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The Unibuffel is a mine-protected wheeled
The Unibuffel proved quite successful in the Sri Lankan civil war, it could transport troops through rough terrain with ease, and had good protection, it participated in all Sri Lankan Army operations 2005 onwards.
When Sri Lankan troops joined
MRAP
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP; ) is a term for United States Armed Forces, United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IE ...
Infantry mobility vehicle
An infantry mobility vehicle (IMV) is a wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include the ATF Dingo, Iveco LMV, Oshkosh M-ATV, AMZ Dzik, AMZ Tur, Mungo ESK, and Bushma ...
used by the Sri Lankan military
The Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the overall unified military of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka encompassing the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy, and the Sri Lanka Air Force; they are governed by the Ministry of Defence (Sri Lank ...
, which is an improved version of the Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...
, made by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) ( ''Shri Lanka Viduli Ha Yanthrika Injineru Rejimentuwa'') is a Combat Support corps of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of six regular regiments and one volunteer (reserve) regiment. R ...
.
More than 53 Unibuffels had been manufactured as of 2006.
Production history
Although similar to theSouth Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
n Buffel
The Buffel (English: ''Buffalo'') is an infantry mobility vehicle used by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War. The Buffel was also used as an armoured fighting vehicle and proved itself in this role. It replaced ...
, it is built entirely by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) ( ''Shri Lanka Viduli Ha Yanthrika Injineru Rejimentuwa'') is a Combat Support corps of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of six regular regiments and one volunteer (reserve) regiment. R ...
(SLEME). Initial research and development started in 1997 in an effort to field modernized MRAPs in Sri Lankan military service. First production started in 2000.
In 2019, SLEME began to upgrade Unibuffels with blast shock absorption seats and better protection. In 2020 full Air Conditioning was added to those being sent for UN peacekeeping operations in Mali.
Combat Usage
The Unibuffel proved quite successful in the Sri Lankan civil war, it could transport troops through rough terrain with ease, and had good protection, it participated in all Sri Lankan Army operations 2005 onwards.
When Sri Lankan troops joined United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti
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, leader_title = Head
, leader_name = Sandra Honoré (Special Representative of the Secretary-General)
, status = Replaced by MINUJUSTH
, formation = 1 June 2004
, websiteUN Peacekeeping: MINUSTAH
, 16 Unibuffels was deployed to serve as their APC.
In June, 2020 nine Unibuffels were deployed to Mali under urgent operational requirements for peacekeeping operations
Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Within the United N ...
.
Design
The Unibuffel has an enclosed troop compartment and has gun mounts on the front and back to equip it with machine guns.Camp & Heitman, p. 239 The Typhoon 25mm cannon can also be equipped as a port defense weapon on a flatbed version. Vehicles were powered by a TATA engine which can deal easily with rough terrain. Bulletproof glass was initially imported from China on a needed basis but later versions use glass manufactured by local suppliers.Variants
The variants of the Unibuffel consist of following categories, * Mark I * Mark II * Mark II Improvised Version (Designed and Manufactured for UN Peacekeeping Missions)Operators
* ** **: Known to be used by the Naval Patrolmen. ** ** Special Task Force: 15 Unibuffels handed to the STF.See also
*Unicorn APC
The Unicorn is a MRAP used by the Sri Lankan military based on the Buffel, which is made by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Production history
Initial research into producing a "Blast Protected Vehicle" armoured personnel carri ...
* Avalon MPV
UniAVALON or simply Avalon is a Sri Lankan 6×6 wheeled MRAP-type heavy armored personnel carrier manufactured by Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME).
Design
Avalon is a 6x6 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected/Command vehicle ...
* UniCOLT
UniCOLT is a family of 4x4 military logistical vehicles manufactured by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for use by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
Design
UniCOLT is almost entire locally manufactured with Sri Lankan made part ...
* Unicob
UniCOB simply written as Unicob is a Sri Lankan 4x4 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Infantry mobility vehicle produced by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) ( ' ...
References
Further reading
* Surviving the Ride: A Pictorial History of South African-Manufactured Mine-Protected Vehicles by Steve Camp & Helmoed Römer Heitman {{Modern IFV and APC Wheeled armoured personnel carriers Post–Cold War military equipment of Sri Lanka Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s Vehicles of Sri Lanka