Post by Diarist on May 5, 2020 9:20:20 GMT 1
At 08:30 I picked up Erich and Reinhard outside the Hotel then drove to Scammel after dropping off Sally at Watford train station. I hadn't seen Alfred Scammel for a while so we had a lot to talk about. I told him that I was pleased to see that Scammel had proposed a whole series of vehicles covering every category being tendered. We talked about the cargo vehicle first.
"Basically it's a lengthened version of the artillery tractor but with two rear axles and we're using the 105hp engine."
"So many of the parts are used in both vehicles?" I asked.
"That is correct, Bob. That should simplify production..."
"...and make it more acceptable to the MoD," I continued.
"They do like proven designs, don't they?"
"How much testing have you done?"
"Both prototypes have been driven more than 300 miles cross-country. The only hiccup at first was the transmission so we put in a larger one. No problems since."
"It'll need a hook for a trailer but apart from that it looks great."
"Did I understand 105 PS? (Pferdestärke - Horsepower)" Erich asked. "That's bigger than ours."
"We know. The Wehrmacht left a few of your Krupp Protze trucks in Poland last year and we have had access to them. We like the suspension used."
"We used a variant of it in our armoured car design which has the same 105 hp engine," Alfred added. "We also received a turret from the Mk.VI tank from your friend at Vickers."
"I asked him to cooperate with you. I'm glad the cooperation is working because both firms will benefit. The Mk.VI light tank is already obsolete but the turret is a good design. Can we take a look at the armoured car, Alfred?"
"Of, course. This way, gentlemen."
"That is similar to our 6-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231-6. It also has a 20 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machinegun but I believe it only has a 65 hp engine. What range does have?" Erich asked again.
"Slightly over 200 miles and can reach more than 50 mph on roads," Alfred answered.
"And many parts also used in 6x4 truck," I asked.
"Of course!"
Next was the 4-wheeled utility vehicle. Not very pretty but it met all the required specifications. "We are still putting it through trials but we have sent two prototypes to the MoD," Alfred told us. He then showed us the half-track vehicle. The track-design was very much like that of the A9 tank.
"You have something similar, Erich?" I asked.
"Yes but we have much larger wheels so that we don't need return-rollers," he replied.
"You mean the Christie style tanks?"
"Yes."
"Could that be arranged, Alfred?"
"I don't see why not. A prototype of this design hasn't been sent to the MoD but we sent plans."
"I've seen them. We'll make the change then."
"Consider it done, Bob."
"Are you OK for funding, Alfred?"
"Yes, we are still selling engines for the three-wheeler."
"I'll see if I can get some money from the MoD for a larger factory. Also 50% of the new workers you'll need to hire should be women. They won't get called-up into the Army and give then equal pay for an equal job."
"I understand."
After farewells we are heading to De Havilland.
"Basically it's a lengthened version of the artillery tractor but with two rear axles and we're using the 105hp engine."
"So many of the parts are used in both vehicles?" I asked.
"That is correct, Bob. That should simplify production..."
"...and make it more acceptable to the MoD," I continued.
"They do like proven designs, don't they?"
"How much testing have you done?"
"Both prototypes have been driven more than 300 miles cross-country. The only hiccup at first was the transmission so we put in a larger one. No problems since."
"It'll need a hook for a trailer but apart from that it looks great."
"Did I understand 105 PS? (Pferdestärke - Horsepower)" Erich asked. "That's bigger than ours."
"We know. The Wehrmacht left a few of your Krupp Protze trucks in Poland last year and we have had access to them. We like the suspension used."
"We used a variant of it in our armoured car design which has the same 105 hp engine," Alfred added. "We also received a turret from the Mk.VI tank from your friend at Vickers."
"I asked him to cooperate with you. I'm glad the cooperation is working because both firms will benefit. The Mk.VI light tank is already obsolete but the turret is a good design. Can we take a look at the armoured car, Alfred?"
"Of, course. This way, gentlemen."
"That is similar to our 6-wheeled Sd.Kfz. 231-6. It also has a 20 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm machinegun but I believe it only has a 65 hp engine. What range does have?" Erich asked again.
"Slightly over 200 miles and can reach more than 50 mph on roads," Alfred answered.
"And many parts also used in 6x4 truck," I asked.
"Of course!"
Next was the 4-wheeled utility vehicle. Not very pretty but it met all the required specifications. "We are still putting it through trials but we have sent two prototypes to the MoD," Alfred told us. He then showed us the half-track vehicle. The track-design was very much like that of the A9 tank.
"You have something similar, Erich?" I asked.
"Yes but we have much larger wheels so that we don't need return-rollers," he replied.
"You mean the Christie style tanks?"
"Yes."
"Could that be arranged, Alfred?"
"I don't see why not. A prototype of this design hasn't been sent to the MoD but we sent plans."
"I've seen them. We'll make the change then."
"Consider it done, Bob."
"Are you OK for funding, Alfred?"
"Yes, we are still selling engines for the three-wheeler."
"I'll see if I can get some money from the MoD for a larger factory. Also 50% of the new workers you'll need to hire should be women. They won't get called-up into the Army and give then equal pay for an equal job."
"I understand."
After farewells we are heading to De Havilland.