Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RMMV) has donated a highly mobile HX 6×6 truck to the local group of the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) in Cuxhaven, northern Germany. The official handover of the keys took place on November 21, 2024, at the DLRG site near the North Sea coast, marking a significant contribution to the region’s flood rescue efforts.
The second-hand HX 6×6 truck was thoroughly overhauled by RMMV to meet the specific needs of the DLRG. It was painted white and fitted with a tarp frame structure, making it ideal for transporting sandbags and other materials during rescue missions. With its impressive fording capability of 1.5 meters, the truck is particularly well-suited for use in flooded areas or challenging terrains.
Michael Wittlinger, Chairman of the Board at RMMV, said, “We help those who help us – wholeheartedly. Our vehicles have proven their efficiency in the most demanding tasks in the armed forces. The DLRG also faces difficult challenges. That’s why we are pleased to support the water rescue service with our robust, mobile and fording trucks.”
With a fording depth of 1.5 metres, the truck is ideal for use in difficult terrain or in flooded areas. This included large parts of Lower Saxony during the ‘Christmas floods’ in 2023/2024. A round roof hatch allows the crew an excellent 360-degree view and provides an additional entry and exit option. The HXs are suitable for a wide range of transport tasks at the DLRG. The donated vehicle will be used by the Cuxhaven local group.
In Germany, various flood disasters have occurred in recent years; this was one of the reasons why Rheinmetall MAN decided to donate the truck. In June 2022, the company donated two HX vehicles for civil defence and disaster protection to the Technical Support Organisation (THW).
The HX family from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles is one of the most widely used commercial vehicles for military and security agencies. More than 20,000 units are in service worldwide. As a ‘military-off-the-shelf vehicle family’, the trucks are consistently designed for sturdiness, mobility, ergonomics and modularity – a unique selling feature in the industry. Many of these vehicles have proven themselves worldwide in disaster protection and aid operations, including the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley in 2021, bush fires in Australia and the floods in New Zealand.
