Driving home from work last night, I saw something totally out of place. I live in mid-Michigan. This is Chevy/Ford country. You simply do not see foreign cars around here, much less a Mercedes Unimog. Driving home, I saw a completely tan, canvas topped unimog, with ~35" tires, no plates that I could see (and I was really looking), and it was at a Mobil gas station. I know offroad vehicles. I'd love to have a mog as a toy someday, so I instantly recognized it. That's why I looked it over so well. I was at a stop light, and my gut told me to drive around and get a closer look, and a photo. I didn't follow my gut. I had to be somewhere and figured it was more important. I can't get it out of my head though. So, the question is, who/what agencies of the world use Mogs? Certainly not US military. Any of those UN security forces that are "training"?
The Swiss I believe, but there was a guy here that bought them, refurbished the engines, and re-sold them to local buyers.
I went 4 wheeling with some unimog geeks and it was awesome! it's the best off road capable vehicle I've ever been in.
Australia ...what side was the steering wheel on ... ?[rofllmao] Sounds like an import that has been sold in the US....
Unimog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:S404-300TDI-erg-chebbi.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/S404-300TDI-erg-chebbi.jpg/220px-S404-300TDI-erg-chebbi.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/f/f6/S404-300TDI-erg-chebbi.jpg/220px-S404-300TDI-erg-chebbi.jpg German, it seems, not Swiss. Either way, they were in the running for the US military at one point, and it seems as tho' a few are in US service.
I can't keep up with all these changes! I still think all tanks are either M-60's or CEV's! Then there's the gear! When I heard the term: "alice pack" I freaked out? Who is Alice? BDU's? What the heck is that...? I know about 1505's (khaki's) and Class A's and fatigues! ( ok, I know, I'm OLD!) I still think machine guns are M-2's, or M-60's..... Must be CRS...old timer's disease: ( can't remember stuff)
Today those terms are replaced with ACU's, Molle's, and 240B's. I have been in and out of the service going on 25 years now and everything can change on a yearly basis now.
US MIL LMTV, MMTV, and HMTV are better. I love the auto adjust air pressure and emergency tire deflate/re-inflate feature and multitudes of options along with huge ground clearance and actual ruggedness I can accept. I went off-roading on the Iranian border in an LMTV, and it definitely held up. I beat the crap outta that thing. I wouldn't want to work on one, but there ya go. Up-armored is SWEET (not underside). Hey, I don't mind...I drove an Iraqi civilian 5 ton around where others were cruising in MRAPS and Bradley's getting blown up. (yeah I had no choice.) LMTV unarmored: http://dwp.bigplanet.com/rellitechnology/nss-folder/pictures/LMTV.1.jpg
that LMTV is suweet, looks alot like a mog. There's a few mogs around here... Someone near the quarry has a brand new large mog, a local mechanic has one and there was a dealer in Vallejo.
Did I hear "Vallejo"???? I was born in Vallejo! Long long ago, in a galaxy far far away! Went there in 1987-88 ( can't recall) but I nearly froze to death in the evening! But then I really digress.......( wow) I'd settle for an older (like me), (70's model) APC, either or the M-112, or newer (to me), diesel M-113......Hated that ramp in snow! Better yet: an M-88 tank retriever! Now that's hardware I could enjoy...can't feed it, but it would make a great yard ornament!
Holy crap dude, an M88 is enormous, lol...not to mention LOUD! Had to have our mech crew pull my trailer out of a ditch one time in a sand storm. The picture of our Mech NCO in the 88 with sand all over his face became a famous picture and is hanging in the Pentagon somewhere, lol. The CSM came out to the site that day in Iraq and looked at the trailer, then looked at me and said "Did you do this, sergeant?" and I was like..."Yeah, SM it was me.", and he just said "Hooah." and walked off. LOL. Good times. Yes, the 88 is necessary -but no AC, so in the desert it's a death trap.
Love the 5tons...but I'm partial to the PLS and HEMTT platforms! Hell...having the PLS would require your buddy follow you around in a HEMTT set up as a tanker. Serious 8x8 and 10x10 wheeling. Just don't get one reallllly stuck as there aren't too many larger options recovery. Byte