Liebherr-Werk Ehingen, the world’s market-leader for mobile cranes, uses its vast experience for designing special equipment for military purposes. These cranes are in demand from various armies, air forces and navies worldwide; they have proved themselves all over the world with repair, resupply and engineering units. In 2017, Liebherr- Werk Ehingen received an order from the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to deliver a total of 71 armoured cranes.
The order comprises the delivery of 33 armoured recovery cranes with model name G-BKF, and 38 G-LTM 1090-4.2 mobile cranes. These are 90t-class telescopic cranes that also feature armoured driver’s cabins and armoured crane cabins.
The G-BKF is an armoured recovery crane on a four-axle mobile crane chassis. It has excellent off-road capability and great manoeuvrability. The use of Liebherr’s own D946TI diesel engine, which can reach 400kW (544bhp) with the ZF TC Tronic gearbox with converter and 12 forward gears and two reverse gears, provides plenty of power for towing operations.
The G-BKF can be used flexibly and economically since it is equipped to hoist loads and also to recover vehicles. A 20.9m telescopic boom enables the G-BKF to handle loads of up to 20t quickly and precisely. Its two recovery winches and towing device at the rear enable it to recover a wide range of vehicles. The G-BKF is designed to be able to rescue and tow the new generation of armoured control and command vehicles, armoured transport vehicles, MULTI FSA (swap body vehicles) and wheeled vehicles that are currently in use while operating personnel are being guarded.
The G-BKF is also capable of providing tactical infantry cover over long distances, providing repair and handling support, and rescue, recovery and emergency-aid deployments.
Passanger protection on the move
The company’s G-LTM 1090-4.2 is an armoured mobile crane on a four-axle all-terrain chassis. It has excellent off-road capability and great manoeuvrability. The G-LTM 1090-4.2 is a flexible mobile crane with a powerful 35.7m telescopic boom. It can handle loads up to 36.6t quickly and precisely.
The all-terrain chassis of the G-LTM 1090-4.2 features the very latest chassis and powertrain technology to provide excellent handling, even on difficult terrain. A six-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine in the undercarriage, which develops 330kW and torque of 2,335nm, provides the LTM 1090-4.2 with all the power it needs. For passenger protection, the G-LTM 1090-4.2 is equipped with an armoured driver’s cabin as well as an armoured crane cabin.
High passenger protection requirements
The focus when the order was placed was on the protection of passengers. To meet the high requirements in this respect, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen worked with Rheinmetall, the leading European supplier of military equipment, on the armoured driver’s cabins and armoured crane cabins. The driver’s cabins protect the crew from ballistic, mine and IED threats and also feature an NBC ventilation system.
The superstructure cabins protect the crane driver from ballistic threats during crane operations. The two cabins are identical for the G-LTM and G-BKF vehicles.
