Scammell Commander

Scammell Commader (VB1580)


Heavy tractor semi-trailer designed together with the VB2773 low loader primarily for the transport of tanks of the Challenger series and, last but not least, other armored vehicles of the British Army.


Development was started in 1976 based on the requirements of the British army. The aim was to develop a semi-trailer capable of transporting armored vehicles weighing up to 60,963 kg (60 tons). By 1978, the first three prototypes of the Commander had been made. Two were powered by a CV-12 TCE engine, the last was used by the American Cummins KTA 600. The winner of the tender was Scammell with its Commander type and low loader manufacturer Crane Fruehauf.


However, the decision to purchase them was made only after lengthy tests in 1982. The sets were introduced into service from the following year. A total of 125 tractors were purchased (reduced to 120 by 1999), replacing the obsolete Thornycroft Antars from the late 1940s, and 117 semi-trailers. The production of tractors lasted until 1985. In the 1990s, they underwent two extensive overhauls, the second was allocated only 81 Commander.


The vehicles were deployed to transport British equipment in preparation for the Gulf War in 1991. During a four-month period, 70 Commaders had an average of 270 km a day on desert roads.


In the second half of the 1990s, the American M1070F with the King GTS110/7 low loader, which had been introduced into the British arsenal since 2002, was selected as the successor to the VB2773 Commander and low-loader in the British Army. A significant part of the decommissioned Commaders, a total of 95 pieces, was then donated to Jordan.




Technical-tactical data
Standby weight: 19,900 kg
Total weight of the set: 104,000 kg


Crew: 1 + 3 passengers


Dimensions:
- length: 9,010 mm
- width: 3 250 mm
- height: 3,500 mm


Configuration: 6 x 4


Wading: 0.76 m


Fuel tank capacity: 817 l


Tires: 14.00 x 24


Power unit:
- Perkins CV-12 TCE, supercharged diesel twelve-cylinder
- maximum power: 625 hp


Transmission:
- Allison CLBT 6061, six-speed


Maximum speed (with low loader): 61 km/h


Driving range:? km




[resources] Resources
1) Swan, R., Fletcher, G .: British Army Transport and Logistics, Ian Allan Ltd., Shepperton, 1991
2) www.military-today.com
3) freespace.virgin.net
4) www.janes.com
5) www.janes.com
6) waffen-der-welt.alices-world.de
7) www.militaryvehicles.cz]

A picture showing Scammell Commander in the Saudi desert during Operation Granby.

Fotografia nákladného automobilu Scammell Commander

Zdroj: http://www.the-antar.co.uk/page2.htm