RMMV’s Heavy Tactical Recovery Vehicle (HTRV) Combines High Off-Road Mobility and Heavy-Duty Recovery Capabilities (photo màj)

photo deagel.com

June 3, 2011 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: Rheinmetall Defence; issued June 1, 2011)

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH’s new SX45 HTRV is on show for the first time in Canada at CANSEC 2011.

Designed for maximum off-road mobility, the HTRV is built on a tried-and-tested SX45 8x8 welded closed-box, coil-sprung (front) and HEPLEX-sprung (rear) chassis. It is able to recover heavy vehicles in both suspended and supported (underlift) tow mode in wheel grid (under wheel) and crossbar (recovery eyes) configurations.

Fully air-conditioned for sustained operation in extreme climates, the HTRV features excellent built-in protection against ballistic threats, mines and improvised explosive devices, ensuring a high degree of battlefield survivability.

The new HTRV is the latest member in a long line of 6x6 and 8x8 recovery vehicles.

The German Bundeswehr, British Forces, Danish Army, US Army and the armed forces of many other nations are increasingly opting for armoured 8x8 recovery vehicles for use in deployed operations.

Tactical vehicles weigh more today as a result of heavier armour and other special features and equipment. This explains the need for a new generation of high performance and highly mobile recovery vehicles that can keep up with armoured formations and move in quickly, safely and efficiently to recover stricken wheeled and tracked vehicles under battlefield conditions, minimizing crew exposure to hostile fire and other threats.

Following an internal selection process, Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. of

Ooltewah, Tennessee USA and Rotzler GmbH & Co. KG of Steinen, Germany, were invited to take part in a joint venture project. Both companies have a longstanding history of supplying high-quality specialist equipment to industry and government.

Miller’s unique recovery system is very versatile. It features a rotating boom with a lifting capability of up to 75 metric tons, designed for 360° continuous rotation with two boommounted independent HZ090 Rotzler drum winches for lifting, pulling and righting vehicles; a Rotzler “Treibmatic” TR200 main recovery winch with 25-ton single line (50- ton double line) pulling capacity; and an 18-ton underlift lifting capacity which enables recovery of white fleet vehicles (with wheel grids) as well as buses and heavy tactical vehicles with cardanic crossbars up to a gross vehicle weight of 40 tons. The four-point stabilizer system – with two outriggers on the left and right-hand sides and two ground spades at the rear – provide maximum stability in all crane and winch operations.

Miller and Rotzler, both offer worldwide service and EU-based engineering. Miller is represented in Europe through Boniface Engineering Ltd in the UK and JiGe in France.

Modern armies need recovery vehicles that can lift and tow vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 40 tons. The ability to unload and remove heavy containers weighing up to 17 tons from disabled vehicles is equally important.

Moreover, it normally takes no more than four minutes for the HTRV crew to hook up a disabled vehicle, a decisive edge when operating in hostile conditions outside the protected cab. The rear underlift can be controlled and operated from inside the cab and all actions monitored via two rear-mounted cameras, likewise helping to keep crew members safe.

The whole recovery system, including rotating boom, winches and underlift as well as outriggers and earth spades can all be operated with only one remote control unit, which eases operation and greatly reduces rigging time.

Both front axles are coil spring-suspended, while the two rear axles are hydraulically suspended. Compared with a regular leaf-sprung chassis, this assures optimum suspension travel at the same time as a high-speed off-road capability and an optimized balanced boogie load. The same SX45 chassis has been used to meet a UK wheeled recovery vehicle requirement. Three hundred of these systems have been procured by the UK, thirty of which have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2008. Two identical systems have been purchased by the Irish Defence Forces, one of which will shortly deploy to a Middle Eastern country in support of UN operations.

Other features include large-capacity stowage bins for additional equipment; the ability to operate at temperatures ranging from +49°C to -35°C (recovery module) and -46°C (chassis); full EMI/EMC compliance; and assured mobility in rough off-road conditions.

Moreover, the HTRV has a maximum fording depth of 1,500mm in salt and fresh water.

The vehicle is equipped with an NBC protection system as well as a cab-mounted

weapon station.

Finally, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH can respond flexibly to new customer requirements, providing additional options for the recovery superstructure supplied by Miller and Rotzler.