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Forums › Index › 1. The Stage › 2. What › A. Vehicles › a. Land Vehicles › Buffel
Tagged: Buffel
Justin Fourie.The Buffel, South Africa’s pioneering mine-protected personnel carrier, enter
The Buffel, South Africa’s pioneering mine-protected personnel carrier, entered service in 1978 to counter escalating landmine threats during the Border War. Built on a modified Bedford 4×4 truck chassis, its iconic V-shaped monocoque hull—made of 6-10mm ballistic steel—deflects blasts, protecting a crew of one plus ten infantry seated high above the wheels. Open-topped with roll bars, it allows rapid dismount via rear steps and side firing ports. Unarmed standard models rely on troop weapons, though variants add pintle-mounted 7.62mm MGs. Reaching 96 km/h with a 500 km range, its rugged simplicity, low cost, and 1,000+ kg payload enabled rapid production under sanctions. Over 2,400 built, it saved countless lives in Angola and Namibia, birthing the global MRAP concept.
| Origin | South Africa |
| Type | Mine-Protected Armored Personnel Carrier (MPAPC) |
| Entered Service | 1978 |
| Production | 1978-1995 |
| Status | Retired in 1995 |
| Producer | ARMSCOR |
| Armaments Corporation of South Africa | |
| Designations | Buffel |
| Afrikaans -after the Buffalo | |
| Notable Users | South Africa |
| Zimbabwe | |
| Zambia | |
| United Nations | |
| Uganda | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| Malawi |
A. General
Origin: South Africa
Type: Armored Personnel Carrier
Crew: 2 + 10 passengers
B. Dimensions
Weight: 7.2 t
Length: 5.1 m
Width: 2.3 m
Height: 2.5 m
C. Chassis
Chassis type: 4×4 Wheeled
Configuration: Front engine, rear troop compartment
D. Automotive
Engine: Mercedes-Benz OM352 diesel
Power: 120 hp
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel Capacity: 160 L
E. Mobility
Speed: 95 km/h
Range: 600 km
F. Protection
Armor type: V-shaped hull, steel plate
Smoke system: None
G. Main Armament
Type: Roof-mounted MG
Mount: Pintle mount
Ammunition: 1,000 rounds
Justin Fourie.