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Puma Mine & Ambush Protected (MAP) Vehicle
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Specifications
| Country of Origin/Used by: | Rhodesia/Zimbabwe |
| First Produced/Service Dates: | 1977 |
| Manufactured by: | Automotive Components: Isuzu Motors, Ltd. or Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.; Armor & Fabrication: Morewear Engineering, Ltd. |
| Crew: | 1 or 2+20 |
| Armament: | None |
| Engine: | 6-Cylinder Diesel? |
| Miscellaneous Info: |
The Puma Mine & Ambush Protected (MAP) Vehicle was initially built as an
armored troop transport for the British South African Police (BSAP).
The police vehicles were fitted with a one-man front cab to accommodate
only the driver. These were commonly referred to as "Half" Pumas.
Due to the success of the "Half" Pumas, the Rhodesian Army decided to
also employ Pumas. However, the Army requested that the cab be
enlarged to fit a second crew member, who would be a spotter for
ambushes and mines. The two-man cabbed Army Pumas were referred to
as "Full" Pumas. Both the police and army Pumas were built concurrently, using the chassis/automotive components of either an Isuzu or Nissan built 5-Ton 4x2 General Service Truck. Initially, both types of Puma were constructed with folding sides on the rear troop compartments. However, that feature was eliminated soon afterwards. Only one other "variant" of the Puma MAP was built, that being the "Flatback" cargo carrier. Basically, the "Flatback" was fitted with an armored front cab but without the armored rear compartment. Soon after the creation of the Puma, the Rhodesians developed a similar, yet improved vehicle, the Crocodile Mine & Ambush Protected (MAP) Vehicle. |
| Data Sheet Available: |
None Available |
Photos
| Reference | Source/Provider |
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Puma MAP Vehicle (Right) with "donor" Nissan 5-Ton General Service Truck |
John Wynne Hopkins |
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Puma MAP Vehicle Photos |
John Wynne Hopkins |
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Puma MAP Vehicle Photo (Early Version with Folding Sides) |
John Wynne Hopkins |
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Puma MAP Vehicle Photo (Fitted with non-standard cab) |
John Wynne Hopkins |
References Available
Online
| Reference | Source/Provider |
| "MAP (Mine and Ambush Protected) Puma Varient" (Rhodesian War Games Blog) | John Wynne Hopkins |
| "MAP Puma" (Rhodesian War Games Blog) | John Wynne Hopkins |
| "Operation Miracle Sept/Oct 1979" (Rhodesian War Games Blog) | John Wynne Hopkins |
Printed
| Reference | Author |
| Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of Rhodesia: 1965-80 (P&P Publishing) | Peter G. Locke & Peter DF Cooke |
| Taming the Landmine (Galago Publishing, Ltd.) | Peter Stiff |
Hobby Modeling
Kits and Accessories
| Model Kit | Manufacturer | Scale | Other Information |
| Aftermarket Set | Manufacturer | Scale | Other Information |
Model Photos
| Reference | Source/Provider |
