The Unimog U 5023 at the Kiel Regional Branch of the German Red Cross.
When the weather turns unpredictable and other vehicles reach their limits, that’s when the all-rounder comes into its own. The Kiel branch of the German Red Cross (DRK) relies on a Unimog U 5023 for civil protection.
No mud is too deep.
There are operations that place heavy demands on both personnel and equipment. Take the Wacken Festival in 2025, for example. Deep pools of mud on the site posed a major obstacle for the emergency services. But where conventional rescue vehicles reached their limits, the Unimog U 5023 demonstrated its strengths: thanks to its tyre pressure control system, portal axles and differential locks, it was always able to navigate the terrain with ease.
The benefits for patient care were immediately apparent: the rescue vehicle confidently ploughed its way through the deep mud and reached patients even in places where other vehicles had long since become stuck. This meant that patients could be transported gently in the vehicle without having to be carried by the emergency services over long distances.
Tailored to exceptional circumstances.
The Unimog is owned by the Plön District Civil Protection Service and is manned by volunteers from the Heikendorf branch of the German Red Cross. The primary role of this all-rounder on wheels is precisely where conventional rescue vehicles fall short. It is designed for exceptional natural events such as high water, flooding or storm damage – situations in which normal vehicles can no longer get through.
Furthermore, the vehicle complements the regular ambulance service, for example when providing support at marathons. There, the Unimog proves its worth on rough forest tracks that are impassable for a standard ambulance or emergency vehicle due to a lack of ground clearance and insufficient approach angles.
Lessons from the Ahr Valley.
Operational experience shapes the equipment. With the new Unimog U 5023, the German Red Cross (DRK) is modernising its fleet whilst at the same time retiring a historic predecessor: a Unimog U 416 dating from 1981. There are sound reasons why, after four decades, the choice has once again fallen on a Unimog. In addition to the proven reliability of its predecessor, it was above all the profound impressions gained by the Kiel unit during the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley that significantly influenced this decision.
The bodywork is designed in accordance with the DIN EN 1789 Type C standard. This means that the Unimog is equipped like a standard ambulance and, in practice, handles patient treatment and transport during operations.
Equipment for emergencies.
The list of specifications is long and tailored to the rigours of everyday operation: suspension seats on both sides, hydraulics for the Werner front cable winch, auxiliary heating and air conditioning. However, three technical features stand out in particular in an emergency. The tyre pressure regulation system plays a key role, allowing the crew to adjust tyre pressure from inside the cab to suit different ground conditions. The resulting increase in the tyres’ contact area leads to noticeably better traction.
This is complemented by special axles sealed for use in muddy conditions, which prevent dirt and water from entering. Another often underestimated detail with a major impact is the automatic circuit breakers. In the event of an overload or a short circuit, they automatically disconnect the circuit to protect the on-board electronics. Once the fault has been rectified, they can be easily reset manually in a single step. This means that, in the event of a disaster, emergency services do not need to fit vehicle plug fuses.
Enthusiasm within the team.
To ensure the vehicle can be operated safely during missions, there are usually two crew members on board; there is space for a maximum of four. The German Red Cross (DRK) ensures operational readiness through targeted road and off-road driving training, as well as thorough technical training.
Feedback from the crew has been consistently positive. The DRK Kiel has a clear vision for its Unimog U 5023 in the coming years: it is to remain the reliable vehicle for exceptional situations. A promise it has already fulfilled in the muddy conditions at Wacken.
