The high-mobility recovery vehicle with telescopic crane PK 30,000 T (or simply referred to as “PK 30” by the troops) was developed in the early 1980s to replace the aging Gräf & Stift recovery vehicles in service for more than twenty years. The list of requirements included off-road capabilities (thus a 6x6 chassis was selected), high towing capacity (hence the manual transmission with torque converter) and high vehicle weight to ensure adequate grip for heavy towing applications. ÖAF (the “Österreichische Automobil Fabrik”) had by then already been incorporated into the MAN group, so the resulting vehicle was based on the civilian heavy 32-ton 6x6 chassis, and after trials were completed in 1985 the first vehicles were issued to the troops in 1986. The ÖAF type designation 32.281 FDA identifies the vehicle as a Type F8 chassis with 32 tons max. gross weight and 280 HP engine, “Frontlenker-Fahrerhaus” (cabover design), “Diesel-Reihenmotor” (inline diesel engine) and “Allrad” (6x6).
Our PK 30 was originally ear-marked for service with the Austrian contingent of the United Nations in Africa and was thus the only one fitted with an air-conditioned cab. This assignment never came through, the vehicle remained in Austria and after reaching the end of its active service came to us. Over the recent years, most of these recovery vehicles have been retired from active service, thus this type very soon will also be history.
