Scammell Commander w/ Crane Fruehauf semi-trailer

Plastic model kit for the construction of a Scammell Commander with 62 ton Crane Fruehauf semi-trailer.

• scale 1:35
• Dimensions LxW (built): 575,4 x 105,4 mm
• 790+ parts
• Driver's cab made in Slide Mold process
• Photo-etched, clear parts and rubber tyres included
• unbuilt/unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Scammell Commander heavy tank transporter originated from a British Army requirement to transport main battle tanks weighing well over 60 tonnes. It was originally developed to replace the old Thornycroft Antars tank transporters. Development of the Commander transporter began in 1976, but due to delays in defence spending, production of a series of 125 units did not begin until 1983.

The British Army used it to transport the Chieftain, Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 main battle tanks.

The Commander is designed to tow loads of up to 65 tonnes and carries a special semi-trailer onto which the tanks can be loaded using a hydraulic winch with a capacity of 20 tonnes.

In 1990, 70 Scammell Commander heavy armoured personnel carriers were used to transport 40 different military supplies during Operation Desert Storm.
Each of the vehicles was on the road for 17 hours a day for 4 months. On average, each vehicle covered 270 km per day on the desert roads.

Most of the 125 British Army Commanders were based in Belgium and BAOR Germany, with only a few in the UK.
The Scammell Commander is now obsolete and has been replaced by the American Oshkosh 1070F heavy hauler.