MAN Support Vehicle In UK Service ~ Pt2

A 4x4 MAN SVCL at Millbrook Proving Ground in 2007 - although not carrying a military number plate it is most likely pre-production - blue over red panel beneath driver shows it is a Winterised / Waterproof variant [©BM]

In this second article covering the MAN Support Vehicle In UK Service we look at the Prototype and Series Production phases plus Fielding of the fleet, writes Carl Schulze.

Prototypes and Series Production: In the autumn of 2006 a first batch of 14 prototypes of different SV family variants was delivered, and trials commenced in October 2006. These trials were conducted at different locations, both in the UK and abroad.

A 6×6 SVCM and an 8×8 SVCH at Millbrook in 2007 – the **KM** plates indicate trials vehicles [©BM]

During initial trials vehicles were driven some 16,000km and trialled in conjunction with some 700 different load combinations, as well as with different trailer types. The trials involved extreme climatic condition tests, wading tests, load interfacing tests, human factors integration tests, and noise and vibration tests. The prototypes of the Modular Armour Kit were also put through ballistic and blast tests.

A production batch 8×8 SVCH with trials weights seen at Millbrook in 2008 [©BM]

Series production started in late 2006 while user trials were still in progress, and involved many businesses that served as subcontractors to prime contractor MAN Truck & Bus UK Limited (now Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles). The truck chassis with cabs were assembled at the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Österreich AG plant in Vienna, Austria. Cargo and flat platform bodies were built by Marshall Specialist Vehicles at their plant in Mildenhall, where they were also married with the chassis. Tanks and pumping equipment for the Unit Support Tankers were manufactured and installed by Fluid Transfer International at the company’s plant in Nailworth. Recovery bodies and recovery equipment were produced and fitted by EKA Limited at their plant in Gerrards Cross. All winches fitted to the SV trucks were manufactured by Rotzler GmbH & Co. KG in Steinen, Germany. All Crane Attachment Lorry Mounted (CALM) cranes installed on the SV fleet were delivered by Hiab(Hydrauliska Industri AB). Ressing Fahrzeugbau GmbH of Villach, Austria provided the Modular Armour Kits that can be installed on all vehicles if required.

A company registered SV Enhanced Palletised Load System Heavy with Modular Armour Kit seen going in and out of the water tank at Millbrook Proving Ground in 2008 [©BM]

On 30th June 2007 a first batch of 161 series production vehicles was officially handed over to the MoD at the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) Ashchurch and on 19th June 2013 the last vehicle was officially handed over to the MoD at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) trade show at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

SV Cargo Light 6 Tonne 4×4 Euro 4 MAN[©BM]
SV Flat Platform Light 6 Tonne 4×4 Euro 4 MAN with workshop container [©CS]
RAF SV Cargo Light 6 Tonne 4×4 Euro 4 MAN trucks with Tail Lift Basic Bowman Fit [© Andy Brend]
SV Light 6 Tonne 4×4 Euro 4 MAN Fire Appliance based on the MAN HX60 – it features a 5,000-litre water tank, a portable fire pump, rotatable platform and storage boxes for equipment [©CS]

Fielding: Directly after the first series production SV trucks had been delivered, they were issued to units and training establishments. Among the first establishments to receive the vehicles were the Defence School of Transport (DST) based at Leconfield, East Yorkshire and the School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering based at Bordon in Hampshire (today Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering based at Lyneham in Wiltshire).

The SV Unit Support Tanker (Medium Mobility) is fitted with a 7,000-litre tank, pumping equipment and folding work platform safety rails [©CS]
The SV UST (Improved Medium Mobility) is based on the SX44 truck and is fitted with the same 7,000-litre tank andAlfons Haar FPOS 100-1135R-XI positive-displacement pump unit as the UST MM [©BM]

In March 2008 some 100 vehicles were shipped to the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada, becoming part of the vehicle fleet used there by units rotating through for live-fire exercises and tactical effects simulation exercises (TESEX). Simultaneous to entering service with training establishments, vehicles were also issued to units where they slowly replaced a fleet of more than 14,000 older trucks and trailers.

The SV Cargo Heavy 15 Tonne 8×8 Euro 4 MAN has a cargo body consisting of pillars, lightweight steel hinged drop sides, tailboard, lightweight tubular superstructure and canvas weatherproof tilt. With the tubular superstructure and canvas weatherproof tilt installed, the SVCH is 10,530mm long, 2,912mm wide and 3,485mm high. This SV Enhanced Palletised Load System Heavy Mk 2 with ISO container is fitted with an MSH165SC EPLS Mk 2 load-handling system (LHS) supplied by Cargotec Corporation [©CS]
Finally for now, like the standard SV Flat Platform Heavy this variant with CALM crane can be used to transport bulky loads, 20-foot ISO containers and workshop shelters etc. – the GVW is 30,000kg [©BM]

Today, MAN SV trucks serve with nearly every unit of the British Army and Royal Marines. A smaller number are on duty with the RAF and Royal Navy. The bulk of SV trucks in Winterised/ Waterproofed configuration are in service with 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines.

For a breakdown by type see MAN Support Vehicle Variant Overview.

To be continued…..