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RG-31A1 Mark 5

Mine Protected Vehicle

Mark 5 with Fassi Interrogation Arm

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	South Africa (and others including Italy, United Arab Emirates and the United States)
First Produced/Service Dates:	2006-2007
Manufactured by:	General Dynamics Land Systems –Canada/BAE Systems (Formerly Land Systems OMC)
Crew:	Up to 1+9 (Depending on configuration; although 1+4 seems to be common)
Armament:	Various.  Can be armed with various weapons/mounts including a number of different Remote Weapon Systems (RWS). The RWS can be fitted with 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 7.62 mm MG or 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher. Anti-Tank Guided Missile Launchers can also be mounted to most variants.  Utility variant can be armed 20mm Cannon, 81mm Mortar, & 106mm Recoilless Rifle in rear cargo bed.
Engine:	6-Cylinder Turbo Diesel (275hp Cummins QSB FR 91421 6.7 Ltr)
Miscellaneous Info:	Very soon after the Mark 3 (A0) vehicles were put into service, both the manufacturer and the US Military identified the need for an improved/upgraded vehicle.  As a result, the RG-31A1 Mark 5 Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) (also seemingly referred to as the Mark 5A) was produced and put into service very quickly. This speed was mostly due to the manufacturer's forethought for that need. The Mark 5 was identified/named a mine-protected armored personnel carrier (APC) via the company, although MPV seems more appropriate due to the fact that the vehicle was available in two (2) variants: APC and Utility. The APC variant was designed as a typical four (4)-wheeled MPV.  However, the flat-bed utility variant was designed similarly to a pick-up truck with a small cab and rear flat-bed, storage area.  Besides the typical roles a pick-up can perform, the utility variant can accommodate heavier weapons such as 20mm cannon, 81mm Mortar and 106mm recoilless rifle.  The utility vehicle does not seem to have gone into service with any users.  In addition, the manufacturer listed other roles their variants could perform.  These include Ambulance, Command/Control, Explosvie Ordnance Disposal. Patrol, Rapid Intervention, Special Forces and Surveillance. Improvements to the Mark 5 over the earlier Marks 1/2/3 covered all aspects of a military vehicle including armor protection, automotive performance, firepower and payload.  Changes made to facilitate those improvements included new axles, ballistic windows (without firing ports), drive-train, transfer case and transmission.  Two small side doors were also added in the front cab area to facilitate crew access/egress. Additionally, the improved vehicle series could now accept heavier weapons/mounts, including the Objective Gunner Protection Kit (OGPK) weapons station. Not surprisingly, the Mark 5 was also quickly improved upon and replaced/supplemented by later vehicles including the RG-31(A2) Mark 5E (Extended), RG-31A2 M1 RTR (Reduced Turning Radius), RG-31(A3) EM (Enhanced Mobility) and RG-31 EHM (Extra High Mobility).
Data Sheet Available:	RG-31 Mark 5 Mine Protected APC Sales Brochure via BAE Systems

Photos/Documents

Reference	Source/Provider
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Slideshow Presentation (2011)	US Department of Defense's Joint Program Office-MRAP via David Haugh Collection
RG-31A1 Mark 5 MPV Photos	Robert Skipper
RG-31A1 Mark 5 MPV Photos	US Army
RG-31A1 Mark 5 MPV Photos	US Department of Defense
RG-31A1 Mark 5 MPV Photos	Marius van Aardt - South Africa (The SA Bushwar Page)
RG-31A1 Mark 5 MPV with Fassi M10A.12 Interrogation Arm Photos	Ralph Zwilling - Editor of Tank-Masters DE Website
RG-31A1/A2 Mark 5/5E MPV Photos	Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS)
RG-31A1/A2 Mark 5/5E MPV Photos	US Army
RG-31A1/A2 Mark 5/5E MPV Photos	US Department of Defense

References Available

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Model Photos