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Casspir Armored Personnel Carrier

Casspir Mark 3 APC

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by: South Africa (and many others including India, Peru and the United Nations)
First Produced/Service Dates:

Mark 1 = 1979 - 1990

Mark 2 Original =1982/83 – 1995; Second: 2010 to present

Mark 3 = 1995 – 2004

Mark 4 & Casspir S (Short) = 2010
Manufactured by:

Mark 1, Mark 2 (Original Production) & Mark 3:General Dynamics Land Systems OMC (and predecessors CSIR, TFM Pty Inc, Reumech, and Alvis-Vickers)

Mark 2 (Second Production), Casspir S & Mark 4 :Mechem Vehicles (A division of Denel SOC)

Many companies also refurbished older vehicles.
Crew:

Marks 1-4: 2+12

Casspir “S” = 1+7
Armament: (1) to (3) 7.62mm LMGs; depending on version.  Some APC also mounted captured weapons including Soviet 12.7mm HMG.
Engine: 6-Cylinder Turbo Diesel
Miscellaneous Info:

The Casspir is not named after an animal as many South African vehicles are.  The name ‘Casspir’ is actually derived from a combination of group names that were involved with the creation and development:  CSIR = Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and SAP = South African Police.

Mark 1, 2 (on a Mercedes-Benz truck chassis) and 3 (on TATA chassis) versions were produced in many other variants including Ambulance, Artillery Fire Control, Freighter (Blesbok), Mine Clearance Vehicle, Mine Sensor (MVMMDS), Mobile Minefield Breaching Vehicle (Pofadder), Recovery Vehicle (Gemsbok), Tanker (Duiker) and Weapons Carriers; mounting 81mm Mortars or 106mm Recoilless Rifles.

Although the Casspir 3 was initially replaced by the Sable APC, the end of the Casspir was only temporary.  In approximately 2010, a company specializing in refurbishing Casspir Mark 2’s, Mechem Vehicles, re-started production of the Mark 2, introduced the Casspir “S” (shortened version of the Mark 2), air-portable Casspir "LP" (Low Profile) and created the new Mark 4. To make an already confusing subject more so, in 2011 BAE Land Systems released a seemingly unrelated vehicle named the Casspir Mark 6 which was mounted on a URAL 4320 6x6 truck (which also has a 4x4 version available).  Thankfully, BAE later changed the vehicle’s name to the RG Protector.
Data Sheet Available:   Casspir Mark 2 APC Data Sheet by David Haugh

Photos

Reference Source/Provider
Casspir APC Detail Photos Chris Baxter - Owner of BaxMod Models
   Casspir 1 or 2 Art Piece "SPOEK 1" Photo by Ralph Ziman Julie Gustafson - Illinois USA
      Casspir Mark 1 APC Photos Dave Haugh - Content Editor
Casspir Mark 1 APC Sales Brochure (Re-Manufactured) Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir Mark 1 or 2 APC Photo (Peruvian Police) Lewis Mejia - Peru
Casspir Mark 2 APC Photos Dave Haugh
Casspir Mark 2 APC Photos Mechem Vehicles
    Casspir Mark 2 APC Photos Tibs Transport
  Casspir Mark 2 APC Photo Marius van Aardt - Editor of the South African  Bushwar Website
  Casspir Mark 2 APC Sales Brochure  (Re-Manufactured) Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir Mark 2 APC Sales Brochure (Re-Manufactured) Offroad Truck and Trailer (OTT)
    Casspir Mark 2 APC Sales Brochures (Re-Manufactured) Osprea Logistics
Casspir Mark 2 "81" Mortar Carrier Photos Chris Baxter
  Casspir Mark 2 "81" Mortar Carrier Photo Dave Haugh
Casspir Mark 2 "106" Recoilless Rifle Weapons Carrier Photos Chris Baxter
  Casspir Mark 2 "Duiker" Tanker Photo Dave Haugh
  Casspir Mark 2 EOD Vehicle Photo Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir Mark 2 "Gemsbock" Recovery Vehicle Photo Dave Haugh
Casspir Mark 2 Mine Clearance Vehicle Photos Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir Mark 2 Mine Clearance Vehicle Photo US Army via Dave Haugh
Casspir Mark 2 Mine Detection Vehicle (MVMMDS) Photo Mechem Vehicles
   Casspir Mark 2 Mine Detection Vehicle (MVMMDS) Sales Brochure Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir Mark 2 "Pofadder" Mobile Minefield Breaching Vehicle Photo South African Army
Casspir Mark 3 APC Vehicle Photos Chris Baxter
      Casspir Mark 3 APC Photos Dave Haugh
  Casspir Mark 3 APC Vehicle Photo Mechem Vehicles
    Casspir Mark 3 APC Vehicle Photos South African Army via Dave Haugh
    Casspir Mark 3 "81" Mortar Carrier Photos South African Army via Dave Haugh
    Casspir Mark 3 "106" Recoilless Rifle Weapons Carrier Photos David Haugh
  Casspir Mark 3 Ambulance Photo South African Army
  Casspir Mark 3 Command Vehicle Photo Dave Haugh
  Casspir Mark 3 EOD Vehicle Photo Mechem Vehicles
   
Casspir LP (Low Profile) Airportable APC Vehicle Photos		 Mechem Vehicles
    Casspir S (Short) APC Vehicle Photos Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir S (Short) APC Sales Brochure Mechem Vehicles
Casspir Mark 4 APC Photos Marius van Aardt
    Casspir Mark 4 APC Photos Denel SOC
    Casspir Mark 4 APC Photos Mechem Vehicles
  Casspir Mark 4 APC Sales Brochure Mechem Vehicles

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
Casspir APC Information & Photos Army Guide.com
Casspir APC Information & Photos Global Security.com
Casspir APC Information & Photos South African Army
Casspir APC Information & Photos Tibs Transport
Casspir Mark 3 APC Information & Photos Army Guide.com

Printed

Reference Author
Battle for Namibia: South Africa's Longest War, The: Museum Ordnance Special Number 8 (Darlington Publications) Morgan Norval
Jane's Tank Recognition Guide (4th Edition) Christopher Foss

"Rhodesian Mine Protected Vehicles" (December 2013 Issue of Military Machines International Magazine)

 Cmdr. Robert Cedars
South African Armoured Vehicles: A History of Innovation & Excellence (Helion & Company, Ltd) Dr. Dewald Venter
Surviving The Ride: A Pictorial History of South African Manufactured Mine-Protected Vehicles (30 Degrees South Publications) Steve Camp & Helmoed-Romer Heitman
Taming the Landmine [Galago Publishing (Pty) Ltd.] Peter Stiff
War in Angola (Concord Publications) Al J. Venter

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
Casspir Mark 1 APC Model Kit Bax Mod Models 1/35 Resin.
Casspir Mark 1 APC Model Kit Bax Mod Models 1/76 Resin.
Casspir 106 Weapons Carrier Model Kit Bax Mod Models 1/35 Resin.  Does NOT come with 106mm Recoilless Rifle.
Casspir 106 (+106 Inj) Weapons Carrier Model Kit Bax Mod Models 1/35 Resin. Comes with Injection Molded Plastic 106mm Recoiless Rifle.
       
Aftermarket Set Manufacturer Scale Other Information
       

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider