🇿🇦The French Man That Went To Africa | Eland Armoured Car - AKA the 'Noddy Car'

Funny story from my time in the mechanized infantry in 1987: The Eland 90 crews and the Ratel 90 crews used the same shooting range when training at Tempe military base in Bloemfontein. You could easily tell who was a new Eland gunner versus a new Ratel gunner by the Eland gunners often having a bruised and blackened right eye. It turned out that having such a large gun on such a small vehicle meant that the Eland would buck like a bronco when the gun was fired. If the gunner still had his eye against the telescopic sight when this happened he was invariably rewarded with a black eye. He would quickly learn to keep his face back from the gun-sight when hitting the fire button. In contrast the Ratel 90 was a much heavier vehicle and didn't jump nearly as much when the gun went off. Luckily for me I was a gunner on the Ratel 90. Blowing stuff up with 90mm high explosive shells almost made the shitty pay worth it. Almost.

Enjoyed the content as usual however given the name of your video and the fact that I’m a blind subscriber I would very much enjoy a little more description of the vehicle being outlined big ask I know thanks anyway cheers

South Africa pre-2000 did have some sophisticated defense industry. Please cover on the South Africa's G series self propelled howitzer

I would love to see more South African content and being Afrikaans myself I wouldn't mind helping with pronunciation.

I was a gunner in an Eland 90 during Operation Savannah. It was very effective against the enemy and did more than what it was designed to do. The main problem that we had with them was getting stuck in the mud. It has a proud history

A friend of mine crewed one of these with the South African Army he said that when you fired the main gun it shook like a fat girl doing the twist.

Fantastic little beast. it was an incredible companion in establishing Forward Fire Control Posts for heavy artillery. Tracking and destroying or suppression fire during counter insurgency missions within South African borders during the late 80's and early 90's, it was amazing. as you stated, retiring this very African adapted, mobile, lightweight boxer, with a big punch, was a massive mistake by the new SANDF. Fond memories, from a former 155mm Artillery FCO and FOP

i was a driver too these elands in 1987 i know this vehicle very well have 100's of hrs in them great experience...!

The "Noddy Car"! Extremely uncomfortable but very reliable

The orinal Panhard AML had a flat four air-cooled engine with an electromagnetic clutch. The air-cooled engine did not perform well in African conditions.The back of the vechile sloped downward. The square back end came with the conversion to the 2.5 l GM motor. The drainage plug under the driver seat was also removed and welded closed as these plugs blew upward during a mine blast.

Splendid little vehicle. Thanks!

This was cool, I grew up seeing them In South Africa thou it was the period of transition in the late 80's, early 90's. Did not know they were such an intricate part of the border war. Unfortunately there will not be a resurrection of this vehicle as our country faces much larger problems that no amount of defense spending will fix. Also, there is a lot of Rooikats that were made that is still in use.

One of the coolest cold war vehicles

I really enjoy the inclusion of War Thunder footage for videos where it's beneficial. However, please, make the footage more cinematic and carefully crafted. As a player of WT and a viewer here I can tell that not much effort was put in to making satisfying b-roll. Lots of jumpy camera movement, running into the rock in the first bit, etc. I'm willing to help if desired!

Versatile movements by the legendary Eland.

I always wondered what would happen if you put a tank turret on a car

Aaah, the ol' Noddy kar! Min dae rower!

My father was a gunner of the Eland 60 one of the best in his unit back in 1984

Thank you for doing africa 😢😢❤

My favorite armored tank car