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REFERENCE
SECTION: MILITARY TRUCKS |
Oshkosh M911 8x6 Commercial Heavy Equipment Transporter (C-HET),
Including M747 Semi-Trailer
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The C-HET consists of the Oshkosh-built
tractor unit and M747 semi-trailer. The tractor is based on what
the military called a "Commercial Off-The-Shelf" (COTS)
system, an Oshkosh F2365 8x6 tractor; the F-series tractor was modified
to meet military requirements while providing a less-expensive and
more readily-available solution for heavy transport (specifically
main battle tanks and other heavy tracked armored vehicles) than
a purpose-built unit. This was an attempt by the US Armed Forces
to provide a cheaper alternative over the long run to meet their
varied heavy transport needs without going through the expensive
& time-consuming process of a purpose-built contracted system.
Spare parts were also readily available and were stocked by the
manufacturer, rather than the military having to contract out for
exclusive runs of purpose-built spare parts. The M911 worked well
for several decades after entering service with the US Army around
1977, have been replaced by the M1070 HET
in the mid-1990s, and some still exist in various National Guard
units. The M911 was used by other nations' armed forces as well,
such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The M911 might have soldiered on longer in the US Armed Forces,
but its maximum weight capability was right around 60 tons; when
the US Marines added reactive armor to their fleet of M60A1 battle
tanks in the late 1980s, this pushed their weight well over 63 tons
and the M1A1 main battle tanks of both the Army & Marines were
closing in on 65 tons. The need for a more capable replacement became
evident in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and the M1070
HET became operational shortly afterwards. Many have been sold
in government surplus auctions and are in use by civilian operators. |
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Silver State Specialties was created in 1999 to offer quality resin
accessories, replacement parts and conversion kits, suitable for
many 1/25-scale plastic model kits. SSS specializes in accessories
and parts for plastic model pickup, SUV, 4x4, and heavy truck &
trailer kits. 1/32-scale and 1/35-scale parts and accessories
will be available in the future for model truck kits, such as the
1/32 Monogram Snap-Tite and ERTL snap-together kits, as well as
1/35-scale Revell, Italeri, AFV Club, Trumpeter, Airfix, Heller,
Tamiya, and other military model truck
kits. Some of these smaller scale model kits are quite well
detailed, and a wide variety of photo-etched, resin, and other accessories
are widely available for most of these military truck model kits.
What's even more exciting is the line of 1/24th & 1/25th-scale
military model kits and conversions we are in the early stages of
developing, to nicely compliment your ERTL, AMT, Italeri, Revell,
and other brands of truck models.
Silver State Specialties is working on resin accessories and complete
kits for G- gauge outdoor garden railway trains ("Large Scale")
in 1/24th-scale. Some patterns have been completed, and many more
are under construction. These kits and accessories will include
complete Beyer-Garratt style of locomotives and Narrow Gauge ore
hopper cars, as well as 24-inch & 30-inch gauge industrial equipment
in this same scale.
SSS also has master patterns partially completed for many 1/16-scale
model truck accessories and conversion kits, mainly for the Monogram-Revell
1/16-scale model truck kits. Some projected accessories for
these 1/16-scale kits are front drive axles, different wheels and
tires, air cleaner accessories, pusher and tag axles, oil filters
and engine accessories, and possibly different engines. Cab
& hood conversion kits remain a possibility for these monsters
as well, but are still years away from being offered as there are
more pressing projects to push forward with first. But someday
they should be available!
Thank you for your continued support!
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