dieseltaylor Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 I am reading G N Georgano's book: "WW2 Military Vehicles Transports and Halftracks" 1994 Which is quite fascinating. The wonderful German halftracks that were a bugger to maintain properly and required special steels for the running gear for instance. The torque side comes because he talks of the legendary Matador truck/lorry which was designed as a Medium Artillery Tractor. It had a diesel engine of 7.58 litres 6 cylinders and gave 95bhp [ less than half the BHP of my car]. It was a 4x4 and was legendary because of its towing ability. On page 53 he recounts how one once tow-started a SHerman on a rough steep slope. An another occasion whilst carrying a jeep and towing 3 ton 4x4 truck one came across a 6x6 fuelling which had burnt out its clutch pulling another 6x6. The Matador hitched those to its train and pulled all three through the Bulli Pass in NSW and down 50 miles to Sydney. Impressive. The book is a goldmine for the major Western Front forces and includes a picture of the well-known Hexonaut 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie_Oz Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 and includes a picture of the well-known Hexonaut Yeh! I've ... heard ... of .. that .. one ??????? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/humber/1940-humber-hexonaut.html There you go. Hexonaut. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 Double take time http://www.gizmag.com/smss-ugvs-headed-for-afghanistan/19452 It crosses my mind you could lose a lot of kit very quickly. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Carabiners are wonderful things. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Affentitten Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Yes. They allow your bag to remain clipped to the Banana Split mobile as it rolls over and crushes your jar of Vegemite. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 It reminds me of the bren carrier, in a way. ISTR that Sydney Jary wrote an article back in the 80's(?) entitled something like "Bring back my carrier," lamenting the loss of a platoon work horse, but I've not been able to find a copy. The Brits have been using COTS ATVs and 4-wheeled motor bikes in Afghanistan for many years now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costard Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Yes. They allow your bag to remain clipped to the Banana Split mobile as it rolls over and crushes your jar of Vegemite. There's always a big can of Milo back at base. You can have a sook about the fly-paste another time. Or did it stain your silk undies? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Why does this have so many bumpers on the front? Are they expecting to be crashing through a lot of walls? Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costard Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Must be heaps of roos out there. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Why does this have so many bumpers on the front? Are they expecting to be crashing through a lot of walls? Michael Well it is "autonomously guided"... Apparently, it can lock onto the visual signature of a trooper and follow them. I wouldn't want to be that trooper when it forgets to stop... Though those bars seem like handy places to grab when you hop on the front of it to avoid being run over. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 http://www.gizmag.com/squad-mission-support-system-set-for-afghanistan/17246/ For a video on the system. A load of waffle really if you consider the cost and what it would be to have a universal carrier with a driver!!! Universal carrier the most built armoured vehicle of the WW2 era : ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Carrier It really does seem insane to be going for such a high-tech unit. The cost has to be huge. How about cheap and low-tech for Petes sake. FEB 2011 There is a T 16 forsale on E Bay Look under track vehicles . It's at $12500 and needs a fair amount of work .In the USA 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Well it is "autonomously guided"... Apparently, it can lock onto the visual signature of a trooper and follow them. That must be amusing in the middle of a contact - throw a quick glance over your shoulder and there's Muley, pepper-potting right along with the rest of the section. Even move amusing would be when you pass a section walking in the opposite direction, and Muley decides to follow them instead. It must suck to get to your night harbour and only then realise Muley is several gridsquares away with 2 Section, who are currently enjoying your carefully hoarded ratpack chocolates. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Emrys Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 How about cheap and low-tech for Petes sake. I've noticed that all arms of the services, once they hear of high-tech want to get in on it even if it makes no sense at all in the particular circumstances. It seems to be largely a matter of "keeping up with the Joneses". Michael 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 It really does seem insane to be going for such a high-tech unit. The cost has to be huge. How about cheap and low-tech for Petes sake. You can see the advantages of the hitech approach: for the same footprint/drivetrain, the vehicle can carry more payload; it can be left behind when a firefight kicks off and nobody has to go back and get it when you've advanced; the troop who would be driving it has better situational awareness and tactical mobility as they're not concerned with the mechanics of controlling it, and not belted into a driver's position; with its self-navigation potential, you could even send it back to base unescorted for supplies . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted August 11, 2011 Author Share Posted August 11, 2011 Yes but that does overlook the comparative costs. Is taking/or adding a man to the squad actually going to cost more? Simple vehicle which actually has more carrying capacity than the mule and is steered by a Mk1 brain so should have much more capability. I am also confused as to where this is meant to be fighting - is it just built for scrubby deserts? Hows it work in paddyfields and jungles, mountainous areas, in built up areas where going off road may be the smart thing to do. So a UC may also be rendered less useful but then it is a hell of a lot cheaper I am sure. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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