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Forums - Modelling / Construction |
The construction forum is for the discussion of techniques on the construction phase of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
| Topics | 1894 |
| Messages | 8731 |
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| Subject: | ARMO's Rota Trailer - Development & References |  |
| Date: | Nov 5, 2002 |
| From: | Tor Riley | |
This looks like a fantastic little kit, and below is a bit more information quoted from the Bovington Tank Museum’s data board on this vehicle, courtesy of a visit about seven years ago.
“The Rota Trailer was a good idea that did not work. It was designed and produced by the Tecalemit Company as an armoured trailer capable of being towed behind a tank. The campaign in North Africa had shown up the problems of tank supply. When great distances might be covered as in the pursuit of the Italians from Beda Fomm for instance, the more fuel and ammunition a tank could carry with it the better. Thus the Rota Trailer was designed to carry all sorts of supplies; ammunition, rations, water and oil as required, with the added advantage that each wheel, a sort of rotating drum, contained 60 gallons of fuel. A hand operated pump was stowed at the back.
Following extensive tests in Scotland the trailers were declared suitable for service use, provided the crews knew how to handle and service them: in practice they were a disaster. In desert conditions sand soon ate into the wheel bearings and soon precious fuel was dribbling all over the place. On rocky ground the unsprung trailer would start to bounce, unheeded by the tank crew, and in due course turn completely upside down, twisting the tow bar out of shape and rendering the trailer useless. Soon tank crews began to hate them, but thousands had been built and they were shipped out to the Middle East, taking up shipping space that might otherwise been allocated to tanks”
The excellent reference ‘AFV Stowage Sketches’ published by Toros Publications c’1996 includes three sketches of the Rota Trailer detailing the interior as well as exterior stowage. I have two photos of Bovington’s trailer that I will scan and post on-line in the near future.
Fletcher's 'The Great Tank Scandal' HMSO 1989 p.117-8 describes the design and operational failure igven above, and includes a photo of an opened Rota Trailer.
Regards,
Tor |
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