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One of my friends served in Angola in 1982. One day, the Buffel he was sitting in ran over an anti tank mine. (Actually two, one on the top of the other.) It destroyed the driveshaft. A new driveshaft was airlifted in via a helicopter, fitted overnight and the Buffel was back in action in less than 24 hours. Absolutely amazing. The Buffel is a testimony to South African ingenuity.
Shylockza bruh those are so old, you don’t really need those atm either, so blaming the country because there’s no wars to use them in or not carrying about it because it’s old and pointless to maintain soooo...weirdchamp?
I drove a Buffel for many months during the 'bush war' and actually detonated a TM57 anti tank mine at one point. Blew one of the back wheels clean off but neither I or anyone in the back was injured. It's mine resistant capabilities saved many lives. I saw a number of civilian vehicles that had detonated mines and i was very thankful , I hadn't been driving one when I found the mine.
The Buffle was certainly one of the first steps on the ladder towards what we now call “MRAP”s. A basic protected vehicle using off the shelf products capable of being built in large numbers. The Casspir family of vehicles and the later Wolfs took development further using lessons learned. Not just from The South Africans but The Rhodesians also who had their own MRAP type of vehicles.
Im an ex Ratel gunner but also had a drivers license for light and medium vehicles and the license for unimog and buffel was called a B Spes license..unimog been my most favorite vehicle to drive the buffel was also tons of fun to drive and I've been involved in alot of buffel opperations while doing camps if not on the ratels, though a little top heavy they still handled damn good at stupid angles on hill sides and donga's lol..truly amazing I must say and I can tell so many stories about these and many other awesome SADF vehicles 😉👍
That's true. At Elundu, Regt de Wet had them in early October 77. When SP Guards arrived later in the month they also received some. 2SAI took over from Regt de Wet in late November. I rode out of Elundu in mid-December 77 in a Buffel.
One of the diamond in the rough, if you'd like to call it that, APCs/IFVs was the BTR-152. Simply put, the BTR-152 had immense towing capacity for it's relatively small stature plus being a 6x6 vehicle allowed for it to be manage more weight (and help tow more efficiently) as well as provide better steady fire for a heavy armament such as a .50 cal (Browning or Soviet Dushka), or an anti-air such as a 14.5x114, 20x110 or a 23x152. The open-air feature of the vehicle was perfect for bush warfare, as it allowed for breathability (and if a rpg hit, better escapability for air) as well as better situational awareness. If only the Rhodesians made more use of these vehicles, as well as hillbilly armouring to no end (rhodesians also used spaced armor for their PATU vehicles), there would have likely been more interesting and hilarious stories of rhodesian battle victories. On that note, it is a shame that the Rhodesians never managed to capture soviet air such as the HINDs or any of the MiG models.
Eric it was most definitely the South African's who invented the Buffel - I was serving when it was first commissioned into service. The Rhodesians were early developers too, their most memorable being the Pookie
next time Mr. Narrator ask the camera operator to sound you better up. and since we worked with these vehicles (54Sai - Eenhana) there is a lot more that you van talked about. But yea a great vehicle, and mounting it - fully kitted, was not easy at all.
I remember a sedan breaking curfew outside 53 Bn HQ Ondangwa 87 and driving at high speed into a Buffel crossing the road.The sedan lost but did manage to knock the Buffel over due its top heaviness. Not the best ride in the world the Buffel
Great video, but with one small correction, it was the Rhodesians that first came up with mine resistant vehicles in the form of the crocodile, the leopard and the pig. These came in several other variants.
No, actually it was the South Africans. The Army Hyena was developed in 1972 already...and the follow on Hippo also preceded all the vehicles you mention, and indeed, both these vehicles were supplied by South Africa to Rhodesia. Both these South African Army vehicles were preceded by SA police vehicles themselves..such as the Telefoonhokkie. The history and timeline are readily available.
The Hippo and Hyena were some of the first MRAPs...they were South African...not Rhodesian. Some Rhodesians also believe that their T55s were captured in Mozambique. No...they were captured in Durban harbour. 8 were sent to Rhodesia, 2 were retained by the South African School of Armour for evaluation.
Dave what is your opinion on CR2 rifled gun i.e. having no ability to fire HEAT? I mean, what's the usefulness of HESH rounds against modern MBTs?. Secondly, what's your opinion on Leo2 when it comes to tests with it using 140 mm smoothbore gun? Do you think it would be a better option or that the current L55 with LAHAT firing ability is sufficient? Cheers!
Get your facts right! The Leopard Security Vehicle designed by Ernest Konschel in 1973/74 predates the Buffel. I served in the SADF, and as much as I would like to claim credit on South Africa's behalf for the 'first' V-shaped hull design, you need to go to Rhodesia for that. The Rhodesians had other V-shaped hull vehicles, too, like the Pooky that also predate the Buffel.
South Africa began using mine protected vehicles in 1974 with the Bosvark and Hippo. From what I can see online the Rhodesians began using them around the same time. There isn't concrete evidence that one or the other developed the V-shape hull before the other.
