In it for the long haul
Contract signed for 14 Heavy Tank Transporters

Prime example: The Heavy Tank Transporter, the first of which are due for delivery in October 2006.

By Maj Iain Watt

DMO has signed a contract with MAN Military Vehicle Systems- Australia for the supply of 14 Heavy Tank Transporters (HTT).

The HTTs will be used as part of the Tank Replacement Project (Land 90), to transport the M1A1 Abrams and its heavy recovery vehicle the M88A2. Both the M1A1 AIM tank and M88A2 weigh more than 63 tonnes and are beyond the capacity of the tried and true S-Liner.

The truck that MAN will provide as part of the HTT is a militarised version of the TGA 8x8 prime mover with a 530 horsepower engine, automatic gearbox and a military cooling pack to meet the requirements of long distance haulage of heavy loads.

Stowage for weapons, personal protective equipment, field equipment and CES will be provided.

To make the driver and escort’s life a little more bearable on long trips, the HTT will also be fitted with an air-conditioner, sleeper cab, fridge, CD player and two CB radios.

The business end of the HTT is an expanding deck trailer with dolly converter built by Drake trailers in Brisbane.

It has four rows of eight tyres at the rear of the trailer and a further two rows of eight tyres on the dolly converter.

The trailer can be expanded from 2.5m wide up to 4.27m, depending on the load and weight distribution requirements. The expansion mechanism and ramps are hydraulically operated, with a back-up hand pump. The expanding deck offers the additional benefit of no escort requirements when unladen. The trailer will be fitted with stowage bins for all tie-down equipment and chains.

Although it is primarily designed to transport MBTs and ARVs, the HTT will be capable of carrying a wide range of armoured vehicles and engineering plant and equipment, according to Lt-Col Andrew Libby, Program Manager Tank.

An extensive dealer network will provide the repair and maintenance support, with drivers only responsible for first line operator tasks. ECN 274-2 qualified drivers will need to complete a short conversion course to drive the new vehicles.

“While the M1s and M88s are grabbing all the attention, we haven’t forgotten logistics, with these support vehicles providing the necessary top up to meet the demands of Army’s new tank capability,” Lt-Col Libby said.

Deliveries will begin in mid-2006 and will be complete by July 2007. A minimum of three systems is planned for delivery in October 2006, when the first batch of M1A1s and M88A2s arrive in Australia. Once the initial movement of M1A1s and M88A2s is complete, the HTTs will be based at 1CSSB in Darwin.

The 14 HTTs will join the eight Truck Tanker Fuel-Aviation Specification (TTF-AS) vehicles that the Tank Program contracted for with Mack Australia in December last year. The TTF-AS is based on a rebuilt Mack R-series chassis with a modern tanker assembly fitted. These eight TTF vehicles will enhance 1 Armd Regt’s tactical refuelling capability, and are identical to the nine TTF-AS vehicles purchased for 16 Bde’s aircraft refuelling capability.