Model: Perentie (Regional Force Surveillance Vehicle)
Year: 1991
Location: NSW, 2577
Body Type: Convertible / Light Truck / SUV / Ute
Transmission: Manual
The Perentie Regional Force Surveillance Vehicle is a long range patrol vehicle which was utilised by the units in the Regional Force Surveillance Group (NORFORCE, the Pilbara Regiment and the 51st Bn Far North Queensland Regiment).
Operating in patrols of two surveillance vehicles, sometimes for weeks at a time completely unsupported, these surveillance units are the nation’s eyes and ears in the remotest areas of Australia’s north.
About the Land Rover Perentie
The Perenties were the Australian Defence Force’s specific model of Land Rover vehicle. They were in service beginning in 1988 until they were largely replaced by Mercedes G-Wagens by early 2020. The Perentie Land Rovers were heavily upgraded from the factory with a 2-inch lift, fully galvanised chassis, Isuzu 4BD1 diesel engine and LT95 4-speed gearbox. The Perentie Land Rovers are perhaps most famous in popular culture for the use of a General Service variant by Bush Tucker Man Major Les Hiddins in the first couple of seasons of the “Bush Tucker Man” documentary series of the 1980s and 1990s.
About the Regional Force Surveillance Vehicle
The Regional Force Surveillance Vehicle (RFSV) was in service from 1991 to approximately 2016. Designed from the outset to carry a three-man crew (driver, vehicle commander/navigator, radio operator/gunner) the original version of the RFSV was fitted with power steering and disc brakes all-round. It was able to carry three spare tyres, four fuel jerrycans externally, a hi-lift jack externally, multiple fuel or water jerrycans internally as well as crew equipment, task-specific stores, rations, and even a 200lt drum of diesel lashed down in the cargo bed.
In 2009/2010 most of the RFSV fleet were upgraded with lighter weight bushbar and side rails, side baskets were added for carrying 3 x jerrycans on one side and a hi-lift jack on the other, the rear seat was redesigned, as were the interior rear storage bins and racking. A specialised dual spare wheel carrier was added and the roll cage was redesigned.
About THIS Regional Force Surveillance Vehicle
This RFSV, “Charlie Two Alpha” (its original NORFORCE patrol callsign), was on strength with NORFORCE from 1991 to 2015. It is currently configured as an upgraded, post 2009 RFSV, but it can be provided in a configuration which closely resembles a pre-2009 RFSV simply by unbolting some mission equipment and adding other parts. Note that this car is NOT suitable as a stunt vehicle.
The rear seat and mounts are in storage, ready to be re-installed for your production if required.
In addition to the standard RFSV configuration, the vehicle is currently fitted with some very military-looking CB and amateur radio antennas – HF Outback, HF amateur, UHF CB, VHF amateur and marine. It is also fitted with genuine ADF special forces (SRV-SF variant) brushbar antenna mounts and IR lights (used in-service for driving with night vision equipment). Like the radio antennas, the IR lighting is all functional.
Speaking of special forces vehicle equipment, the vehicle’s spare parts complement includes:
- SRV mission kit side body rails,
- SRV/SRV-SF mission kit doors (half doors with spare wheel carrier on them),
- SRV mission “bikini” 1/4 canvas canopy,
- SRV mission kit blanking panel with passenger seat gun mount base for use with the windscreen panel removed.
- full sized ADF-surplus Barracuda Systems vehicle camouflage net
- SRV shroud or hessian shroud for use under the cam net.
- A full set of 7 correct RFSV/RSV split rims plus brand new (but expired so not road-legal) correct military tyres are available.
- SRV canvas headlight, tail light and numberplate covers
In addition to the vehicle equipment, there are ration boxes and tins, several complete sets of genuine crew webbing, chest rigs and packs available. All are circa 2005-ish to 2016-ish.
I’ll work with your props master and other relevant departments to supply a turnkey vehicle ready to go for the military aspects of your production.
