Ready when it counts

Floods, evacuations, operations in difficult terrain: For exactly these situations, 66 highly off-road-capable vehicles based on the Unimog U 5025 have been developed. They are intended to assist in civil protection wherever rapid support is needed in crisis situations despite difficult access conditions. Over the course of 2026 they will be delivered in stages to all 66 logistics specialist units in the THW's regional divisions.

In an emergency, above all else it is crucial to reach people. The Unimog U 5025 is therefore specifically designed for demanding operational conditions. It can ford water up to 1,200 mm deep, articulate its axles by up to 500 mm and, thanks to portal axles, offers 480 mm of ground clearance beneath the axle differential. This allows it to get through flooded areas and rough terrain.

The necessary power is provided by a four-cylinder engine of type OM 934 with 252 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque, 21 hp more than in the previous production vehicle.

Things do not always go smoothly off-road. The torsionally flexible frame concept with encapsulated drive shafts is therefore designed for extreme conditions and for operation in water. Together with an engine protection plate, the Unimog can even continue its mission if it bottoms out or makes ground contact in rough terrain.

But help is not only needed off-road: With an overall height of under 3,400 mm the Unimog U 5025 is equally suitable for operations in urban areas.

No two operations are the same. Therefore, the vehicles are designed as a uniform platform that can be adapted to different operational scenarios. Thanks to integrated twistlocks, 10-foot swap bodies can be accommodated on the permanently mounted platform, and with removable sideboards it can be converted into a flatbed.

This ensures that generators, pumps and other operational equipment can be placed exactly where they are needed. Two access ladders make entry easier and can also assist in the rescue of people and animals in an emergency.

Between the cab and the flatbed sits a loading crane from HMF. Four-point supports provide a secure base.

For the journey to the incident site the vehicle is equipped with blue light systems at the front and rear, radio equipment in the cab, a reversing camera, an extensive storage concept, as well as fire extinguishers and protective grilles for the lighting fixtures.

Anyone who sees the THW-blue vehicles recognizes them immediately: a civil protection symbol on the doors identifies them as operational resources of the civil protection service.

The base vehicle of the Unimog U 5025 is produced in Wörth am Rhein. The bodywork was carried out by F&B Nutzfahrzeug-Technik GmbH in the neighbouring Palatine town of Hagenbach. The company is part of the Custom Tailored Trucks network of Daimler Truck and stands for high-quality outfitting and conversions of commercial vehicles bearing the star.

Daniel Zittel, Chief Sales Officer Mercedes‑Benz Special Trucks, emphasizes: "This order underlines how important reliable technology and close cooperation are for civil protection in Germany."

The cooperation is not new: only recently the THW relied heavily on the Mercedes‑Benz Atego. It forms the basis for more than 240 equipment vehicles with special bodywork that support operations during floods, fires and major incidents. 
With the Unimog U 5025, another vehicle is now being added that keeps going even when roads end. All the way to the people who need help.