The "Mighty" Antar was a heavy duty tractor unit built by Thornycroft during the 1940s.

History

The civilian version of the Antar was developed in the late 1940s as an oilfield vehicle for transporting pipes over rough ground.

In 1952, the British Army replaced the American Diamond T that had served during the Second World War as their tank transporter. The Antar was used to tow Centurion and Chieftain tanks on their trailers. Some vehicles were adapted to carry the Conqueror tank on a special trailer that could take its 65 tonnes of weight, but most used trailers limited to 50 tonnes.

It was replaced by the Scammell Commander in 1986.

The engine, the Meteorite, was a cut-down version of the Rolls-Royce Meteor used in tanks, itself a non-aero version of the Merlin and made under licence by the Rover Co Ltd. Early civilian Antars used the petrol version made by Rover and by the early 1950s the Rolls-Royce manufactured diesel versions of the engine.

Specification

Antar Mk 1B

1B denotes ballast body for Dyson trailer.

• length: 26 ft (7.9 m)
• width: 10 ft 3 in (3.1 m)
• height: 10 ft (3.0 m)
• weight: 43,240 lb (19,610 kg)

• Engine: Rolls Royce 18.4 litre Meteorite Mk-204 V8 petrol(60 degree overhead cam, four valve, twin carb, twin magneto with two spark-plugs per cylinder). Power: 285 bhp (213 kW) at 2,000 rpm.

• Transmission: Four-speed full "crash gearbox" with three-speed transfer casing and power takeoff. Two live worm-drive rear axles with inboard epicyclic reduction.

• speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) on level ground.

Antar Mk 2A & B

2A denotes articulated for Dyson 50-ton semi-Trailer or Sankey 60-ton semi-trailer.

Basically the same as the Mk1 but for relocation of the two x 100 gallon fuel tanks stacked the rear of the cab, to saddle in the centre of the vehicle. A Dowty 20-ton winch is now located rear of the cab and a PTO-driven hydraulic pump to serve the SankEy semi-trAiler loading ramps and wheel changing jacks.

Mark 3

A&B

• Engine:Rolls-Royce C8SFL 16.2 litre 8 cylinder supercharged diesel engine
• power: 365 bhp (248 kW)

Totally new body and cab. The gear box is similar but the main stick gives six speeds with a single stick for all winch and PTO control functions.

A third differential is fitted to the second axle and a lock out function is available operated from the cab.

Max speed 35 mph (56 km/h).

15 years experience of overhaulling Antars at the contract repair workshops "Fazakerly Engineering Company" Field Lane Fazakerly Liverpool.

With the Chieftain MBT the all up weight was 101 tones, we road tested them a 126 tons.

References

• Pat Ware (1997). Antar: FV12000 Series in British Army Service. Warehouse Publications. ISBN 0952556359. 

• Pat Ware (1995). Tugs of War: Heavy Recovery Vehicles, Tank Transporters and Artillery Tractors of the British Army, 1945-1965. Warehouse Publications. ISBN 0952556316.