SAMIL 20

SAMIL 20 2-ton 4×4 Truck
SAMIL 20 truck
Type	2-ton 4×4 truck
Place of origin	South Africa
Production history
Designer	Armscor
Produced	In production up to early 1990s.
Variants	Cargo (as in photo) Cargo with mine protected cab Rhino: Light armour protected troop carrier Valkiri 127 mm multiple rocket launcher Light repair workshop 20' Container carrier Ambulance
Specifications (SAMIL 20 Cargo )
Mass	4,580 kg (10,100 lb) (empty)
Length	5.34 m (17.5 ft)
Width	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Height	2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew	2
Passengers	10
Engine	Atlantis Diesel Engines (ADE) 352N 6 cylinder diesel 106 hp (79 kW)
Transmission	5 speed × 2 range
Suspension	Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers on leaf springs

The SAMIL 20 is a 2-ton cargo vehicle produced in South Africa in the mid-1980s and was used as the primary light cargo carrier of the South African National Defence Force. The vehicle design is based on the German Mercedes Unimog chassis and Mark I of this vehicle was based on the Magirus Deutz 130M7FAL 4x4 truck. In Mark II, the engine was replaced with an upgraded South African built water cooled diesel engine. The vehicle is still in use with the SANDF.

Description

The SAMIL 20 is a light utility 4×4 military truck designed and built in South Africa for the South African Military forces. The chassis provide the basis for a wide range of cross-country vehicles. It has a forward control cab with a canvas roof and removable side windows. The cargo area is made of pressed steel with low steel sides and may be covered with a canvas top carried on a removable steel frame. A removable bank of back-to-back outward facing seats is fitted on the cargo centre-line accommodating ten seated troops. These seats may be removed and carried on the sides of the cargo area when the vehicle is used for general cargo purposes. The cargo area has four container locking ports to permit 20' containers to be carried. The spare wheel is mounted between the cab and cargo area and a manual light crane is fitted to allow wheel changes by a single operator.

The vehicle has differential locking facilities on both front and rear axles as well as on the transfer box. It has a short wheelbase with a ground clearance of 460mm and permanent 4-wheel drive. The initial Mk I vehicle was powered by a 6-cylinder air-cooled Magirus Deutz engines. This engine was not suited to the heat and dust associated with military use in South West Africa, which lead to the development of the Mk II.

Variants

• Cargo/Personnel Carrier: 2-ton load or 10 back-to-back seated troops.
• LAD – Light Mobile Workshop vehicle for general repairs and vehicle services
• FCP – Artillery Forward Command Post vehicle
• Refuelling vehicle
• Battery Charger vehicle
• Telecommunications Repair
• Field Office
• Ambulance
• Kwevoel: Armoured mine resistant cab with standard cargo area
• Bulldog: Mine resistant armoured personnel carrier
• Ystervark: Kwevoel version with fixed mount 1 × 20 mm GAI-CO1 20mm AA gun on cargo base
• Rhino: Mine resistant armoured personnel carrier (variation of Bulldog)

Citations and References