Denel Mamba to serve as combat ambulance in South African army.

The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is looking at using the Mamba armored personnel carrier (APC) manufactured by Denel as a combat ambulance, with a prototype being converted for the role.

Mamba APC (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The SAMHS is currently working on a prototype to convert the Mamba Mk.2 into a combat ambulance to be able to render medical support, reports the latest edition of SA Soldier magazine, echoed by Defence Web. This project is expected to come to fruition before the end of 2019. The decision to adopt the Mamba has been a discussion point for a long time. The project started with extensive research that explored possible options, including the latest technology and comparison with other military vehicles on the African terrain.

The research included expert advice from Armscor and Denel with the United Nations’ requirements in mind. The Integrated Project Team (IPT) behind this project is a multidisciplinary team of clinical personnel, including doctors, trauma and emergency nurses, military paramedics, operational emergency care practitioners and technical personnel.

The SAMHS cautioned that using a private company to develop a combat ambulance would have cost it millions of Rands; so, the technical team, led by Major General Lesley Ford, the Chief Director Military Health Force Support, decided to use SAMHS members to design the prototype ambulance. The Integrated Project Team was assisted by Technical Service Unit (TSU) members, who are welders, painters and carpenters, to build the prototype.

The new Mamba combat ambulance will not replace the Mfezi mine-protected ambulance and other vehicles in service with the SAMHS. The Mfezi, along with the Casspir, is the main armored ambulance in service with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The SAMHS Casspir and Mfezi armored ambulances operate alongside mobile resuscitation posts built onto Samil-100 mine-protected 10-ton trucks. In safe areas, the SAMHS uses several ambulances to collect wounded, injured or ill personnel, including some civilian types.

The original Mamba was developed by Mechem Consultants, a subsidiary of Denel Group. But a large number of improved vehicles, called Mamba Mk.2, were developed by Reumech OMC, the latter version being 7cm higher than the previous version. Between 1993 and 1997, a total of 653 Mamba were built for the local market as well as for export. The first contract was won in 1993 and included the production of three prototypes and 151 production vehicles. This first production ended in March 1993.

The Mamba Mk2's V-shaped hull is made of welded steel, which gives the crew good protection against anti-tank mines and small-caliber weapons. The cabin of the Mamba Mk.2 has armored windows that provide protection against 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm NATO. The transmission and suspension of the Mamba Mk.2 come from the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. This provides the Mamba with exceptional off-road mobility. Nine troopers can be transported by the vehicle. The standard equipment of the vehicle includes a water tank with a capacity of 100 liters. Optionally, the vehicle can have an air conditioning system, a machine gun roof bracket, firing traps, reinforced armor, additional radio equipment, and a winch with a capacity of 5,000 kg mounted on the front of the vehicle.