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VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:52 pm
by Korn005
While watching the news on E-news channel this afternoon, saw a insert about the SA Army being deployed on the borders.
And low and behold, the last 5 secs of the insert they show the general dude driving past his soldiers on the back of a Thing!!! Painted the colors of the SA flag.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:06 pm
by Tom Bishop
The SA Army and Air Force had 182's in their fleet. I dont know how many. The first time I saw a 182 in the flesh was @ YsterPlaat Air Force Base.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 3:41 pm
by BARON
They also developed a scaled down Jeep replica with vw components --much smaller then the Veep. When I worked @ Armscor it was tested for use by the reccies behind enemy lines.
Crated in foam and dropped out of an aircraft with a parashute.
Shit what is it with the english today--- to much Afrikaans hate speech last week Isuppose----
cheers
Baron
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:29 pm
by Korn005
Thats cool to know!!! I didn't think the cars from back then would still be going.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:07 pm
by 69bug
Ten years ago I loaned one from 7 Div for a show we held in Bloemfontein. Dont know if it still survives
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:58 pm
by YvaneS
Crated in foam and dropped out of an aircraft with a parashute.
Now thats wicked, would have loved to see that!
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:48 pm
by Tony Z
I have been told that there are still some (and spares for) 4WD kubels stored at the German embassy in Windhoek.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:52 pm
by fig
Tony Z wrote:I have been told that there are still some (and spares for) 4WD kubels stored at the German embassy in Windhoek.
I've never heard of a "4WD kubel"; these are more likely Iltises.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:56 pm
by Tony Z
no idea... but thats what I remember. Give me some credit, I was told this about 14 years ago before I knew anything about VWs - and yes, I like to think I have learned a bit since then
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:57 pm
by fig
OhhhhhhKay!
Good memory for trivia there Tony!
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:59 pm
by Blitzkrieg
There was a Hebmuller in Namibia as well.....
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:00 pm
by Pine
There were 7 Iltis vehicles at a scrap metal dealer in Bloem in 2004. The owner bought them at an auction from the Botswana Army, and managed to build 2 driveable ones from the spares. Apparently they were donated to the Botswana Army by Germany in the 80's.
I saw several Iltises still in active duty at a military base in Heidelberg, Germany in 2000. They had water cooled 4-cylinder Passat engines.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:51 pm
by splitfan
BARON wrote:They also developed a scaled down Jeep replica with vw components --much smaller then the Veep. When I worked @ Armscor it was tested for use by the reccies behind enemy lines.
Crated in foam and dropped out of an aircraft with a parashute.
Shit what is it with the english today--- to much Afrikaans hate speech last week Isuppose----
cheers
Baron
These were called "jakalsies" and even thou it might sound like a good idea back in the day, we did a demo in Lohatla we jumped and flossies dropped eight jakalsies......we had to walk none survived...
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:37 pm
by Pine
Jakkals (4 x 4) lightweight airborne vehicle (South Africa), Light vehicles
Description
The Jakkals (Jackal) lightweight airborne vehicle is a (4 × 4) utility vehicle designed for use by airborne forces. It resembles a small jeep and is conventional in layout, with the engine at the front and the driver and single passenger in the centre; space behind the seats is very limited. It was assembled using the standard and commonly available vehicle components. Production was carried out by the now defunct Associated Automotive Distributors (Pty) Limited of Cape Town, South Africa.The Jakkals has an impact-resistant glass fibre body that can withstand an unlimited number of parachute drops. The vehicle is normally used together with a small single-axle trailer. Weight of the vehicle and trailer together is 1,120 kg. Power is derived from a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a high- and low-range transmission with selectable 4 × 4 or 4 × 2 drive.The vehicle carries a front-mounted hand-operated self-recovery winch and, a collapsible casualty evacuation stretcher, with securing straps, can be mounted over the passenger seat in less than one minute.The dimensions of the Jakkals and its trailer are such, that two vehicles with trailers will fit on to a standard 8 × 9 ft (2.438 × 2.74 m) air supply pallet. Thus a cargo aircraft such as a C-130 can carry 10 units. For para-dropping, two 30.5 m or three 18.3 m parachutes are used for each pallet. The descent speed is typically 7 m/s. Once on the ground, the vehicle can be unpacked from its pallet and prepared for use in a few minutes.
Re: VW Thing in SA Army
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:39 pm
by Pine
splitfan wrote:BARON wrote:They also developed a scaled down Jeep replica with vw components --much smaller then the Veep.
The Jakkals Jeep was based on Ford Escort 1600 mechanics, no VW...