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Mercedes-Benz Zetros

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The Mercedes-Benz Zetros is an off-road truck for extreme operations. It was first presented at the 2008 Eurosatory defence industry trade show in Paris. The Zetros is manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth, Germany.[1] The truck is designed to be compatible with the C-130 Hercules transport and also fits into a standard German railway carriage.[2] In 2019 Mercedes-Benz presented a facelift of the Zetros with a more powerful engine and a bigger number of variants.[3]

Zetros 2733 at the International Defence Industry Exhibition 2012

Variants

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The Zetros is available with an engine power of 360 hp (265 kW) up to 510 hp (375 kW)[3] in all-wheel drive and non all-wheel drive versions:

  • Chassis, Tipper or Tractor
  • 4x2, 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, 8x8[4]

Although normally used as a truck, the Zetros has also been put to work as an off-road tractor unit in the middle east.[5] German company Harald Bruhn also introduced a Zetros-based agricultural trailer truck as the Secutor.[6]

Technical characteristics

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The facelifted Zetros has now one type of engine in all variants.[3]

  • Engine: 12.816 cc inline 6 cylinder diesel
Emission Power [kW] Power [hp] Torque [Nm]
EU III 265 360 1.800
EU III 310 421 2.100
EU III 350 476 2.300
EU V 330 449 2.200
EU V 375 510 2.400
  • Transmission: 16 speed manual transmission with shift lever, controlled via control cable, pneumatic power-assisted
  • mechanical differential locks on front and rear axles and in the transfer case
  • Top speed: 55 mph
  • fording depths up to 0.8m

Operators

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Map with Zetros operators in blue

Current operators

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 Algeria
Around 2 000 trucks are planned to be produced by the Algeria's National Company of Industrial Vehicles (SNVI) destined for the Algerian defence ministry.[7] Locally further developed into self-propelled artillery systems using the D-30 and T-12 gun systems.[8]
 Australia
The Zetros is used as a fertilizer spreader in the South East of South Australia. It is a 4x4 version operated by Crossling Contractors based in Naracoorte.
 Bulgaria
The Bulgarian army ordered the Zetros in 2009 to transport personnel and supplies.[9] As of 2012, it operates 335 trucks with 30 more on order.[10]
 Chile
In August 2016 Mercedes Benz has been awarded a contract to provide 330 trucks for the Chilean Army. The contract includes a batch of Zetros 2733 6x6 and Unimog U4000 4x4 vehicles.[11]
 Costa Rica
The first non military application of the Zetros 2733 was announced in June 2018 by the Costa Rican Firefighters as the organization acquired one. It will serve as transport for rescue crew and equipment in emergency situations as floods, hurricanes, storms, wild fires, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
 Finland
The Finnish Defence Forces have acquired Zetros trucks to replace outdated Sisu Auto vehicles for transportation of both personnel and explosives.,[12]
 Germany
The German army has ordered a total of 110 armoured Zetros vehicles, 72 of which are supposed to serve in logistics units.[13]
 Jordan
Germany donated 20 Zetros 2733 A 6x6 trucks and 50 Zetros 1833 A 4x4 trucks to Jordan in order to be used for the logistics of the Jordanian security agencies when caring for refugees.[14][15]
 Lithuania
8 Zetros 3643 6x6 tow trucks acquired in 2019 with Mercedes-Benz EMPL platform for PzH 2000 or Bergepanzer 2 transportation.[16]
141 Zetros 2733 6x6 transport trucks equipped with cranes acquired in 2023, to be all delivered by 2030.[17][18][19]
 Mexico
The Mexican Army and Mexican Air Force have planned the purchase of 137 6x6 trucks, in three stages, beginning the first purchase of 46 in 2017. The Mexican Navy also operates an undisclosed number of Zetros trucks.
 Poland
31 Mercedes Benz Zetros 3348 AS 6x6 with Dobrowolski DOB70W low bed semi-trailer with an option for 78 more sets ordered in October 2021 for tank transport duty. First 8 sets delivered by the end of 2023.[20]
 Saudi Arabia
Operated by the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
 Turkey
The Turkish Armed Forces use Zetros as HISAR O+ (surface to air missile system) carrier.[21]
 Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received 274 (as of January 2024) from Germany for use in Russo-Ukrainian war, with another 46 planned for delivery.[22]

