Top digs: One of the 4 Fd Regt Unimog Gun tractors with the new accommodation, ammunition and stores modules fitted. Photo by Cpl Andrew Hetherington
NEW Unimog and Mack gun-tractor modules are being delivered to artillery units.
The modules separate artillery gun detachment soldiers from their ammunition and stores when travelling in their gun tractor vehicles.
Patrick Chung, of the Defence Materiel Organisation, said the three-year project was developed using artillery unit requirements formulated through the former Land Command Artillery.
“The personnel module had to carry eight soldiers with their personal weapons and the remainder of the vehicle needed to carry, in separate modules, a typical artillery detachment load list for what would be used on operations,” Mr Chung said.
“The system also had to be transferable for use with both Unimog and Mack gun tractors, be able to be loaded into a C-130 and to meet Australian Design Rule requirements for Omnibus rollover protection.”
The ordered modules have been constructed by Royal Wolf trading in Brisbane and will be distributed to artillery units around Australia.
“So far there have been 161 personnel modules, 135 stores and ammunition modules and 26 stores containers constructed at an overall contract cost of just over $4 million,” Mr Chung said.
The first modules delivered to Army were received by 4 Fd Regt in Townsville. CO 4 Fd Regt Lt-Col Michael Kingsford said the unit had received 18 module sets.
“The new modules, from a safety aspect, are light years ahead of what we previously had,” he said.
“We had no secure or comfortable seating in the back of the Unimogs and we were using old board seating. Ammunition carriage was the major issue; in fact we stopped carrying ammunition on the Unimogs because of the potential for soldiers to injure their backs.
“I can see the modules will solve a great deal of issues and give us the ability to separate stores, personnel and ammunition in a safer way.”
Bdr Gavino Mura, 108 Fd Bty, 4 Fd Regt, said he was impressed with the modules.
“I think they are actually a good piece of kit. Anything that can enhance the safety of the troops in the back of the vehicle is a step in the right direction,” he said.
“Now the soldiers can be buckled in safely, the equipment is stored away from them and it’s not going to hit anyone. With the boys being the main thing on the gun, keeping them safe is a priority.”
