The SAMIL 50 was developed as a truck capable of transporting a 5-tonne load off-road, usable on dirst roads and savannah tracks of southern and eastern Africa. It was developed from the Deutz F6L 413F 6.

Development

Before the SAMIl 50 was the SAMIL 20, the first truck in this company ("South African MILitary") as an improved Magirus Deutz 130M7FAL 4x4 2-ton truck, related to the famous Haflinger/Pinzgauer. The first SAMIL 20 Mark I had an air-cooled engine, but the later Mark II received instead a lightweight South African-made water-cooled Atlantis Diesel Engine (ADE). At the time indeed, there were international restrictions on the country due to Apartheid policities. This domestic engine did the trick however, for a time. To go with it was also installed a slightly modified drive. Its chassis was used to develop the Bulldog, an armored personnel carrier.

The SAMIL 50 was the next step. It was developed almost at the same time as the SAMIl 20, but as a much larger 4x4 vehicle, based on the design of the Magirus-Deutz 192D12Al (now IVECO Magirus 120-19 ANWM). The Magirus 192D was a line of 1980s 4x4 off-road trucks on various wheelbases obtained before the mass wave of anti-Apartheid measures, notably from the US Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986), soon joined by Britain and other countries.

Thus, the vehicle was heavily modified locally to make it considerably stronger and incorporate local components. The SAMIL 50 from there became the standard South African Defence Forces vehicles used the largest large numbers. Visually close to the original by many details it was tailored for the local harsh conditions and even more rugged than the original in order to remain operational for extended periods in the worst conditions.

Design

Layout

It has a canopy over a steel structure around the load area.
The SAMIL 50 is very close to the Magirus-Deutz model, but for the bonnet shape, grille, cab details. The main cargo version measures 7,820 mm (308 in) long overall bumper to bumper for 2,450 mm (96 in) in width and 3,020 mm (119 in) in height on the roof cabin, but taller with arches and tarpaulin on. Its Wheelbase is 4,900 mm (190 in) for a ground Clearance of 355 mm (14.0 in), front track 1,985 mm (78.1 in) wide, directional and rear track fixed with single wheels at 2,030 mm (80 in). Its angle of approach is 36°, angle of departure 33°.

The SAMIL 50 Gross vehicle mass is 12,4 tons (27,300 lb), wit a front axle rating of 5,500 kg (12,100 lb) and rear axle rating of 9,500 kg (20,900 lb), plus a payload of 6,000 kg (13,000 lb). The cab is conventional, with a single plexi-glass fixed windshield, two wipers, two side doors with winched down windows, two folding truck grade rear mirrors, and a metal roof without hatch or gallery attachment. There is a base winch hosted below the engine with the hook locked in the bumper and two towing eyes. Two standard lights are also located on either side of the bumber, behind brush guards and two blackout lights nearby.

The cab is also described as a Forward Control cab with Canvas Roof, with seating for a driver and 1 Assistant, left-hand Drive. Access to the Engine is done as the Cab tilts forward. The vehicle is unarmed, apart the personal service revolvers or small arms carried by the driver and assistant. Protection is limited to two halon type fire extinguishers.

Mobility

The SAMIL 50 has a 4×4 driver, the Mark I was powered by the Deutz F6L 413F 6 Cylinders V6 9572 cc Air-cooled, which developed 141 kW (188 hp) @ 2500 rpm for a torque of 632 Nm @ 1600 rpm. The Mk II has the ADE409 6 Cylinders V6 Water-cooled model 9.5-litre, air cooled diesel rated for 161 hp (120 kW). It was in both cases using a single dry plate clutch 350 mm (14 in). This engine was connected to a ZF S6-65 6 Speed Synchromesh gearbox, and a ZF Z65 transfer case 2 Speed, Permanent 4×4 and Pneumatically operated differential Lock.

The Front axles has Banjo housing just as the rear and both had the same pneumatically operated diffenrential lock. They had a single wheel all-round whees with run-flat type Tyres 14.0 x 20” – 12 Ply. The Steering is Rhd Power Assisted. Service Brakes uses a Dual Circuit, Full air and the park Brake is using Pneumatically operated spring.

The Suspension uses Semi elliptical leaf springs with Shock absorbers using Double acting telescopic hydraulic Front and rear on te Mark I and Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers on leaf springs on the Mark II. Torsion Bar are fitted to the rear. Eletrical power rests on a voltage to 24V standard, with two 12V 120 A/h batteries. Like the SAMIL 20, the initial SAMIL 50 Mark I had an air-cooled engine. The later SAMIL 50 (Mark II) had a built-in domestic water-cooled engine, as the fuel tank and transmission were also changed. The Mark I had a fuel tank capacity of two 200 L (44 imp gal; 53 US gal) tanks for a 1,000 km (620 mi) range and top speed of 88 km/h (55 mph).

⚙ SAMIL 50 Mark II specifications
Weight	6,340 kg (13,980 lb) (empty)
Dimensions	7.78 x 2.5 x 3.1 m (25.5 x 8 ft 2 in x 10 ft)
Propulsion	ADE 409N 9.5-litre V6 air cooled diesel 161 hp (120 kW)
Transmission	6 speed x 2 range
Speed	88 km/h (55 mph)
Range	1,000 km (620 mi)
Protection	Optional armoured cab*
Suspension	Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers on leaf springs
Crew	2 (+40 in troop transport)

Variants

The SAMIL 50 is used in a range of dedicated vehicles, all with the option of an armoured mine-proof cab. The rear flatbed could be fitted woth Removable bench seats for up to 40 troops. These is also an additional twin-axle trailer rated for 6 000 kg payload.

Variants include the following:
-Recovery vehicle
-Fuel and water tanker
-Box-bodied vehicle: workshop, mobile refrigerated pantry, mobile battery-charging vehicle.
-Telecommunication shelter.
-Armoured mine-protected ambulance (discontinued).

Mark 2

Enlarged bonnet for the new ADE 409N 9.5-litre 5 cyl. diesel engine, with more local components and strengthened front axle. Another derivatives, the 7 tonnes 4 x 2 SAKOM 50 used the SAMIL 20 cab, for second-line duties.

The Mark 2 was also declined into the following:
-40-passenger transport vehicle
-Welding workshop
-Fuel supply vehicle
-Field kitchen
-Mobile shower for personnel.

Kwevoel

Samil 50 Withings ARV

The armoured variant. V-type underbelly and new engine hood, new armoured cabin. An estimated 5,000 of these trucks (SAMIL 20, 50 and 100) are still in operation in South Africa, as well as in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Tanzania.

Read More/Src

Jane's (1985). Jane's Military Vehicles and Ground Support Equipment. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd.
military-today.com
samiltrucks.co.za
en.wikipedia.org SAMIL_50
alte-laster-listen.de IVECO Magirus 120-19 ANWM
d-nb.info/ specs German mil. trucks
On pmulcahy.com/
tanknutdave.com
globaldefencemart.com/
osprea.com
militarysystems-tech.com
facebook.com SAMIL Trucks ZA
warinangola.com/

Illustrations

Profile of the SAMIL 50

SAMIL 50 in troop transport, full tarp.

Fuel Tank Variant

Utility Cab variant

Armoured Variant Kwevoel 50

Photos

Mark 1


Mark 1


Mark 1


Mark 1











Mark 2


50 ARV





Mark 2

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