Advice for the MoD
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I HAVE just read your article about the new Scammell vehicles with the demountable body platforms the army is currently testing.
If the army goes ahead with the 6 x 6 version they are going to run into problems with excessive width when using the vehicles in central Europe and Britain. I have served with a transport regiment in Germany as a driver. I know, from experience, that clearances in many German villages are tight, with normal trucks. Many roads are narrow, steeply cambered, tree lined and have ditches close to the edge. They are worse than a lot of roads here. It is not possible to drive across country excessively because rocks, tree stumps, etc, can easily damage the underbody gear of a wheeled vehicle unlike a tracked vehicle, which is better protected underneath.
I would have thought an 8 x 8 design similar to the German MAN 10 tons type would be more suitable. It would certainly be fitted with easier to handle 18 x 22.5 wheels and tyres which would be simple to change.
The cost would be slightly more and its success would depend on a more sophisticated suspension than a normal 8wheeler. It could also be fitted with the Rolls Royce CV8 engine, derated to 350hp driving through a ZF Transmatic gearbox or the Allison alternative. This engine should allow a further reduction in cab height by moving the cab slightly further forwards and downwards. The engine would be more flexible and less stressed. It would not have the same cross slope stability but a vehicle that can be used on and off roads with constraint would be more effective.
C R PACKER Chesterfield Derbyshire