The Engesa EE-15 is a Brazilian military utility truck. It was developed together with the EE-25 and launched in 1974, when Engesa was selling its EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu armoured vehicles abroad and wanted to offer buyers a complete package of vehicles.
Engesa EE-15 at a glance
| Maker | Engesa (Engenheiros Especializados S.A.), São Paulo, Brazil |
|---|---|
| Type | military utility truck |
| Launched | 1974 |
| Payload | 1.5 or 2.5 tonnes off-road, double on made roads |
| Developed with | EE-25 truck |
| Role | support vehicle sold with the Cascavel and Urutu |
| Civilian version | offered, but not price-competitive |
| Other Engesa utility models | EE-12, EE-25, EE-34, EE-50 |
| Company fate | Engesa went bankrupt in 1993 |
The EE-15 has no Wikipedia page of its own; this article is based on the sections about the company’s products in the Portuguese and English Wikipedia articles on Engesa, and is therefore shorter than usual.
History of the Engesa EE-15
A truck specialist first
Engesa was founded in 1958 as a small supplier of parts for the oil industry and grew by modifying trucks for hard roads. In 1966 it patented its 4×4, 6×4 and 6×6 “Total Traction” system, and in 1969 the “Boomerang” double rear drive, which kept the rear wheels in permanent contact with the ground. These systems gave Chevrolet, Ford and later Dodge trucks and pickups strong off-road performance, and the company repowered hundreds of military trucks for the Brazilian Army and Marine Corps.
Developed with the armoured cars
In 1972 Engesa received the technology of two armoured vehicles from the Brazilian Army and began producing the EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu. Export customers for the armoured cars also needed support vehicles, so the EE-25 truck was designed at short notice together with the EE-15 to offer “complete packages”. Both were launched in 1974 and were rated at 1.5 or 2.5 tonnes off-road, or double that on made roads.
Civilian version and the end
The EE-15 was also offered in a civilian version, but its price was not competitive. The EE-25 proved the most successful of the utility line, outselling even the Cascavel and Urutu. Engesa diversified into jeeps, tractors and the EE-T1 Osório tank, but heavy investment and falling demand left it in debt; it went bankrupt in 1993.
Design and features
- Two payload ratings: 1.5 or 2.5 tonnes off-road, twice as much on made roads.
- Package sales: offered to export customers alongside the EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu.
- Truck expertise: from a company that had built its reputation on off-road traction systems for trucks.
- Civilian attempt: a civilian version was listed but could not compete on price.
Engesa EE-15 versions
- EE-15 military truck: the standard utility version.
- Civilian EE-15: offered for civilian buyers, but not price-competitive.
- Related Engesa utilities: the EE-12 (basis of the Engesa 4 jeep), EE-25 truck, EE-34 pickup and EE-50 6×6.
The EE-15 was sold as a support vehicle for the EE-11 Urutu armoured personnel carrier. More vehicles from the maker are in the Engesa collection.
Video: engesa EE 15 na estrada
Video by isac miguel on YouTube.
Sources
- Engesa, Portuguese Wikipedia: EE-15 development, payload, civilian version
- Engesa, English Wikipedia: company history, traction systems, bankruptcy