Future operators

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 Canada (1,500)
The Canadian army selected GDLS-Canada representing the Power Team as bid winner for the LVM (Logistics Vehicle Modernisation) programme. The contract was signed in June 2024 with the Power Team which joins forces from Manac, Marshall Land Systems, Mercedes Benz and Soframe. The contract includes: [23]
  • 1,000 light trucks
  • 500 heavy trucks

Possible operators

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 Argentina
In 2016, Mercedes-Benz presents and exhibit the Zetros in the Directorate of Arsenals, the plant of the former TAMSE in Boulogne. As reported by the Defensa site, the Argentine Army is a former customer of Mercedes-Benz. The idea is that the Zetros can replace, in a gradual way, the current fleet of Unimog and MB 1114.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Daimler Trucks at a Glance" (PDF). Daimler. 2012. p. 25. Retrieved 25 April 2012. [permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Transportable". The New Zetros. Mercedes Benz. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Zetros eBooklet - Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks World". Zetros eBooklet - Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks World. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Zetros 8x8 TA". 19 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Mercedes' Middle Eastern Monster Mover—the Zetros 6x6 gets down to work on Biglorryblog!". Biglorryblog. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  6. ^ Don't say Zetros say Secutor! The latest Mercedes agricultural monster mover on Biglorryblog! - Truckanddriver.co.uk
  7. ^ "Algerian factory unveils new locally assembled truck for Algerian military". Defence Web. 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  8. ^ Binnie, Jeremy (4 July 2017). "Algeria displays locally developed self-propelled artillery". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Армията се сдоби с Zetros". Bulgarian Transport Press (in Bulgarian) (4). 29 January 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  10. ^ Dikov, Ivan (6 January 2012). "The Bulgaria 2011 Review: Defense". Novinite Sofia News Agency. Sofia. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  11. ^ Porfilio, Gabriel (30 August 2017). "Chile to purchase more than 300 Mercedes Benz trucks". IHS Jane's 360. Orlando. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Tuliterät maastokuorma-autot kuljettavat räjähteitä mutta myös ihmisiä - Ruotuväki". ruotuvaki.fi (in Finnish). 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  13. ^ Wilke, Ralf (25 November 2013). "Geschützter Transportraum" [Protected transportation space] (in German). Streitkräftebasis. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Germany gives 126 Mercedes-Benz vehicles as aid to Jordan | ConstructionWeekOnline.com". Archived from the original on 25 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Germany delivers Jordan €18 million in military equipment | DW | 14.01.2018". Deutsche Welle.
  16. ^ https://kam.lt/en/heavy-duty-trucks-to-enter-service-with-the-lithuanian-armed-forces/ [bare URL]
  17. ^ "Lietuvos kariuomenėje bus naudojami didelės galios vilkikai". kariuomene.kam.lt (in Lithuanian). 26 November 2019.
  18. ^ Vilnius, Made in (8 May 2023). "Kariuomenė perka daugiau nei 370 sunkvežimių". MadeinVilnius.lt - Vilniaus naujienų dienoraštis (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Lithuanian military to buy 371 trucks for €216m". lrt.lt. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Nowe zestawy transportowe dostarczone. Przewiozą polskie czołgi [ANALIZA]". Defence24 (in Polish). 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Turkey could deploy local-made air defense missile systems HISAR-A and HISAR-O in Syria | March 2020 News Defense Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year". 8 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Military support for Ukraine". Bundesregierung. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  23. ^ https://defence-blog.com/canada-invests-2-58-billion-in-new-logistics-vehicles/ [bare URL]
  24. ^ "Mercedes-Benz presentó el Zetros en el Ejército Argentino". 19 July 2016.
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