Today, the military truck market in Europe is undergoing an unprecedented reshuffle. Military trucks purchased in the last century have been retired one after another, and many countries have begun to purchase new military trucks. In order to replace the "old" old Duff military trucks in the fleet, the Dutch army ordered nearly 3,000 military trucks from Scania, most of which are in the form of 8x8 drives, and the configuration is very interesting. In today's article, let's take the 8x8 bulletproof version as an example to appreciate their charm.
Above, we are the protagonist of today: the Scania Gryphus 8x8 military truck, which replaced the Duff Ya-2300 model in the Dutch army. The car is based on the civilian version of the Scania off-road chassis and is equipped with an XT kit and an armored bulletproof cab with a load capacity of 10 tonnes. It was for this reason that the car also got the name Gryphus 100KN 8 8. Why choose Scania trucks?Because: these vehicles are all produced by Scania's factory in Zwolle, the Netherlands, and they are rounded off to the Dutch production.
In terms of appearance, the most distinctive feature of the vehicle is its armored cab. On a solid metal frame, the cab is equipped with extra-thick armor plates on the outside for better protection. This batch of cabs is manufactured by the defense enterprise Centigon and can protect against 14Bullets of 5 mm caliber. The floor and roof of the cab are also equipped with armor plates, which provide excellent sealing and excellent resistance to overpressure.
In total, the Dutch Army ordered 185 bulletproof cabs from Centigon for work on the front lines of a dangerous theater of operations. This batch of armored cabs is expensive, so the number is relatively rare. However, the fixed structure of the armoured cab is compatible with the regular cab, and the cab swapping can be done by two workers, and the replacement takes only 16 hours.
Bulletproof panels at the front and sides of the cab are fastened with exposed bolts and connected to the sturdy metal cab frame, adding a touch of wildness to the vehicle's rugged look. At the same time, the exposed design is also easier to replace. The cab is compatible with standard accessories of the Scania NTG range, such as sun visors, enhanced mirrors and more. At the same time, the top of the cab is designed with a U-shaped hatch, optional remote control ** station.
For added robustness, the Scania Gryphus 8x8 military trucks are equipped with the Scania XT package. As an original Scania ruggedness solution, the XT series kit includes a variety of accessories such as stainless steel bumpers, chassis guards, plastic reinforced mirror housings, etc., to improve the vehicle's resistance to bumps and scratches. In addition, the exterior of the vehicle's headlights is equipped with a metal mesh to protect the lights from bumps and damage.
On the bumper, an exposed metal tow hook can also be found. They are directly connected to the frame and can withstand 135 kN (13.).5 tons) to facilitate the rapid rescue of other vehicles. In addition, the grille above the bumper is designed with electrical and air interfaces, which is more convenient for the vehicle to be connected and towed.
The front of the vehicle is designed with a retractable bumper, also known as a "bull fence", which provides greater protection and gives the vehicle a more wild appearance. The boarding handrail is retained under the front windshield, and the handle in the middle of the visor is used to make it easy for people to climb.
Due to the thick structure of the armored cab, while the front windshield is placed almost perpendicular to the ground, coupled with the terrifying thickness of the bulletproof glass, the driver's field of view is relatively narrow. For this reason, a camera has been added above the sun visor to help the driver gather information around the vehicle.
The mirror housing is made of engineering plastic and is designed with reinforcing ribs. It is more resistant to collisions and easier to replace if damaged.
For added protection, the cab door of the Scania Gryphus 8x8 is also made of ballistic panels. Coupled with extremely thick bulletproof glass, the overall weight is quite large. As a result, the doors have been reinforced with hinges and the door opening handles have been redesigned to make it easier for people to exert their strength.
Even so, this overweight door is not something that ordinary people can push. For this reason, the vehicle is equipped with an electro-hydraulic door opening and closing system, which can be controlled by pressing a button.
From the side, you can see the thickness of the door armor and bulletproof glass.
Bulletproof cabs generally do not shape decorative exterior surfaces, on the one hand, because of the limitations of the characteristics of the material itself, and on the other hand, for strength and cost-effective considerations. Therefore, the bulletproof cab of this Scania Gryphus 8x8 military truck has a fairly square design, which looks quite like an extraterrestrial product. The outside side and top of the cab are designed with lifting lugs, which are convenient for hoisting and replacement.
At the same time, the bulletproof doors are not designed to be covered by the hem, and the vehicle's four-level boarding pedals are all exposed. The lowest level of the boarding pedal adopts a flexible fixed design, which does not affect the approach angle and ground clearance of the vehicle.
As a military truck, the overall height of the vehicle must be compressed, so that it can be more easily transported by rail, airplane, etc. The vehicle's storage box, spare tire, air intake air filter and other accessories are installed at the rear of the cab, although the length of the vehicle space is sacrificed, but the height of the vehicle is really reduced.
The two-stage air intake air filter is located at the right rear of the cab to provide cleaner air to the engine and ensure the reliability of the powertrain. The vertical exhaust is located next to the air filter, and the spare tire carriage is located behind the air filter, which can be easily retracted and released through the rocker arm bracket.
At the same time, a large storage box is installed at the left rear of the cab, and it is equipped with a ladder to make it easier for personnel to take items.
Accessories such as storage bins have a modular design that can be quickly replaced, and they are designed with a square jack at the bottom for removal and handling by forklifts.
Further back is the main loading area of the vehicle, which can be matched with various types of shelters. The upper part of the chassis is designed with a twist lock, which is compatible with standard containers. In the military, the shelter is a more widely used equipment. Special cabins, such as medical cabins and communication cabins, have played an important role in today's modern army.
The rear anti-drill bar adopts a folding design, which can be folded up and retracted to avoid affecting the departure angle of the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle is also equipped with a hydraulic tail plate, which is convenient for the operation of the cabin for vehicle transportation.
In terms of powertrain, the Scania Gryphus 8x8 is powered by a 500 hp DC 13 inline-six diesel engine that produces 2,550 Nm of torque, mated to a Scania Opticruise AMT gearbox. In order to improve maneuverability, the vehicle adopts an 8x8 all-wheel drive form, with all wheels reduced axle to improve traction and passability. In addition, the length of the vehicle is only 108 meters, compact structure + short wheelbase, further improve the vehicle passability.
In addition to the bulletproof cab, the Scania Gryphus 8x8 is also available in a regular cab version. There is no difference between the two models in terms of chassis and powertrain, and the cab structure is also compatible with each other and can be quickly replaced.
The interior of the bulletproof cab is not visible, so let's take a look at the interior trim of the regular version. As you can see, most of its interior components are exactly the same as those of the Scania NTG series models, which is quite luxurious among military trucks. A number of handrails have been added to the cab for personnel to grip when the vehicle is off-road, improving safety.
In recent years, the demand for military card replacement in European countries has risen. With its excellent product characteristics, the Scania military card has become the choice of many teams. The Dutch army has procured thousands of Scania military trucks with different configurations, ranging from 4x4 to 8x8, from chassis to tractors, and the variety of models is dazzling. And today, the Gryphus 8x8 bulletproof version is also one of the latest top-of-the-line trucks in the Dutch Army. Thank you for reading this article!If you want to see more interesting and informative commercial vehicle content, don't forget to ***!
Text: Heseaotter