Image & Performance Rule in Rough & Tough Vehicles

The military is no place for weakness. When it’s rugged outdoor performance that’s required, nothing beats horsepower, torque, and tonnage. Today, we sneak a peek at two notable military vehicles. On the one hand, we have the Buffalo Mine-Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV); on the other, we have the Buffel Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). Both are juggernauts in the military – designed for the ultimate combat situations and the most unforgiving conditions. 

Before we dabble in specifics, let’s take a moment to visualize the Buffalo in its natural habitat. As is common in our cultural Zeitgeist, we return to the entertainment arena to get an audiovisual representation of these mighty beasts in full flight. In one such game, the mighty buffalo is better than all the others – Buffalo King Megaways slot. 

This glorious game gives you a pretty good idea of why several countries quickly adopted the name Buffalo as part of their rugged, robust, explosive detection and clearing juggernauts. There is no more fearsome sight than a Buffalo charging full steam ahead. It’s heartstopping action, and it’s rampaging at a blistering pace.

Big Game Brings Big Performance to Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Now that you’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect regarding the raw power of these military machines, let’s briefly turn our focus to animal-named vehicles. In and out of the military, the literature on cars is peppered with animal-inspired vehicle names. The Jaguar, Mustang, Impala, RAM, Stingray, and Cayman come to mind. 

But there’s another beast, more potent than all the others – the Buffalo. Known for its brute force, tonnage, and incredible power, the Buffalo is one animal not to be toyed with. And so it is no surprise that the military adopted Buffalo in several of its most powerful vehicles, notably, the Buffalo MPCV and the Buffel APC.

The mere mention of the word Buffalo conjures up an image of an awesome beast. In Africa, the Buffalo is renowned for its ability to stand up to a male lion and take it on. In North America, the Buffalo is known as the Bison, the biggest land mammal on the continent. These animals command and deserve our respect. 

And any time the military adopts the name, you can bet your bottom dollar that Buffalo means business. The Buffalo MPCV is a sterling exponent and a tribute to this powerful beast. It’s a heavily armored vehicle designed to detect and dispose of land mines. It also acts against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

This monster of a military vehicle was designed and developed by Force Protection, Incorporated, and later acquired by General Dynamics. It is capable of clearing the route for military missions and is used by many countries worldwide, including Canada, the United States, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. 

So, what makes this Buffalo beast of a military vehicle so impressive? Let’s take a look shall we?

• It was inspired by the South African Casspir mine-protected vehicle.
• It features a V-shaped monohull chassis that deflects the blast forces away from the inner components where occupants are.
• It features an articulated arm with remote-controlled hydraulic mechanisms. This allows it to neutralize explosives from a distance.
• It can accommodate up to a dozen personnel inside, with a driver and co-driver.
• It is the most efficient landmine and improvised explosive device detection and destruction vehicle in the military.

The South African Buffel Armored Personnel Carrier 

Now, let’s switch our attention to the vehicle that inspired the Buffalo MPCV. Of course, we’re talking about the South African Buffel Armored Personnel Carrier. For those who don’t know any Afrikaans – the vast majority of readers – Buffel literally means Buffalo. It was the country’s first all purpose mine resistant, armored personnel carrier. It was introduced into the South African National Defense Forces in 1978, and it was critical during the border war. Chief among its features were the following:

• The Buffel showcase V-shaped hull mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Unimog Chassis. 
• The Buffel was big enough to carry 10 personnel in the rear troop compartment, plus a driver.
• Several variants of the Buffel APC we’re developed over the years, including the MK one and the MK two.
• This monster of a military vehicle was extensively used by the South African Armed Forces, but it has also been used in Sri Lanka. Today, it’s replacement is the Mamba.

Both of these durable, and seemingly indestructible vehicles played a pivotal part in their countries defense against landmines, and improvised explosive devices. They made it safe for the military to transport troops, especially in hot zones where danger reigned supreme. The name is especially fitting, given the Buffalo’s propensity for being a dominant, powerful, and unflappable beast of nature!