The SAMIL 20 is the lightest model in the SAMIL range of military trucks, the standard logistical transport vehicles of the South African National Defence Force and its predecessor, the South African Defence Force. Like the rest of the range it was essentially an upgraded Magirus Deutz diesel-engined truck, built on a high-strength chassis for severe off-road conditions.
SAMIL 20 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 lightest of the SAMIL 20, 50 and 100 models |
| Base | upgraded Magirus Deutz diesel-engined trucks |
| Chassis | high-strength, for severe off-road conditions |
| Original production ended | 1998 |
| Re-manufactured by | Truck-Makers, Rosslyn, Pretoria; Drakensberg Truck Manufacturers and N1 Trucks, Wallmansthal; Transvaal Motors, Boksburg |
| Civilian equivalent | SAMAG (South African MAGirus) |
| Cab shared with | the SAKOM 50, a 7-tonne 4×2 version of the SAMIL 50 |
| Surplus use | mining, exploration, contracting, farming, tourism and forestry |
The SAMIL 20 is described in a shared English Wikipedia article on the whole SAMIL Trucks range; this page is based on that single source.
History of the SAMIL 20
The standard South African military truck
SAMIL stands for South African MILitary. These trucks were the standard logistical transport vehicles of the South African Defence Force and, after 1994, of the South African National Defence Force. Essentially they were upgraded versions of Magirus Deutz diesel-engined trucks, adapted for the conditions the army expected to meet. All of them had a high-strength chassis, which made them capable of handling severe off-road conditions and made them an ideal vehicle for the South African Army.
The lightest of the three
The range listed the SAMIL 20, the SAMIL 50 and the SAMIL 100. The SAMIL 20 was the smallest of the three and served as the light end of the army’s logistical fleet. Its cab was also used for another member of the family: the SAKOM 50A, a 7-tonne 4×2 version of the SAMIL 50 employed on second-line duties, was built with a SAMIL 20 cab.
After the army
Original production of the SAMIL range ended in 1998, but the trucks did not disappear. They are re-manufactured by Truck-Makers in Rosslyn, Pretoria, by Drakensberg Truck Manufacturers and N1 Trucks in Wallmansthal and by Transvaal Motors in Boksburg. In recent years reconditioned and remanufactured military surplus SAMIL trucks have also been made available to the private sector, and vehicles have been sold to mining groups, exploration companies, contractors, farmers and many other organisations in fields such as tourism and forestry. The civilian versions of these trucks are called SAMAG, for South African MAGirus.
Design and features
- High-strength chassis: designed to cope with severe off-road conditions.
- Magirus Deutz diesels: the whole range was built as upgraded versions of these trucks.
- Cab donor: the SAKOM 50A, the 7-tonne 4×2 derivative of the SAMIL 50, used the SAMIL 20 cab.
- Civilian cousin: the SAMAG range was the civilian form of the same Magirus-based trucks.
- Second life: surplus vehicles were sold on to mines, contractors, farmers and tourism operators.
SAMIL 20 versions
- SAMIL 20 cargo truck: the standard logistical body of the light model.
- Ambulance: a military health service version on the SAMIL 20 chassis.
- Light aid detachment: workshop and recovery body used by army technical units.
- Troop carrier: a personnel-carrying body on the same chassis.
The SAMIL 20 sat below the SAMIL 50, whose 7-tonne 4×2 derivative used its cab, and the SAMIL 100, the heaviest truck of the range. More military and civilian trucks are in the SAMIL collection.
Video: SAMIL 20
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- SAMIL Trucks, English Wikipedia: origin, range, chassis, re-manufacture and surplus sales
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