Land Warfare: Have G-Wagons, will travel | ADM October 2012

Last month, media gathered at RAAF Base Amberley for a day of instruction and subsequent driving of the new Mercedes Benz G-Wagons, being purchased by Army under Project Overlander, Land 121 (a detailed history of Land 121 is available on our website’s archives search).

Under Phase 3A, Australia is replacing its venerable Land Rover 110 fleet with GWagons, which are offered in eight variants, and the project has an expected lifeof-type of 15 years, with the last of the variants due in 2014. There is a Strategic Support Agreement for 15-years, with options to extend.

Six configurations were on display, including the normal 4WD single-cab soft-sided carryall and hard-sided panel-van, the dual-cab station wagon and 6x6 variants which included the mobile command post, and surveillance/reconnaissance vehicle. All were available for test-drives, except the first of the Communications GWagons still being readied at Amberley, the K-9 6x6 vehicle: and the Ambulance module still being finalised after input from the users, and which is expected shortly.

Leader of the Operator Training Facility, Major Tim Keeffe, noted that the contract provides for the purchase of 2146 G-Wagons, starting at an approximate investment of $220,000 each, with rear bodywork being constructed by Varley at their Hunter River plant, while Haulmark Trailers of Archerfield in S.W. Brisbane are producing 1,179 trailers for the G-Wagons, keeping elements common where possible. As an example, all use the same toughened steel wheels and run-flat tyres as the G-Wagons themselves, and have the same track width as the vehicles. Where one goes, the other will follow.

Dr Kolja Rebstock, managing director of Daimler Trucks Commercial Vehicles, noted that these G-Wagons, while appearing similar, actually differed markedly from the civilian versions. These have been entirely designed BY Army people, FOR Army people, on the basis of long service, vast experience and personal commitment.

After a full briefing at Amberley by MAJ Keeffe, we were transported to the 4WD destroying ground at Janowen, near Cunningham’s Gap. On arrival and after another briefing, each of us was assigned a driver and vehicle. We were later rotated through the various vehicle options, first with a project trainer as the driver to show what could be done, and then it was our turn to see of we could bog, roll or otherwise damage or stop these amazing vehicles. We all failed.

The Track

Up 45 degree inclines furrowed with deep ruts and covered with loose rocks, skating down equally steep declines and across rocky-bottomed creeks, the G-Wagons just rolled on, going places the older Landies could only dream about. Mind you, a 2.7 lit turbo charged common-rail V-6 diesel producing 136KW of power and 400nM of low-down torque, about double that of the Landy, makes a huge difference, especially when married to a sequential auto box, which the driver can use as a manual, just by paddling the gear shift to the right to change up, or the left to change down. Merc makes it SO tough on the drivers!

Other niceties include air conditioning, selectable ABS, front coils and rear leaf springs, front discs and rear drums (better for hand braking) and a self-diagnostic start system. Three diff lock systems make it so simple to keep engine revs in the 2,000 to 2,500 rpm range yet. The smaller 4x4’s carry a tonne with ease, and the 6x6 ignores loads under two tonnes with a 1,500kg trailer at 100kph even on second-class roads in or difficult terrain, and the strengthened hardened chassis makes parachute drops a non-issue. Only the ground would get hurt.

Roll out

As the delivery rolls out, the Land Rovers will be withdrawn from service over the next couple of years, and the G-Wagons will be fully implemented. This will involve increased training by Army personnel, and by the team from Vertical Horizon Australia who are contracted to assist in the development and delivery of driver training.

When I asked my driver-trainer, a corporal called Darren, I asked … you have a blank cheque book, unlimited funds to make changes. What changes would you as a professional driver make to this vehicle? He thought for a while and said … “other than a cup holder, I can’t think of a single thing.”

Disclaimer – the writer was a guest of Defence media and would like to thank to the program office and staff.