@@iphoneupdate I'm happy to be corrected though from what I've found online all the Rhodesian vehicles including the Leopard were designed from 1974 onwards. Which is the same year South Africa developed their first MPV's the Hippo and Bosvark.
sorry to say aout the vechile you are correct spend many km in one but saying we also used in our own civil war you are wrong sa was never in a civil war unless you are refering to the angola bush war as civil war
Rhodesians are South African by extension but opted not to become part of the Union in 1923, instead opting to become a self governing colony eventually being sold out in the 1970s by South Africa and Britain.
I dont know hey. The first MRAPS of the early 70s were Saffer MRAPS - Kudu (Ojay), Hyena and Hippo. Only later did the Rhodie Leopard and Crocodile come.
@morton christie exactly. Originally built for the SAP, it was then adopted by SWATF and the SADF. The Mamba of 1995 was designed to replace the Buffel and like the Casspir was built from scratch. But was already being designed pre 94
@morton christie SWATF were the first military unit to adopt them with 101 Bn Reaksie Mag (Romeo Mike) teams. Modelled on Koevoet and tried to emulate their success (which they did). It was only post Border War that the Casspir was incorporated into SADF Motorised units and today forms part of the SANDF Motorised units with the RG33 and Mamba APCs.
I laugh at the idiot nations that attempted to reinvent the wheel by creating their own version of the MRAP which was ultimately created and perfected in South Africa. Why not just buy it from those who knew how to build them properly in the first place, but no..
I spent so many hours on patrol sitting in one of these.
Great to see one in the museum.
Yeah, I recall those 3 years like it was yesterday, just a pity the country's so fked now...what a waste
One of my friends served in Angola in 1982.
One day, the Buffel he was sitting in ran over an anti tank mine. (Actually two, one on the top of the other.)
It destroyed the driveshaft.
A new driveshaft was airlifted in via a helicopter, fitted overnight and the Buffel was back in action in less than 24 hours.
Absolutely amazing.
The Buffel is a testimony to South African ingenuity.
Shylockza bruh those are so old, you don’t really need those atm either, so blaming the country because there’s no wars to use them in or not carrying about it because it’s old and pointless to maintain soooo...weirdchamp?
I remember age 10(riots of 1985), shit scared in our house & one of this were standing in front of our house shooting at protesters.
@@Shylockza Yep - and feeling seasick! I actually preferred the Hippo for comfort.
Drove Buffels and Ratels on the border at various times. Happy days.
The South African Ratel was the world's first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle. (1976) And still copied to this day.
I drove a Buffel for many months during the 'bush war' and actually detonated a TM57 anti tank mine at one point. Blew one of the back wheels clean off but neither I or anyone in the back was injured. It's mine resistant capabilities saved many lives. I saw a number of civilian vehicles that had detonated mines and i was very thankful , I hadn't been driving one when I found the mine.
Me too. Stay safe brother wherever you are!
The Buffle was certainly one of the first steps on the ladder towards what we now call “MRAP”s. A basic protected vehicle using off the shelf products capable of being built in large numbers. The Casspir family of vehicles and the later Wolfs took development further using lessons learned. Not just from The South Africans but The Rhodesians also who had their own MRAP type of vehicles.
Im an ex Ratel gunner but also had a drivers license for light and medium vehicles and the license for unimog and buffel was called a B Spes license..unimog been my most favorite vehicle to drive the buffel was also tons of fun to drive and I've been involved in alot of buffel opperations while doing camps if not on the ratels, though a little top heavy they still handled damn good at stupid angles on hill sides and donga's lol..truly amazing I must say and I can tell so many stories about these and many other awesome SADF vehicles 😉👍
Actually we had Buffels in 1977. I fought in that war and have pictures to prove it.
video collage when? What company did you serve in the Army?
That's true. At Elundu, Regt de Wet had them in early October 77. When SP Guards arrived later in the month they also received some. 2SAI took over from Regt de Wet in late November. I rode out of Elundu in mid-December 77 in a Buffel.
At the bottom of the V shape underneath the floor , its a water tank, it gets filled with water. The Buffel was built on a 4x4 Unimog German chassis.
Proudly south African
One of the diamond in the rough, if you'd like to call it that, APCs/IFVs was the BTR-152. Simply put, the BTR-152 had immense towing capacity for it's relatively small stature plus being a 6x6 vehicle allowed for it to be manage more weight (and help tow more efficiently) as well as provide better steady fire for a heavy armament such as a .50 cal (Browning or Soviet Dushka), or an anti-air such as a 14.5x114, 20x110 or a 23x152. The open-air feature of the vehicle was perfect for bush warfare, as it allowed for breathability (and if a rpg hit, better escapability for air) as well as better situational awareness. If only the Rhodesians made more use of these vehicles, as well as hillbilly armouring to no end (rhodesians also used spaced armor for their PATU vehicles), there would have likely been more interesting and hilarious stories of rhodesian battle victories. On that note, it is a shame that the Rhodesians never managed to capture soviet air such as the HINDs or any of the MiG models.
