Canadian Department of National Defence Adds More Mercedes G Wagons to Armed Forces

Canadian Forces to Decommission Aging Fleet of Bombardier-Made Iltis Light Utility Vehicles

"Oh Lord, wont you buy me a Mercedes-Benz..." is a song Canadian ground troops are rumored to have been singing to their Department of National Defence (DND) leaders in recent years, having had to endure the less than optimal Bombardier-made fleet of Iltis light utility vehicles.

And Canadas DND has obviously warmed to the merits of Mercedes-Benz G Wagon (otherwise know as Gelaendewagen, Gelandewagen, or G-Class, the latter in civilian trim) off-roader in exercising its option to purchase an additional $81-million worth of the light duty 4x4s and 20 Armour Protection System (APS) kits for the Canadian Forces (CF), totaling 357 units.

According to a press release distributed by Mercedes-Benz Canada, the new LUVW-SMP (Light Utility Vehicle, Wheeled - Standard Military Pattern) G Wagon wont reportedly cost Canadian taxpayers anything over the long run, but in fact will "result in a potential cost savings of approximately $3.2 million annually."

While sold as the G500 and G55 to wealthy, trend-setting luxury buyers, the Gelaendewagen was never intended to be the pinnacle of SUV one-upmanship at its inception. It was designed for military purposes decades ago. Thats why its design appears so "Swiss Army" functional and so anachronistic. The G Wagon has continued forward with only minor styling tweaks since its inception in 1979.

For a bit more history, the G designation was first introduced in 1926 as the G1, and served the German military from this point throughout World War II and on in various guises, starting with the first G1, and then followed by the G2, G3, G4, G5, and so on until this day. A G4 model with chassis number 440875, equipped with leather seats, was assigned to the Fuehrer himself.

The current Gelaendewagens development program began in 1972 with a cooperative agreement between then Daimler-Benz (now DaimlerChrysler) and Austrias Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Series production was given the go ahead in 1975, as was the construction of a new plant in Graz, Austria where the G is still built today.

Despite the vehicles age, it is still an integral asset to various countries military ground operations in locations around the world.

"The versatile G Wagon has been an important element in soldiers being able to conduct operations in Operation ATHENA and in helping our soldiers gain the trust and respect of the people of Afghanistan," said General Ray Henault, Chief of the Canadian Defence Staff. "The G Wagon will contribute to the Land Forces requirement to conduct sustained, effective combat and support operations, and meet the peacetime training requirement."

Approximately 1,900 Canadian Armed Forces personnel are in Kabul as part of Op ATHENA, Canadas contribution to the ISAF (initially the International Stabilization Assistance Force currently referred to as the International Security Assistance Force). According to the Canadian Department of National Defence, "Through their continued patrols, they maintain security in Kabul and the surrounding areas so that the Afghan Transitional Authority and UN agencies can function."

Canadian Armed Forces personnel became the largest component of the 4,400-person ISAF Kabul Multinational Brigade in August of last year, at 1,900 or about 40 percent of the brigades troops. In comparison, the U.S. has deployed some 9,000 combat troops in Afghanistan. Only 110 of the U.S. troops are used for ISAF "peacekeeping" roles, however, but rather the majority of U.S. forces have been heading up search-and-destroy operations against armed Afghan militias opposed to the occupation.

Ottawa (Canadas capital) initially announced that it would provide Afghanistan with close to $150 million in assistance for 2003, making the Central Asian country the largest single recipient of Canadian foreign aid. By contrast, the U.S. has pledged $900 million to Afghanistan for reconstruction aid.

Canada will hand over command of ISAFs Kabul headquarters in August of this year, pulling out approximately 1,500 of the 2,000 troops it now has in Afghanistan.

Only last year Canadas Department of National Defence awarded a $130 million contract to Mercedes-Benz Canada for 802 G Wagons and 150 Armour Protection Systems. Part of the 2003 contract was an option to purchase additional Gelaendewagens, which the Canadian Armed Forces has just exercised. This brings the total number of G Wagons in Canadas military to 1,159.

The new allotment of 357 G Wagons will replace Cougar direct fire support vehicles and aging Iltis light utility vehicles. Volkswagen also makes a version of the Iltis, being employed in Afghanistan.

While Cougars are more tank-like than G Wagons, for specific purposes the Mercedes-Benz SUV will provide adequate armor protection and greater reliability and maneuverability, among other things the most obvious being aging.

With regards the Iltis, however, age isnt its only problem. The Canadian military has experienced specific incidents where it hasnt measured up to the needs of ground troops in battle, having become especially apparent during ISAF deployment in Afghanistan.

While reports on the subject have been confusing at best, those knowledgeable have stated that the Iltis, which is not an armored vehicle other than "blast blankets" fitted to Canadian Forces version meant to absorb the blast and associated debris from small landmines, suffers from insufficient power for high elevations, poor mechanical reliability, and is not as safe for soldiers as the G Wagon due to its open-top design.

An enclosed G Wagon with its Armour Protection System (APS) kit most likely would have protected Canadian Cpl Jamie Murphy during a Taliban suicide bomber attack on January 27, 2004, in which he was killed, according to military analysts. In addition, Sgt Robert Short and Cpl Robbie Beerenfenger died while three other members of 3RCR were injured during an October 2003 attack of two Iltis vehicles on patrol 2.2 miles outside of Kabul. They endured a blast of a large landmine, which reported could have been prevented if they were riding in an armored vehicle.

Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world due to landmines left over from the Central Asian countrys 23 years of war. Landmines still claim more than 100 victims per month, some of which have been soldiers.

Due to the Iltis many problems, reports say that it has lost the confidence of the troops entirely. With CF ISAF involvement drawing to a close, the Iltis fleet is reportedly to be removed from duty.

Incidentally, the Canadian military also uses Mercedes-Benz Unimogs (Mogs) for ambulances, and other applications. The rugged 4-wheel drive vehicles are considered by many to be among the best off-road vehicles in existence.

The new G Wagons will be put into service by Reserve Armour units and Regular Force Infantry Reconnaissance Platoons across Canada.