We spoke to Vice-Lieutenant Andreas Hämmerle, Chief Training Sergeant for Decontamination, about the advantages and features of the new Mammut decontamination system from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV).
Mr. Vice Lieutenant, what distinguishes the mammoth?
Efficiency and handling! The vehicle technology is completely new compared to our previous vehicles – built in 1988 – and enables new decontamination procedures and more versatile and easier work. As a result, chemical consumption is significantly lower with better results and water consumption for decontaminating people has fallen from 2,500 to 600 liters per hour.
How were the tasks managed before the Mammut was purchased?
In the past, equipment was decontaminated by means of wet decontamination and then disposed of. Contaminated items of clothing were decontaminated in the same way. With the Mammut system, the clothing is now decontaminated using the hot gas/hot steam chamber and can be returned to the troops later. Decontamination can now also be carried out from above using a crane and from below using floor spray nozzles. We did not have this capability with the previous systems.
Does the Mammut drive differently from an ordinary truck?
Despite its total weight of 36 tons, it drives just as well as a 16-tonner thanks to its fully automatic manual gearbox. However, the length of 10.5 meters is noticeable in the bends, where you often have to reverse despite having two steered axles.
Please also read our overview on the features of the Mammut system. Here you can also find further reports on Rheinmetall Defence (international) and here to further reports on Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV).
