| Eland Mk7 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Armoured car |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1962 - 1990 |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Angolan Civil War Rhodesian Bush War South African Border War Namibian War of Independence Western Sahara War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | 1962 |
| Manufacturer | Reumech Sandock |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 3,79 m |
| Width | 1,97 m |
| Height | 2,07 m |
| Crew | 3 |
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| Main armament |
60 mm breech loading mortar |
| Secondary armament |
2x 7,62 mm machine gun |
| Engine | Panhard Model 4 HD 4-cylinder air-cooled petrol 90 hp at 4,700 rpm |
| Ground clearance | 330 mm |
| Operational range |
600 km |
| Speed | 90 km/h |
The Eland is a South African light armoured car based on the Panhard AML. Its permanent 4x4 drive gives it its mobility, and it can carry either a 90 mm quick firing low pressure gun, or a 60 mm breech loading mortar as main weapons. Night vision equipment provides effective night time operations, and it is provided with a modern telecommunications system.
Contents |
South Africa signed a contract with the French company Panhard for AML armoured cars. 100 were delivered from France and local production started in 1962 for 500 units. Later further production was undertaken - bringing the total number of locally produced vehicles to 1300. The Eland Mk7 is derived from the Panhard AML 60-7 armoured car and has been extensively modified (e.g. diesel conversion) by Reumech OMC for use in the harsh African environment. Some were exported to Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco and Zimbabwe. The South African Army has replaced the Eland with the Rooikat AFV.
Elands were used extensively by the SADF during the Angolan Civil War, and were known to crews as "Noddy Cars".[1] They were effective against light armored vehicles and older tanks such as the T-34/85 that were used by the Cubans and the MPLA. A small number of Eland 90s were sold to the Rhodesian government in the mid-1970s to replace the aging Ferret armoured car. They were also used by Morocco in the Western Sahara War, with the Polisario Front capturing some units.
| External images | |
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| Photo of the Eland Mk7 | |
