SHAH ALAM: The Army is getting more mortar carriers, seven tonne cargo trucks, tactical bridges and sapper vehicles based on the latest round of tenders published on Eperolehan website.
The number of mortar carrier vehicles being sought is 18, much lower than the previous numbers.
There is a requirement to equip Infantry Mortar Platoon with mortar
transporter. It shall provide Infantry Mortar Platoon with mobility in
operations to provide close and immediate indirect fire support for
manoeuvre companies or battalion, in any phase of battle and type of
terrain. The vehicle shall have good endurance to operate in rough
terrain and in built up area. It also shall be able to provide mobility
platform and protection for the crews. The vehicle shall be reliable to
perform in offensive and defensive operations.
It is interesting to note that the latest tender only calls for the procurement of the mortar transporter without the 81mm mortar and its fire control system which was done through a tender in 2019. The number sought in 2019 was 72 transporters and its 81mm mortars and fire control system. The actual mortars and transporters ordered is 132 units as the Army had increased the order after the LOA was awarded.
As for the seven-tonne GS cargo trucks, the number being sought is thirty, the highest number so far since I have been tracking the tenders for such vehicles. The public specifications:
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE MALAYSIAN ARMY TO ACQUIRE SC UNITS WITH HIGHER TONNAGE LOGISTIC VEHICLE. THIS IS TO MEET THE CONTEMPORARY ARMY LOGISTICS REQUIREMENT.
As for the sapper or forward repair vehicles (FRV), the number being sought is 21. Although the details are sparse, I believe the vehicles being sought are a four-crew truck, capable of conducting repairs on vehicles and tow them away, if necessary. The current FRV is the Land Rover Defender or a Hilux derivative.
The FRV is required to carry a team of four REME technicians with all the essential repair tools and equipment to perform in-situ repairs effectively during field EME deployment.
Do note that tender notices stated that the three vehicles mentioned here are support vehicles, which made them part of the 733 being sought by the Army this year.
As for the Army main asset procurement, there are two currently being sought via Eperolehan. One is tactical bridges and the other is laser range finder.
The number of tactical bridges is two and based on the specifications published it is the CNIM Motorised Floating Bridge (MFB), already in service with 4 Skn Rejimen Jurutera Diraja (Jambatan) headquartered at the Sirajudin Camp in Gemas, Negri Sembilan. I believed the rejimen is operating two MFB, which means the old or new ones will be operated by another regiment with the Eastern Field Command either in Sabah or Sarawak.
The public specifications:
In order for the Royal Engineer Regiment (RER)
to perform its role in the war of assisting the Malaysian
Army to move across wet gaps, it shall be equipped with
a tactical bridge and ferry system. The required tactical
bridge shall be in a form that can be launched,
assembled, retrieved, and move easily and quickly; as to
allow for the momentum of mobility to be maintained in
all phases of the war.It shall be constructed into any of
the following deployment: One (1)
floating bridge of not less than
100m that had a capacity not less
than Military Load Class (MLC)
80. Two (2) or more separate
heavy rafts that had a capacity
not less than MLC 90
The tender for the tactical bridges will close on August 1 as it was first published on July 1. As for the laser range finder, the number being sought is 75.
PEROLEHAN MEMBEKAL DAN MENGHANTAR LASER RANGE FINDER (LRF) UNTUK TENTERA DARAT – PERALATAN DAN ASET
UTAMA TD 2024
There is a requirement to equip the Infantry unit with a Pocket Laser Range Finder that provides pin point target sighting with instant target range readout for operators during their mission.
— Malaysian Defence
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“latest tender only calls for the procurement of the mortar transporter without the 81mm mortar”
Likely its replacing some of existing trucks that are worn/badly damaged.
sapper or forward repair vehicles (FRV)
urgh I thought its for combat engineers but actually its for chief mechanics daa…got excited by the title “sapper vehicle”.
They are all engineers, the sappers in infantry units part of the Kompeni Bantuan – platun rintis serang – are usually not vehicle borne unless they are in mechanised or armour units.
Something very useful to have but obviously not a priority for now are armoured bulldozers. The Israelis have been using them for years; usually at the head of columns during incursions in the West Bank and Gaza. Armoured Caterpillars which have been heavily modified. The Iraqis also received some Caterpillars which came in useful during urban ops against IS; although these were not as heavily modified as the Israeli of ones.Bulldozers also came in very handy during the fight in Marawi; to clear IEDs, clear rubble and other things.
The first pair of CNM bridges or motorised pontoons were ordered in 2002; the same period we bought the CB-90 Vickers bridges. “Sapper” is a term also used for engineers; combat engineers. The Germans in WW2 refers to their combat engineers as “pioneers”.
I dont think i can be that armored dozer driver, all alone manuevering ahead of the column, the other side throws everthing at you but you cant shoot back.
nimitz – ”I dont think i can be that armored dozer driver”
It’s very well protected. Some even have a APS. Also, they are escorted.