M1001
| KAT1 | |
|---|---|
MAN KAT1
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| Type | 8x8, 6x6, and 4x4 off-road trucks |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | West Germany, Belgium, Austria, USA, Estonia |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | MAN SE |
| Produced | 1976-1981 |
| No. built | 9110 (approx) |
| Specifications | |
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| Engine | MAN diesel |
| Suspension | wheeled |
The MAN KAT1 was a family of high-mobility off-road trucks developed by MAN SE for the German army.
In 1962 the Bundeswehr planned to replace its fleet of vehicles, which still stemmed from the time the army had been founded. It wanted amphibious two-, three- and four-axle vehicles in the 4 to 10 ton payload range. Because a high degree of new development was necessary, the German federal agency for defence technology and procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, BWB) found itself unable to accept the responsibility for a decision but suggested the bidding companies form a common development bureau and agree on one unified project.
Two years later in 1964, the "Common Bureau of the German Utility Vehicle Industry" (Gemeinschaftsbüro der deutschen Nutzfahrzeugindustrie) was formed under the leadership of MAN. The manufacturers Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz (KHD), Büssing, Krupp and Henschel were also on board.
On 12 August 1964, BWB drafted the second generation requirements. Specification of the next generation called for mostly standard commercial vehicles with unlimited cross-country mobility, amphibious, with permanent all-wheel drive, low-pressure run flat tires, a steel cab, NBC protection, a multifuel engine and a minimum service life of ten years.
Because procurement costs would have run too high and NATO established a new standard, the amphibious, NBC and multifuel capabilities were subsequently cancelled and requirements re-drafted. Payload of the twin-axle version was increased to 5 t, fording depth specified to 1,200 mm, bed height raised to 1,650 mm, and air cooled Deutz V8 engines with and without turbocharger as well as 14.00 R 20 size tires were specified. However, even this "trimmed-down" version was too expensive for comprehensive procurement. After further deliberations it was decided to procure a smaller number of the specialized, newly developed high-mobility trucks and supplement them with a number of near-standard trucks. This meant the army procured altogether six different new truck models, initially three of them in the high-mobility off-road category.
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Wikipedia