35 Vehicles)
- Truck, Carryall, Lightweight, Senior Commander, FFR, Winch, MC2 (11 Vehicles)
- Truck, Carryall, Lightweight, Personnel Carrier, MC2 (38 Vehicles)
- Truck, Surveillance, Lightweight, Winch, MC2 (RFSV, Regional Forces Surveillance Vehicle) (231 Vehicles)
6x6 Variants
- Truck, Cargo, Light, MC2 (215 Vehicles)
- Truck, Cargo, Light, Winch, MC2 (32 Vehicles)
- Truck, Ambulance, 4 Litter, FFR, Winch, MC2 (94 Vehicles)
- Truck, General Maintenance, Light, Winch, MC2 (GMV) (181 Vehicles)
- Truck, Electronic Repair, Light, MC2 (ERV) (40 Vehicles) and Truck, Comsec Repair Workshop *Vehicle, Light, MC2 (12 Vehicles)
- Truck, Long Range Patrol, Light, Winch, MC2 (LRPV) (27 Vehicles)
- Truck, Air Defence, Light, FFR, Winch, MC2 (72 Vehicles)
- Truck, Crew Cab, Light, Winch, MC2 (26 Vehicles)
- Truck, Infantry Improvised Mobility Vehicle, MC2 (number unknown)
Service
The RR Perentie was proven in Australia and overseas like in in Somalia, Timor Leste, Solomons, Iraq and Afghanistan. But they served well and from February 2013, the Perenties are disposed of, and were from there, gradually replaced by Mercedes-Benz G-Wagens (Project Land 121). The Defender proved nevertheless to be vulnerable to land mines and IEDs (improvised explosive devices), and the army wanted optional armour. However they were replaced by unarmoured Mercedes G-Wagens so far.
The Land Rover ADF Perentie program (1984–92) was replaced by the Bushranger contract (1992–98) also with a range of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles, built, no longer at Moorebank (Perentie) but at Adelaide for the Bushranger with different power units and transmission systems, but also sharing many omponents with the Land Rover Defender for the civilian market built at Solihull Land Rover 110 vehicles. George Fowler from LRA engineering was responsible for the development of the Land Rover 110 and supported the adoption of the TD5 Defender for the LRA in the ADF vehicle procurement program:
"The ADF has decided to use a production vehicle which is designed for a ten-year period of service. This decision recognises the increased levels of reliability and durability of a Solihull-production Defender 110, with the new Td5 power unit."
"George Fowler and his team of engineers developed a concept vehicle, based on a production Land Rover 110, that was similar to existing Perentie and Bushranger Land Rover 4x4 vehicles in terms of driver control layout and ancillary equipment."
Succession: The Bushranger
The primary role of this new follow-up vehicle was to transport an infantry section plus driver with three days of equipments and supplies in operations. The bulk of the production wa smade of six wheeled vehicles, designed specifically for military use, based on the Land Rover 110 series with an extended chassis, additional axle and a truck cargo always on four wheel drive, with selective six wheel drive on the most difficult terrain.
The Chassis modifications like the previous Perentie also included points for a helicopter sling, a main cab for two, plus eight at the rear, full compliance on legal road use and with two roof mounted spares, hatch in the rear roof for a BAeA Gun Ring and a back fitted with racks for up to eight jerry cans, fuel or water. Production numbers remains low however with 148 vehicles and 8 Perentie conversions, procured as part of the Interim Infantry Mobility vehicle (IIMV) project before the
Bushmaster Infantry Mobility vehicle was adopted.