Eland armoured car
| Eland Mk7 | |
| Country Of Origin: | France |
| Designation: | Light Armoured Car |
| Configuration: | 4 x 4 |
| Manufacturer: | Reumech Sandock |
| Length: | 3,79m |
| Width: | 1,97 m |
| Height: | 2,07 m |
| Weight: | 5,5t |
| Ground Clearance: | 330 mm |
| Trench: | 0,8 m |
| Speed: | 90 km/h (road) km/h (off-road) |
| Range: | 600km |
| Primary armament: | 60 mm breech loading mortar |
| Secondary armament: | 2 7,62 mm MG |
| Power plant: | Panhard Model 4 HD 4-cylinder air-cooled petrol developing 90 hp at 4,700 rpm |
| Crew: | 3 |
| External image | |
|---|---|
| Eland Mk7 | |
 Photo of the Eland Mk7[1] |
The Eland is a South African light armoured car. Its permanent 4x4 drive gives it exceptional mobility. It can carry either a 90 mm quick firing low pressure gun, or a 60 mm breech loading mortar as main weapons. Night vision equipment provides effective night time operations, and it is provided with an excellent telecommunications system.
Production History
South Africa signed a contract with the French company Panhard for AML armoured cars. 100 were delivered from France and local production started in 1962 for 500 units. Later further production was undertaken - bringing the total number of locally produced vehicles to 1300. The Eland Mk7 Diesel Turbo (DT) is derived from the Panhard AML 60-7 armoured car and has been extensively modified (e.g. diesel conversion) by Reumech OMC for use in the very harsh African environment. Some were exported to Lesotho, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The South African Army has replaced the Eland with the Rooikat AFV.
Variants
- Eland Mk7 - Also known as the Eland 60
- Eland Mk9 - Also known as the Eland 90 - Modified version of the AML H 90 armored car, keeping the Panhard chassis but having a new Hispano-Suiza designed turret with a 90 mm GIAT F1 gun
Operators
Lesotho Defence Force
Malawi Army
South African Army (Replaced by the Rooikat)
Rhodesia and after 1980 
Zimbabwe National Army
Combat History
Elands were used extensively by the SADF during the Angolan Civil War. They were extremely effective against light armored vehicles and older tanks such as the T-34/85 that were used by the Cubans and the MPLA. A small number of Eland 90's were sold to the Rhodesian government in the mid 1970's to replace the aging Ferret armoured car.
Trivia
Eland was known to its crews in SADF as Noddy's Car.