Land Rover Perentie

Australian special forces in Afghanistan during 2009 operating heavily modified Land Rover Long Range Patrol Vehicles

The Land Rover Perentie is a nickname for the Land Rover 110 produced by JRA Limited for the Australian Army, and part manufactured and assembled in Moorebank, New South Wales, during the 1980s and 1990s. The Perentie was based on the Land Rover Defender 110, and was introduced in 1987 to replace the ageing fleet of Series 2A and 3 Land Rover. The Land Rover Perenties were produced in 4 x 4 and 6 x 6 variants and powered by an Isuzu 3.9-litre four-cylinder 4BD1 diesel engine or 4BD1-T turbo (see List of Isuzu engines), and has proven itself both in Australia and on operations overseas, including in Somalia, Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The major differences between the Land Rover Perentie and British Land Rovers is a widened rear chassis due to the relocation of the spare wheel to a position under the rear of the load area, a galvanised chassis and the Isuzu engine, which was also commonly used in the 1980s on Australian-built long-wheelbase civilian versions of the Series and Defender Land Rovers. The 6 x 6 version has a wider cab and load sharing leaf-sprung rear axles. The 6 x 6 also has a turbocharger. The original order was for 2,500 4 x 4 and 400 6 x 6 vehicles between 1987 and 1990, while further vehicles were later added under Project Bushranger.

The name Perentie originates from Land Rover's successful tender to Project Perentie, which was the official Australian Army trial to select new 1 and 2-tonne light vehicles. During the Project Perentie trials the Land Rover/Isuzu 110 and 6 x 6 variants were compared against the Jeep AM10, the Mercedes-Benz 300GD and the Unimog, while the Toyota Landcruiser was evaluated two years later. The origins of the name comes from the Perentie (Varanus giganteus) lizard species, which is the largest goanna lizard native to Australia.

As of February 2013 the Perenties are being disposed of, with the remaining in-service units being replaced by Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons under Project Land 121.

Variants

4X4 Variants

A retired 1989 Land Rover Perentie 4X4

• Truck, Utility, Lightweight, MC2 (Mobility Category 2) (1222 Vehicles)
• Truck, Utility, Lightweight, Winch, MC2 (314 Vehicles)
• Truck, Utility, Lightweight, FFR (Fitted For Radio), MC2 (964 Vehicles)
• Truck, Utility, Lightweight, FFR, Winch, MC2 (208 Vehicles)
• Truck, Panel, Lightweight, Survey, FFR, Winch, MC2 (35 Vehicles)
• Truck, Carryall, Lightweight, Senior Commander, FFR, Winch, MC2 (11 Vehicles)
• Truck, Carryall, Lightweight, Personnel Carrier, MC2 (38 Vehicles)
• Truck, Surveillance, Lightweight, Winch, MC2 (RFSV, Regional Forces Surveillance Vehicle) (231 Vehicles)

6X6 Variants

RACMP providing escort to a Land Rover 6 x 6

• Truck, Cargo, Light, MC2 (215 Vehicles)
• Truck, Cargo, Light, Winch, MC2 (32 Vehicles)
• Truck, Ambulance, 4 Litter, FFR, Winch, MC2 (94 Vehicles)
• Truck, General Maintenance, Light, Winch, MC2 (GMV) (181 Vehicles)
• Truck, Electronic Repair, Light, MC2 (ERV) (40 Vehicles) and Truck, Comsec Repair Workshop *Vehicle, Light, MC2 (12 Vehicles)
• Truck, Long Range Patrol, Light, Winch, MC2 (LRPV) (27 Vehicles)
• Truck, Air Defence, Light, FFR, Winch, MC2 (72 Vehicles)
• Truck, Crew Cab, Light, Winch, MC2 (26 Vehicles)
• Truck, Infantry Improvised Mobility Vehicle, MC2 (number unknown)

See also

• Land Rover
• Land Rover Wolf
• Land Rover Defender
• Australian Army

External links

• http://www.4wdonline.com/Perentie/Perentie.html
• http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~lloyd/tildeLand-Rover/Perentie/
• http://www.allisons.org/ll/4/LandRover/Perentie/