Mamba Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
The Mamba armored personnel carrier is a wheeled, mine-resistant type designed and developed in South Africa specifically for conditions in Africa. The Mamba is the primary vehicle of the South African army military police. This patrol vehicle is based on a Unimog truck chassis, with armor added. The entry for the crew and troops is at the rear through a large door. The seats have four-point harnesses. Five passengers sit on the left and four on the right side of the rear. The commander has a hatch on the roof with a weapon mount. The windows are bullet resistant. The Mamba is also used as an ambulance, command vehicle, VIP transport, and logistics vehicle.
The slightly underpowered and much too bouncy Mamba 4x4 mine and small arms protected Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is now the prime APC of the SA Army, though it is by no means universally popular. The Mamba was developed to make use of the same Unimog chassis used by the Buffel. But at least one South African Infantry battalion earmarked for peacekeeping duties returned the Mamba for the Casspir APC which the Mamba was meant to replace.
