DRIVING IMPRESSION PARAMOUNT

Having a

The Marauder is not only one of the most capable 4x4s in the world; it can also withstand several kilos of plastic explosives without its passengers getting Be it errant taxis, blue-light brigades or enemy troops, lit- hurt. And it is proudly South African tle will mess with the 13-tonne Paramount Marauder. BY: Dieter Losskarn

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production facility in Midrand OW many times has Phantom, despite no walnut- and reveals the company’s this happened to you? leather option inside. You do, FAST FACTS philosophy. “Protection of You sit in traffic for however, get quite a lot more people is Paramount’s highest Price: ±R5 million what seems like metal for your money – around priority. We’re not building Engine: 6-cyl, 6,7-litre Cummins turbodiesel Heternity. Steadily, the frustration 13 tonnes of it. fighting vehicles.” Power: 221 kW levels start to build as taxi after “We get hundreds of calls from Paramount is well established taxi, followed by the occasional 4x4 enthusiasts who want a bit Torque: 1 100 N.m in about 30 countries worldwide. blue-light brigade, come shooting more than what the market Top speed: 100-110 km/h (tyre dependent) All the vehicles the company past on the yellow line, cutting currently has to offer,” says Len Range: 700 km produces share their drivetrains into the flow at the front, slowing Mellet, Paramount’s chief Transmission: Allison SP3000 6-speed automatic with the Marauder. So, parts are down progress even further. technology officer, with a smile. Transfer box: Axleteck BT600 easily interchangeable. All of the Sitting there daydreaming, you He shows me around the Diff locks: air-operated front, centre and rear vehicles are available as kits and quietly wish you were driving a Brakes: air-operated disc or drum brakes (ABS ready on some models) easy to assemble anywhere in the large military-spec vehicle that Crew: 2+8 (standard version), 2+10 (stretched version) world. In essence, the Marauder is could drive over the cars of all Kerb weight: 9 000 to 12 000 kg built to serve as a reconnaissance those transgressing road users, or Payload: <6 000 kg vehicle and during peacekeeping even blast them to smithereens. Costs the same Ground clearance: 420 mm (365 mm under differential) operations. Nevertheless, it can be And then you sigh, because there Wheelbase: 3 100 to 3 550 mm configured as a simple-wheeled is no such thing. as a Phantom, Turning circle: 18 m troop carrier or as an effective- But there is … sort of. As my Length: 6 140 mm wheeled combat vehicle by the mentor once said, stories are but you get a Width: 2 480 mm addition of a heavy either true or beautiful. This would lot more metal Height: 2 660 mm mounted in a variety of turrets. indeed have been a beautiful Departure/departure angle: 46 degrees Len explains the mine- story, but for the fact that the for your money Ditch-crossing ability: 850 mm protection measures without subject of this article, the revealing any company secrets. Step-climbing ability: 500 mm Paramount Marauder, is not “In the beginning, the best blast Gradient: about 60 per cent (31 degrees) generally sold to the public. What protection was a V-shaped hull Side slope: 35 per cent (19 degrees) is true though is that at around but, lately, technology has R5 million (to those who pass the Fording depth: up to 900 mm without preparation advanced. What is currently used background check), the Marauder is a sandwich method of steel costs as much as a Rolls-Royce layers. Most injuries occur to the feet and ankles of drivers and passengers. A mine blast lifts even a 10-tonne vehicle such as the Marauder several metres into the air,” he explains. The Marauder can withstand an anti-tank mine blast anywhere under the hull, or a double anti-tank mine ABOVE: a heavy-machine-gun blast under any wheel, without turret is one of several protec- Sandwiched steel underpin- tion options. BELOW: a mul- nings can withstand an anti-tank suffering hull rupture. The anti- blast seats are designed to prevent titude of switches and 90 mm mine blast. thick bullet-proof glazing.

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a facia to which someone appears to have randomly attached LEFT: 70-degree inclines hundreds of little buttons. I’m can't stop the Marauder. OPPOSITE: given the right relieved to find out that none of tyres, it can cover rough them are needed for my drive. terrain at up to 110 km/h. The massive American Cummins 6,7-litre turbodiesel fires up with a tremendous racket. This is somewhat surprising, especially since the glass is 90 mm thick and able to stop a 50-calibre round. First, the Marauder moves away slowly, gaining momentum, and all the time giving its driver the feeling of invincibility. As we make our way round Gerotek, it becomes clear that this monster will go over (or through) anything. For example, it can go up and injury to the occupants from the down a 60 per cent gradient, extreme acceleration following a forward and in reverse! Fantasies blast from the side or a mine blast of encountering minibus-taxi under the hull. Seeing it on drivers in rush-hour traffic are The vehicle is rugged and flashing through my wicked mind robust, and offers outstanding off- television does once more. road abilities, as anything with Driver aids? Pah! Forget about 1 100 N.m of torque, air-operated not prepare it. The Marauder demands a front, rear and centre differential you for the (slightly deaf) driver with hair on locks, and a ground clearance his chest and a firm grip on the of around 400 mm should. impact of the steering wheel. After a couple of Thanks to massive welded-on kilometres, I am drenched in sweat steel grommets on the roof, it real thing and I’ve got a throbbing headache. can be airlifted with little R5 million certainly doesn’t buy preparation, resulting in excellent much in the way of driver comfort. strategic mobility. Perhaps Paramount needs to add, The Marauder is powerful, “has chest hair” to its background enabling it to cross all types of checklist. Sadly, I don’t. terrain at speed (100 to 110 km/h, depending on the tyres). This allows it to by-pass choke points and other likely ambush sites, and to surprise the enemy by choosing off-road routes when moving into contact. Okay, enough theory; let’s go for a ride. What better place to test the Marauder’s abilities than the Gerotek testing facility near Pretoria. I must say, seeing it on television or in various photographs still doesn’t prepare you for the impact of the real Paramount company profile thing. It is massive – think of it The South African ’s range of armoured vehicles comprises the Matador and as a mobile fortress. Getting in Marauder mine-protected vehicles (MPV), and the Maverick internal-security vehicle (ISV). The lat- requires some mountaineering and est addition to the range is the , a 6x6 armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) employing advanced it is hot in the cabin despite the materials and an innovative design. Since its inception in 1994, the Paramount Group has grown rapidly two air-con systems. The heavy from being a reseller of South African defence equipment to becoming a provider of fully integrated air-lock doors close vault-like with systems and solutions – for land, sea or air defence, security and operations. For more a hiss. I am sitting deep in the information on the company and its products, visit www.paramountgroup.biz. blast-proof seat, strapped into a tight harness. In front of me is

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