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This vehicle is not currently on display at the Museum
The EKA Company of Sweden pioneered an ingenious recovery vehicle system based upon the idea of the fork lift truck. The system used an hydraulically powered lifting boom which could slide under the front or rear of a damaged vehicle, lifting it clear of the ground before towing it away. A variety of attachments could be fitted to the ‘forks' to suit different casualties.
Another unusual feature of this system was that the main recovery winch was fitted into the body of the recovery equipment, rather than the vehicle chassis. This allowed EKA bodies to be attached to any suitable chassis with minimal modification. It was possible to use the main lifting boom as a crane with the main winch cable re-routed over the highest part of the cranked structure, but without a swivelling motion the use of the boom in this way was somewhat limited. When lifting, the vehicle was stabilised by hydraulically raised and lowered jacks at the rear of the body.
Initial British Army trials of the system were carried out with a six wheeled Volvo. When it was decided to adopt the EKA body a British chassis was selected. The Scammell Crusader was originally a commercial tractor unit, produced in 4 and 6 wheeled versions with drive only to the rear axles. The military 6 wheeled tractors were used in connection with various 30 tonne semi-trailers and a version of the same chassis was adapted to take the EKA recovery equipment.
Because of their limited off road capability Scammell EKA recovery vehicles were usually issued to units with a peacetime recovery role or a wartime role mainly limited to route clearance. (A new vehicle was being developed by Foden simultaneously for off road recovery work.) Powered by a Rolls Royce designed diesel engine the Scammell EKA proved to be a very capable recovery vehicle and instances have been recorded of the vehicles towing huge loads in emergencies.
Introduced originally in the late 1970s some Scammell EKAs remain in service. The Museum's example was one of the earliest to be disposed of. As the total absorption of Scammell Lorries Ltd into the British Leyland conglomerate took place at about the same time as these vehicles came into service some are badged as Leylands.
The Scammell Crusader chassis is fitted with a front mounted winch intended mainly for self recovery but capable of dealing with light vehicle casualties.
Length |
8.30 m (27 ft 2 in) |
Width |
2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) |
Height |
3.25 m (10 ft 8 in) |
Wheelbase |
4.57 m (15 ft) |
Weight |
16.7 tonnes |
Main winch |
20 tonnes capacity |
Front winch |
7 tonnes capacity |
Boom lift |
7.5 tonnes |
Engine |
Rolls Royce Eagle 12.17 litre diesel |
Further information on Scammells is available at http://freespace.virgin.net/scammell.man/.
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Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 24 July 2004