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This vehicle is not currently on display at the Museum
During World War 2, a series of 40 ton tank transporters based upon a British design was in widespread use. The Mark 1 and Mark 2 were built in Britain by Cranes of Dereham and by Dysons. The US version used the same general layout but smaller wheels and therefore a more horizontal platform. All these trailers used a single row of 8 wheels on the turntable and two rows of 8 wheels at the rear. Drop down ramps enabled tanks to be driven or winched on board.
These trailers were upgraded to 45 tons capacity but were capable of carrying some overload even then. The need for a properly designed trailer to carry the post war 50 ton Centurion tank led to a development of the British Mark 2 trailer. This was slightly wider with two rows of wheels on the turntable giving a total of 32 wheels. The new 50 ton trailer was widely used to carry the Centurion tank and various self propelled guns. Although generally known as a Dyson some of the 50 ton trailers were built by Cranes.
The trailers were initially towed by wartime Diamond T tractors and then by Mark 1 versions of the Thornycroft Antar. By the 1970s these trailers were largely superseded by the Antar Mark 3 with a 50 ton semi-trailer which would carry the Centurion and its successor the Chieftain.
Length |
10.21 m (33 ft 6 in) |
Width |
3.20 m (10 ft 6 in) |
Height |
1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) |
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Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 24 July 2004