DraWa Pflasterhirsch

The **DraWa Pflasterhirsch** is an Armoured Car in service with the Armed Forces of the Principality since 2010. The vehicle was developed and produced by the Sarroxewer Panzerschmieden in cooperation with HMW.

Although it carries the designation Dragonerwagen, is thus seen as an APC, the vehicle is more of a heavy MRAP. The vehicle is designed as a basic transport vehicle for infantry in dangerous rural or urban environments no matter the outside conditions. It is designed for policing and peacekeeping operations, not aggressive invasions.

*Pflasterhirsch* is a slang term referring to a horse used in urban environments.

## Design

The DraWa Pflasterhirsch is a 16 ton heavy, 7.3 metres long, 1.8 metres wide and 2.4 metres tall 8x8 vehicle based on a truck by the Hammacker Motorenwerke. All eight armoured wheels, hanging on independent hydropneumatic suspensions, are drive wheels, while the two front axles and the rearmost axle are the steering axles. This gives the DraWa Pflasterhirsch unparalleled mobility even in confined spaces. To ensure the continued mobility of the DraWa Pflasterhirsch, a central tyre pressure control system ensures, that the driver can always adjust the tyre pressure to the needs of the surface he is driving upon, while run flat inserts ensure, that even shot up wheels can bring the vehicle to the next repair shop - where said tyres can be easily replaced.

One of the most important concerns during development was the vehicles stability, as rollovers would be counter-productive. In response, the center of gravity was moved down, the air conditioning unit and filter system, integral to the NBC-protection, moved between the bottom and the v-shaped bottom armour, which is designed to take the blasts from IEDs and mines. Generally, the DraWa Pflasterhirsch is armoured to the standards of the STANAG 4569 Level III+, although additional armour, including explosive reactive armour, can be applied additionally and relatively easily. Furthermore, the DraWa Pflasterhirsch can be equipped with up to eight smoke grenade launchers.

The DraWa Pflasterhirsch is a hardy and reliable vehicle. It's mechanical transmission ensures easy maintenance, while both steering and suspension have mechanical backups. The ABS can be turned off by the driver if he requires it. The DraWa Pflasterhirsch can cross wide trenches, or easily drive through them, and ford rivers to a depth of 1.5 metres without any prior preparation. The installation of a swim kit allows to cross rivers deeper then that. Slopes of up to 50 degrees pose little issue.

The DraWa Pflasterhirsch, in its standard version, is armed with two SPS-109 Remote Weapons Stations, which can be equipped with light or heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and similar weapons at the user's discretion. Both stations come with infrared, night vision and normal view cameras, in addition to the rear view camera and the two side view cameras. Both stations can be controlled by the person on the passenger seat or by one of the people in the troop compartment, should it be chosen so. Additionally, the sides of the vehicke, as well as its back, are lined with firing ports, through which the mounted infantry can use their personal weapons. The corresponding armoured windows can be used by the crew to enhance the 360 degree view around the vehicle. Depending on the variant, this armament changes (for example, the Pflasterhirsch-Ambulanz, a medical vehicle, is unarmed).

### Variants

* Pflasterhirsch-Ambulanz: MedEvac-Vehicle.
* Pflasterhirsch-Fürst: Command Vehicle.
* Pflasterhirsch-Mörser: Mortar-Vehicle, 120mm automatic mortar
* Pflasterhirsch-Seuche: NBC-Recon Vehicle.
* Pflasterhirsch-Baumeister: Armoured Engineering Vehicle.
* Pflasterhirsch-Schlitten: Armoured Recovery Vehicle.
* Pflasterhirsch-Gryffe: short-range anti-air vehicle.
* Pflasterhirsch-Nest: Drone-launcher and controller.
* Pflasterhirsch-Wißent: SIGINT
* Pflasterhirsch-Waldkatz: EW
* Pflasterhirsch-Wasserratte: Readiness Police Vehicle with anti-riot water gun.

## History

### With the Police of the Principality

The DraWa Pflasterhirsch was also adopted by the Police of the Principality and is in active use with the Police Special Operations Units. The Readiness Polices have several vehicles with anti-riot water guns at the ready. In 2022, three vehicles of the Police were handed over to the Port Monee Space Port Security.

### Export

In 2018, the Sarroxewer Panzerschmieden began to offer the DraWa Pflasterhirsch for export at one million NSD per standard vehicle.