Insights for emergencies

The federal office reacted and already presented a multifunctional civil protection vehicle based on the Unimog U 5023 at Interschutz last summer. An identical carrier vehicle has since been added. One Unimog is equipped with a swap body so that it can also accommodate containers for specific operational purposes as required.

The other vehicle was fitted with a Palfinger loader crane behind the cab (up to five tonnes of lifting capacity). The special feature of this Unimog: it was equipped with an additional liquid-methanol fuel cell (SFC "Emily"), which, with the engine switched off, ensures that the 12- and 24-volt electrical systems can continue to be powered for a long time. Practical: if the methanol cartridge is empty, it can be replaced in just a few simple steps to continue operation. This technology was adopted from military vehicles.

For emergencies, A77 tyres were fitted, which ensure continued mobility even with a flat tyre. A spare wheel, tyre pressure control system, surround lighting, digital radio, emergency warning system and a roof hatch are features of these two Unimog painted in pure white. Also on board: a hydraulically driven drum winch from Werner (front-mounted winch, 50 kN pulling force).

"These two vehicles were procured by the federal government solely for testing," explains Norman Saalbach from the Unit for Vehicle Technology and Procurement at the BBK. In the next step, he says, in addition to the swap bodies, the container carried on a tandem trailer will also be fitted out and tested.

The two U 5023 are stationed at the BBK in Bonn. From here they go on field test missions. Once the testing phase has been successfully completed and all components are coordinated, the federal government can proceed with a final procurement.