- Yes
- No
Introduction
During the South African Border War, and associated conflicts often referred to as the Bush Wars, South Africa’s armoured units played a pivotal role in counterinsurgency and conventional military operations. The South African Defence Force (SADF) relied heavily on armoured vehicles and mechanized infantry to project power across vast and often inhospitable terrains, particularly in Namibia and Angola. These units were key to the SADF’s strategy of rapid mobility, firepower, and the ability to engage both insurgent forces and conventional armies. They operated in some of the most intense battles of the conflict, including Operation Savannah, Operation Reindeer, and the climactic engagements of the late 1980s such as Cuito Cuanavale.
The South African Land Rover Sabre was a specialized military adaptation of the Series III Land Rover, developed in the 1970s. Designed to operate in the open desert and bush, its modifications included an extended wheelbase and a reinforced chassis. Powered by a 2.6-liter six-cylinder petrol engine, the Sabre was locally assembled at Blackheath, South Africa, from CKD (completely knocked down) kits imported from the UK. Usually deployed in clandestine or poorly recorded missions, the exact production numbers remain unclear, with estimates ranging from 30 to 50 units. Despite its operational success, much of its history remains unclear due to limited documentation and the classified nature of its use.
The variant discussed here is the Land Rover Sabre field modified with a 20mm Hispano Autocannon (and two 7.62s in the cab). In game, this would provide a decent low-tier SPAA, also capable of defending itself against lighter vehicles.
Specifications
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Chassis
Cannon (Hispano-Suiza HS.404)
- Type: single-barrel automatic cannon
- Caliber: 20 mm × 110 (0.79 in)
- Operation: gas operated
- Length without muzzle brake: 2.32 m (7 ft 7 in)
- Length with muzzle brake: 2.52 m (8 ft 3 in)
- Weight without drum magazine: 43 kg (94 lb 13 oz)
- Weight (complete): 68.7 kg (151 lb 7 oz)
- Rate of fire: 600–700 rpm
- Muzzle velocity: 840 to 880 m/s (2,800 to 2,900 ft/s)
- Recoil force: 400 kg (881.849 lb) with muzzle brake
- Ammunition: Ball, Incendiary, HE (High Explosive)
- Projectile weight: HE and HEI: 130 g (4.6 oz), AP-T: 168 g (5.9 oz)
- HE and HEI rounds explosive filler: 6 to 11 g (0.21 to 0.39 oz
Images
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Restored South African Land Rover Sabre
Sources
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Surviving The Ride, Steve Camp & Helmoed Romer Heitman, 2014
Military Machines International, March 2014
DeadlyEfficient Mobile Warfare
Land Rover 109 Series III 2.6 Specs, Performance, Comparisons