The SAMIL 100 is the heaviest truck of the South African SAMIL range, which was the standard logistical transport of the South African Defence Force and the SANDF. In the mid-1980s it was the largest model of the family, and it was used as an artillery tractor for the G-5 howitzer, as a mobile command post and as a 10-tonne cargo transport over difficult terrain.
SAMIL 100 at a glance
| Maker | SAMIL (South African MILitary) |
|---|---|
| Type | military logistics truck |
| Operator | South African Defence Force, later the SANDF |
| Place in the range | the heaviest model in the mid-1980s |
| Payload | 10 tonnes over varied terrain |
| Main roles | artillery tractor, mobile command post, cargo transport |
| Artillery towed | G-5 howitzer |
| Base | upgraded Magirus Deutz diesel-engined trucks |
| Chassis | high-strength, for severe off-road conditions |
| Original production ended | 1998 |
| Civilian equivalent | SAMAG (South African MAGirus) |
| Surplus use | mining, exploration, contracting, farming, tourism and forestry |
The SAMIL 100 is covered by the English Wikipedia article on the whole SAMIL Trucks range and by a short Italian article on the model itself.
History of the SAMIL 100
The top of the SAMIL range
SAMIL, for South African MILitary, was the name of the standard logistical transport vehicles of the South African Defence Force and its successor, the South African National Defence Force. The range consisted of upgraded Magirus Deutz diesel-engined trucks, and every model had a high-strength chassis that made it capable of handling severe off-road conditions. The SAMIL 100 was the heaviest of them: in the mid-1980s it stood at the top of the range, above the SAMIL 20 and the SAMIL 50.
Gun tractor and command post
The SAMIL 100 was not only a cargo truck. In South African service it served as an artillery tractor for the G-5 howitzer, pulling the gun and carrying its crew and equipment, and it could also be fitted out as a mobile command post. Its third main role was as a transport for loads of 10 tonnes over varied terrain, which made it the heavy end of the army’s logistical fleet.
After production
Original production of the SAMIL range ended in 1998. The trucks are re-manufactured today by Truck-Makers in Rosslyn, Pretoria, by Drakensberg Truck Manufacturers and N1 Trucks in Wallmansthal and by Transvaal Motors in Boksburg. Reconditioned and remanufactured military surplus SAMILs have also been sold to the private sector, to mining groups, exploration companies, contractors, farmers and organisations in tourism and forestry. The civilian versions of the trucks were called SAMAG, for South African MAGirus.
Design and features
- Heaviest of the range: the largest SAMIL model of the mid-1980s.
- G-5 gun tractor: built to tow and support the South African G-5 howitzer.
- Mobile command post: a body for command and communications duties.
- 10-tonne payload: cargo transport over varied terrain.
- Magirus Deutz base: an upgraded version of the German diesel-engined truck with an off-road chassis.
SAMIL 100 versions
- Gun tractor: artillery tractor for the G-5 howitzer.
- Mobile command post: a communications and command body.
- Cargo transport: the standard 10-tonne logistical body.
- Fuel tanker: a refuelling body on the SAMIL 100 chassis.
The SAMIL 100 was the heavy end of a range that began with the SAMIL 20 and continued with the SAMIL 50. More military and civilian trucks are in the SAMIL collection.
Sources
- SAMIL Trucks, English Wikipedia: range, chassis, re-manufacture and surplus sales
- Samil 100, Italian Wikipedia: weight class, G-5 tractor, command post, 10-tonne payload
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