Gemeinschaftsbüro amphibious tactical truck prototypes

The Gemeinschaftsbüro amphibious tactical truck prototypes were built for the Bundeswehr's next generation of tactical trucks. The plan was for the leading German truck makers to develop the trucks together through a joint design office, the Gemeinschaftsbüro (GB). Daimler-Benz did not join, but between 1968 and 1971 the office still produced three generations of prototypes in the 5-, 7- and 10-tonne classes.

Design

The GB prototypes had torsionally stiff box-section frames, coil-spring suspension, single tyres all round and an angular forward-control cab. They were also designed to swim. Each had twin propellers under the cargo bed, a special body whose stowage boxes doubled as buoyancy chambers, raised dropsides and a folding trim (splash) board at the front.

Outcome

The requirement for an amphibious tactical truck was dropped in 1972. The design work led to the MAN Kat 1 family of military trucks, none of which were amphibious. A 7-tonne prototype survived long enough to be handed over to a repair unit in Mainz in 1991.

The folder also holds a page from a MAN 630 enthusiasts' site about licence production of the MAN 630/415 in India as the Shaktiman. Its special bodies included an amphibious vehicle called the Rampar.