Mamba Mk1 The
South African Army issued a requirement for a new armoured vehicle in 1987 capable of a wide variety of roles, namely border protection and internal security. Its
V-shaped hull is designed to deflect a mine blast away from the occupants. The Mamba is in length, in width, and has a height of . The four-wheeled vehicle can carry up to 10 passengers, excluding the driver. A roof hatch allows a gunner to use the weapon mount, which can be equipped with a
12.7 mm machine gun. A large door at the rear of the vehicle provides access to the passengers and crew. The Mk3 features better ballistic protection over the Mk2 – the latter can withstand impacts from up to
7.62×51mm NATO rounds, while the former is capable of handling
5.56×45mm NATO impacts. The Mk3 is also lighter, more stable, has lower operating costs and comes with an 8-speed transmission compared to the 4-speed transmission of the Mk2. However, the Mk3 has a range of only whereas the Mk2 has a range of . The Mamba also provides protection against
mines of up to . It has
four-wheel drive capability, and can achieve a top speed of . Apart from the APC role, the vehicle may also be used as an ambulance, a command vehicle, a VIP transport, or a logistics vehicle. The newest Mamba, the Mk5, is manufactured by N4-Trucks in South Africa, and delivers from a water-cooled Iveco engine, a range over 600 km, over 4,500 kg payload, and a B7
ballistic protection versus previous B6 capabilities of the Mk1-Mk3. ==Combat history==