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This vehicle is not currently on display at the Museum
The Antar, originally known as the Mighty Antar, was for its time one of the biggest trucks in the world. It was conceived as an oilfield vehicle for carrying lengths of pipe over rough terrain. The prototype was tested in 1952 in Iraq by the Iraq Petroleum Company.
At this time the Army needed a replacement for the American Diamond Tractor for tank transporters, because newer and heavier tanks were coming into service. Special military designs then in prospect were unlikely to be available for some time. Military trials indicated that the Antar would at least suffice as an interim vehicle.
The military Antar was powered by the specially developed Rover Meteorite V8 cylinder petrol engine. The civilian prototype used the same engine redesigned as a diesel. Structurally the Meteorite was a reduced size version of the Meteor tank engine, itself a derated Merlin aircraft engine. Rover had taken over production of Meteors in a technology swap with Rolls Royce who continued Rover's development of gas turbine aircraft engines.
The need for the Antar was largely the result of the adoption of a new range of heavy tanks culminating in the 65 ton Conqueror. To carry it a special 60 ton semi-trailer was designed and built by Joseph Sankey Ltd. Whilst some Antars were adapted to use this trailer, many were built with ballast bodies to tow the existing 50 ton trailers used for carrying the smaller Centurion tanks.
The Museum's Antar was in use at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering towing a 50 ton trailer for carrying armoured recovery vehicles. After being sold by the Army it eventually came to the Museum from its private owner and is now located in its old ‘home' at Bordon.
With the demise of the special military designs of heavy tractors the Antar continued in service, particularly the redesigned and diesel engined Mark 3, into the 1980s.
Length |
8.46 m (27 ft 9 in) |
Width |
3.20 m (10 ft 6 in) |
Height |
3.15 m (10 ft 4 in) |
Engine |
Rover Meteorite V8 |
Further information on Thornycroft vehicles is available at http://www.thornycroft.org.uk/.
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Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 27 November 2004