SCAMMELL COMMANDER
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The purpose-built 6x4 Commander is better than previous tank shifters, both in capability and reliability. For starters there's a properly heated/ventilated crew-cab that allows a second driver to rest up. It's a long but safe climb to the driver's fully adjusting sprung Bostrom seat and with so many cab windows there's good all round visibility. Because of its angular GRP bonnet there are decent forward views too.
The Allison six-speed epicyclic. torque converter transmission is a two-pedal, easy shift affair making the Commander simple to drive. Significantly, women service drivers are BOW being deployed in tank transporter crews. Pulling a 65-tonne MBT on its two-axle,16-tyre Fruehauf semi-trailer the 625hp vee-12 Rolls will cruise at nearly 40mph and can scale 1-in-4 (25%) slopes. It can restart on
a 1-in-5 (20%). On rolling downgrades it can be checked using the foot operated retarder.
With six-rod suspension and centrally pivoting rear bogie the hub reduction axles have a firm ride and articulate extremely well in the rough. The 19m rig has a 20-tonne Rotzler winch behind the cab for belly loading a dead tank but the unit can also pull a drawbar trailer or other heavy vehicle casualty using Hollebone tow bars.
In the desert the Commander proved that a 6x4 transporter is more than adequate. However, if better mobility is needed in the future Unipower is ready with a 700hp 8x8 running on large footprint tyres with an 80km/h top speed and the ability to haul 115 tonnes GOAT up 25% gradients at 40km/h. It could be the transporter our armour depends on the campaigns of the 21st century.