This Unimog U2450L 6x6 is seen being prepared by Mercedes Benz as a Medium Recovery Vehicle for the Australian Army. Its first tour of duty for the Army was planned to be with InterFET in East Timor. The first of 55 Medium Recovery Vehicles (MRV) was recently handed over to "Brigadier Pat McIntosh CSC, Commander of the Brisbane based 7th Brigade". The Army has purchased "almost 2000 [...] Unimog U1700L four wheel drive trucks" since 1981.

The Unimog's engine and transmission both sport an impressive number of power take off (PTO) belts and drives for ancilliary equipment. Becoming a recovery vehicle, this truck will eventually have more winch power than you can poke a stick at. The recovery equipment "is fitted to the MRVs by specialist Brisbane company, Evans Deakin Engineering Pty Ltd. Each unit is equipped with two rear-mounted 8-tonne winches, an hydraulic underlift recovery system and a Palfinger crane." - 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

The view of the Unimog's front suspension clearly shows the live axle and coil-spring suspension. Note the portal axle, i.e. the axle tube is much higher than the centre line of the wheels, thanks to the hub-reduction gears, which allows huge ground clearance. Water to 1200mm can be forded without special preparation. A central tyre inflation system improves cross country ability on soft ground. - 4wd.sofcom.com/4WD.html

At the back, both rear axles are driven to give full 6x6 traction. Drive for axle #3 comes from axle #2 by a short prop' shaft, the power divider being lockable. All axles also have differential locks. The gearbox has eight forward and eight reverse gears, with a splitter and a two-speed transfer case which make for a total of 32 ratios in both directions of travel. It is impossible to make such a big truck completely rigid and the Unimog's chassis can flex by several degrees, so steps are taken to distribute stresses where cross-members meet the chassis rails. In addition, the mounts for rear bodywork (not yet fitted) are flexible.

Mercedes-Benz Unimog 2450L 6x6 Medium Recovery Vehicle 1999

• Forward-control truck, 3 seats
• loa: 7580mm, width: 2500mm, height: 2800mm (cab), weight: 13,500kg (unladen)
• payload: 4,500kg, GVM: 18,000kg, towing: 12,000kg (braked)
• wheelbase: 3900mm (1-2) and 5300mm (1-3), track: 1870mm, grnd clearance: 495mm
• approach: 47 degrees, departure: 49
• turning radius: 9.25m
• Type OM 366 LA, 5958cc, diesel, 6-cyls, turbo-charged intercooled, 2v/cyl ohv
• power: 177kW at 2600rpm, torque: 760Nm at 1700rpm
• transmission: 8x2 speed (in fwd & rev), 2-speed transfer case, part-time 6x6, diff' locks, portal axles with hub-reduction
• suspension: live-coil/ live-coil, brakes: disc
• tyres: 14.5R20, fuel-tank: 165L (220L optional)
• 2 x 8-tonne winches, hydraulic under-lift system & Palfinger crane

Go to the 6x6, Unimog, Military Vehicle and Australian Army pages