In part two of a comprehensive study by Craig Watson, the Perentie Story continues – developing the 6x6 Land Rover
Land Rover Australia was aware that the army was in the process of evaluating its need to replace its road fleet, thanks to the army staff requirement for lightweight and light trucks being released by the Department of Defence in February 1981.
Of particular interest to Land Rover was its current in-service fleet of lightweight (one-tonne payload) vehicles, as well as an anticipated need for a light cross-country vehicle with twotonne payload.
However, from a logistical and political standpoint, the vehicles had to be assembled in Australia, with as much local content as possible. It was also necessary that the vehicles be based on those currently available to the civilian market, rather than purpose-built military ‘prototypes’.
“A detailed market survey identified a small but definite requirement for a specialised crosscountry vehicle with a payload of around three tonnes, and a tray area of around 7m-squared”, Ray Habgood, chief project engineer, explained.
A number of options were examined, including: reviving the British military 101 forward control; using the Spanish-built Santana for…