Great vehicle, until you hit contact and have to jump from it with full battle gear. The subsequent landing was pretty damn heavy...
If only i could hear what the narrater said!
"Our journey to victory has begun, DEATH TO THE MPLA!!!"
Are you sure it was the South Africans who came up with this concept that not the rhodesians?
Eric it was most definitely the South African's who invented the Buffel - I was serving when it was first commissioned into service. The Rhodesians were early developers too, their most memorable being the Pookie
@@markraatsart5049
I'm just talking about the V Hull concept
@@EricTheActor805 If you are only talking about the hull, you're absolutely right, the V hull was indeed first used by the Rhodies.
Check out the Casspir. It is even better.
I believe that the South Africans learned the mine proof vehicle concept from the Rhodesians...
next time Mr. Narrator ask the camera operator to sound you better up. and since we worked with these vehicles (54Sai - Eenhana) there is a lot more that you van talked about. But yea a great vehicle, and mounting it - fully kitted, was not easy at all.
I remember a sedan breaking curfew outside 53 Bn HQ Ondangwa 87 and driving at high speed into a Buffel crossing the road.The sedan lost but did manage to knock the Buffel over due its top heaviness.
Not the best ride in the world the Buffel
Great video, but with one small correction, it was the Rhodesians that first came up with mine resistant vehicles in the form of the crocodile, the leopard and the pig. These came in several other variants.
No, actually it was the South Africans. The Army Hyena was developed in 1972 already...and the follow on Hippo also preceded all the vehicles you mention, and indeed, both these vehicles were supplied by South Africa to Rhodesia. Both these South African Army vehicles were preceded by SA police vehicles themselves..such as the Telefoonhokkie. The history and timeline are readily available.
The book Taming The Landmine by Peter Stiff is the best read on the subject.
The Hippo and Hyena were some of the first MRAPs...they were South African...not Rhodesian. Some Rhodesians also believe that their T55s were captured in Mozambique. No...they were captured in Durban harbour. 8 were sent to Rhodesia, 2 were retained by the South African School of Armour for evaluation.
The South African Ratel was the world's first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle. (1976) And still copied to this day.
Dave what is your opinion on CR2 rifled gun i.e. having no ability to fire HEAT? I mean, what's the usefulness of HESH rounds against modern MBTs?. Secondly, what's your opinion on Leo2 when it comes to tests with it using 140 mm smoothbore gun? Do you think it would be a better option or that the current L55 with LAHAT firing ability is sufficient? Cheers!
My Opa drove one of these in the Rhodesian bush war.
Get your facts right!
The Leopard Security Vehicle designed by Ernest Konschel in 1973/74 predates the Buffel.
I served in the SADF, and as much as I would like to claim credit on South Africa's behalf for the 'first' V-shaped hull design, you need to go to Rhodesia for that.
The Rhodesians had other V-shaped hull vehicles, too, like the Pooky that also predate the Buffel.
The enemy of buffalo are anti tank mine and LPG7
The Rhodesians came up with the V shape
South Africa began using mine protected vehicles in 1974 with the Bosvark and Hippo.
From what I can see online the Rhodesians began using them around the same time. There isn't concrete evidence that one or the other developed the V-shape hull before the other.
@@springbok8876 from an operational standpoint , I believe the Rhodesians were first.
@@iphoneupdate I'm happy to be corrected though from what I've found online all the Rhodesian vehicles including the Leopard were designed from 1974 onwards. Which is the same year South Africa developed their first MPV's the Hippo and Bosvark.
@@springbok8876 thanks for the info, appreciate it.
I remember them in bo2
sorry to say aout the vechile you are correct spend many km in one but saying we also used in our own civil war you are wrong sa was never in a civil war unless you are refering to the angola bush war as civil war
Yes, the South Africans were great in their time. Not so great anymore.
Incorrect, it was the Rhodesians who came up with this idea, the South Africans adapted and improved it. ;-)
True.
Rhodesians are South African by extension but opted not to become part of the Union in 1923, instead opting to become a self governing colony eventually being sold out in the 1970s by South Africa and Britain.
I dont know hey. The first MRAPS of the early 70s were Saffer MRAPS - Kudu (Ojay), Hyena and Hippo. Only later did the Rhodie Leopard and Crocodile come.
@morton christie exactly. Originally built for the SAP, it was then adopted by SWATF and the SADF. The Mamba of 1995 was designed to replace the Buffel and like the Casspir was built from scratch. But was already being designed pre 94
@morton christie SWATF were the first military unit to adopt them with 101 Bn Reaksie Mag (Romeo Mike) teams. Modelled on Koevoet and tried to emulate their success (which they did). It was only post Border War that the Casspir was incorporated into SADF Motorised units and today forms part of the SANDF Motorised units with the RG33 and Mamba APCs.
I laugh at the idiot nations that attempted to reinvent the wheel by creating their own version of the MRAP which was ultimately created and perfected in South Africa. Why not just buy it from those who knew how to build them properly in the first place, but no..
Copied from the Rhodesians