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This vehicle is not currently on display at the Museum
By the late 1970s the Leyland Heavy Recovery Vehicle was becoming outdated. Its Rolls Royce petrol engine, considered adequate when the vehicle was designed, no longer provided the power output expected of such a vehicle. It was very slow, particularly when towing a heavy load.
In the late 1960s there was a move towards an all diesel vehicle fleet,
initially aimed at a multi-fuel capability ie. using a range of other fuels
in a diesel engine when proper diesel oil was not available. Fodens of
Sandbach, Cheshire, had begun to provide a range of off road and civilian
pattern trucks for the Army, and their
The first prototypes used the same EKA body as on the Scammell
Crusader chassis. Trials were carried out in parallel with another similar vehicle
on a Scammell S26
Before production commenced, a complete redesign of the original EKA body took place, to overcome the limitations of the non-slewing crane. The ‘in service' front line recovery vehicles, Leyland and AEC, were both fitted with slewing cranes which could be used for various lifting tasks in addition to suspended tows during recovery. It was necessary that the new Foden should retain this capability, so the revised vehicle featured a pedestal mounted crane.
Most of the original EKA principles were retained in the redesigned body. One exception was, instead of having hydraulic rams to raise the main recovery supporting boom it was lifted by the crane. Once at the required height, either for stowage or with a casualty attached, the boom was locked into position, with pins passing through quadrants on each side of the channel in which the boom moved. This removed the weight from the crane itself which in some cases was then necessarily stowed off the centre line in order to clear the raised boom and casualty.
Hydraulic systems were retained to operate the side stabilisers used during crane operations, the rear spade anchors and also a rear axle lockout system. Hydraulics also folded the end of the recovery boom for when the vehicle was travelling light.
Another feature of the EKA bodies was a remote control cable system for operating switches. This allowed the recovery mechanic to stand next to the casualty and observe closely while controlling lifts or winching.
333 Fodens were purchased, some going to the RAF. Fodens have been used on exercises and operations for the last ten years, seeing front line action in the Gulf War and in the former Yugoslavia. The Museum's example is one of the early prototypes without the crane.
Length |
9.05 m (29 ft 9 in) |
Width |
2.49 m (8 ft 2 in) |
Height |
3.49 m (11 ft 5 in) |
Wheelbase |
4.72 m (15 ft 6 in) |
Main winch |
25 tons capacity |
Front winch |
10 tons capacity |
Crane lift |
12.5 tonnes (production vehicle) |
Engine |
Rolls Royce designed Eagle 290 BHP turbo charged diesel |
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Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 24 July 2004