German Army purchases 71 armoured Liebherr mobile cranes

The German Army has ordered 71 armoured mobile and rescue cranes from Liebherr in an order worth $175m (€150m), with deliveries due to start in H2 2018 and be completed by 2021.

The order consists of 38 G-LTM 1090-4.2 cranes and 33 of the G-BKF recovery cranes – all of which will be fitted with armoured cabins.

The G-LTM 1090-4.2 is derived from the standard 90-tonne capacity LTM 1090-4.2 wheeled mobile telescopic crane, with a 35.7m boom, but equipped with a recovery winch at the rear.

21 of these units will have 22.5 tonnes of counterweight, making them severe-duty mobile cranes, while the remaining 17 units will have 8.4 tonnes of counterweight and be heavy-duty cranes.

The G-BKF is based on a four-axle chassis and is equipped both to lift loads and recover vehicles.

It has a 20.9 metre telescopic boom and can handle loads up to 20 tonnes, and is equipped with two recovery winches and a towing device at the rear help it to recover and tow a wide range of vehicles.

An accompanying container system for transporting the crane equipment is also part of the order.

For the armoured cabins, Liebherr is working with military equipment supplier Rheinmetall.

The driver’s cabins are designed to protect the crew from ballistic, mine and IED explosions, and a nuclear bacteriological and chemical (NBC) ventilation system will also be included.