Mercedes-Benz Zetros

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 Hercules C-130 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

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

Although normally used as a truck, the Zetros has also been put to work as an off-road tractor unit in the middle east.[4] German company Harald Bruhn also introduced a Zetros-based agricultural trailer truck as the Secutor.[5]

Technical characteristics

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
Map with Zetros operators in blue

Current operators

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.[6] Locally further developed into self-propelled artillery systems using the D-30 and T-12 gun systems.[7]

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.

The Bulgarian army ordered the Zetros in 2009 to transport personnel and supplies.[8] As of 2012, it operates 335 trucks with 30 more on order.[9]

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.[10]

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.

The German army has ordered a total of 110 armoured Zetros vehicles, 72 of which are supposed to serve in logistics units.[11]

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.[12][13]

Unknown quantity acquired in 2019. Mercedes-Benz ZETROS with Mercedes-Benz EMPL platform for PzH 2000 or Bergepanzer 2 transportation[14]

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.

The Finnish Defence Forces have acquired Zetros trucks to replace outdated Sisu Auto vehicles for transportation of both personnel and explosives.[15]

Operated by the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

The Turkish Armed Forces use Zetros as HISAR O+ (surface to air missile system) carrier.[16]

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received 188 (as of September 2023) from Germany for use in Russo-Ukrainian war, with another 62 planned for delivery.[17]

Possible operators

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.[18]

Royal Cambodian Army will purchase 25 Mercedes-Benz Zetros from RMA Cambodia to replace older Ural trucks.

The Canadian Army is currently evaluating the Zetros for their Logistics Vehicle Modernization (LVM) Project. General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, Marshall Canada, Mercedes-Benz (Daimler Trucks), SOFRAME, and Manac Inc. have joined together as The Power Team to develop Canada’s Future Logistics Vehicle as the solution for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) LVM Project.

Based on a NATO-fielded Mercedes-Benz Zetros Truck, this next-gen logistics vehicle offers unlimited capability based on a common chassis for the Tractor in both Heavy and Light configurations. Using the Zetros Truck as the basis for the LVM program solution means the chassis and most of its subsystems, as well as the up-armoured ‘swap-out’ cabins, are all more than 90% common. This means fewer parts, lower training costs, less logistics, and a much lower overall life-cycle cost to Canada than running two completely different fleets. This offering is being led by GDLS-C and Marshall Land Systems under The Power Team banner.[19]

References
  1. "Daimler Trucks at a Glance" (PDF). Daimler. 2012. p. 25. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  2. "Transportable". The New Zetros. Mercedes Benz. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  3. "Zetros eBooklet - Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks World". Zetros eBooklet - Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks World. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. "Mercedes' Middle Eastern Monster Mover—the Zetros 6x6 gets down to work on Biglorryblog!". Biglorryblog. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  5. Don't say Zetros say Secutor! The latest Mercedes agricultural monster mover on Biglorryblog! - Truckanddriver.co.uk
  6. "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.
  7. 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.
  8. "Армията се сдоби с Zetros". Bulgarian Transport Press (in Bulgarian) (4). 29 January 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. "Germany gives 126 Mercedes-Benz vehicles as aid to Jordan | ConstructionWeekOnline.com". Archived from the original on 25 January 2018.
  13. "Germany delivers Jordan €18 million in military equipment | DW | 14.01.2018". Deutsche Welle.
  14. Lietuvos kariuomeneje bus naudojami dideles galios vilkikai kariuomene.kam.lt
  15. "Tuliterät maastokuorma-autot kuljettavat räjähteitä mutta myös ihmisiä - Ruotuväki". ruotuvaki.fi (in Finnish). 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  16. "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".
  17. "Military support for Ukraine". Bundesregierung. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  18. "Mercedes-Benz presentó el Zetros en el Ejército Argentino". 19 July 2016.
  19. "V28-Issue 6-". V28-Issue 6-. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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