Faun SLT-50 Elefant
Overview
SLT-50-2 Elefant
Polish army SLT-50-2 Elefant with original four-axle trailer in 2017.
Source: Stiopa -
© GNU Attribution Share Alike license
1994 - 1999 (SLT-50-3 upgrade)
Official designation for tractor truck
Sattelanhänger 52t, Tieflader, mil, gl, 8×0
Official designation for trailer
Poland
Description
Introduction
The SLT-50 Elefant is a heavy equipment transporter of German origin. It was developed in the 1970's to replace the older three axle Faun 1212/45. In the 1990's the Elefant was upgraded to SLT-50-3 standard, with a more fuel economic engine and slightly higher payload capacity. The Elefant looks very similar to the SLT-56 Franziska, which was developed for road use.
Layout
The SLT-50 is an 8x8 tractor truck used in combination with a four axle low loader semi-trailer. The large square cab seats four people. The V8 twin turbo diesel engine is located behind the cab and is connected to a gearbox and transmission to all four axles. Steering is on the front two axles. Two 18.6 t winches are located behind the cab. These can be used for recovery duties and allow for disabled vehicles to be dragged onto the low loader.
Cargo capacity
The SLT-50-2 is the initial production vehicle. The semi-trailer used with this vehicle is the four-axle Sattelanhänger 52t produced by Kässbohrer. This has a maximum load capacity of 52 t. This is fine for the Leopard 1, but is also the empty weight of the Leopard 2A4. The SLT-50-3 upgrade allows for the use of the 56 t six-axle trailer used with the later SLT-56 Franziska. This allows the Elefant to transport some, but not all, of the improved Leopard 2 main battle tanks when empty.
Protection
The Elefant is a soft skin vehicle. It has no armor or anti-mine protection. For the SLT-50-3 a modular armor package was developed for use against small arms fire. This package is called MSA or Modulare Schutzausstattung, which is German for "modular armor package". For self-defense a 7.62mm MG3 machine gun can be fitted on a pintle mount on the cab roof.
Mobility
The SLT-50-2 is fitted with a 730 hp V8 twin turbo diesel engine. The improved SLT-50-3 is fitted with a new 735 hp V12 twin turbo diesel engine. This engine is more fuel economic and has more torque, allowing the use of the six-axle 56 t trailer. For both versions the maximum road speed is 65 km/h for the tractor truck alone. With empty trailer or limited load the maximum speed is about 60 km/h. Under heavy load the maximum road speed is reduced to 40 km/h.
Users
The Elefant was adopted by the West German military. 324 tractor trucks and associated trailers were produced. Over time some vehicles were sold to other nations, while others were upgraded to SLT-50-3 standard. In German service the Elefant is supplemented by the SLT-56 Franziska and SLT-2 Mammut.
Details
Media
SLT-50-2 Elefant
SLT-50-2 Elefant with original four-axle trailer.
Source: www.military-today.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
SLT-50-2 Elefant
Rear view of SLT-50-2 Elefant tractor truck with original four-axle trailer.
Source: www.military-today.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
SLT-50-3 Elefant
Upgraded SLT-50-3 tractor truck with MSA modular armor package on cabin.
Source: www.military-today.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
SLT-50-2 Elefant
SLT-50-2 Elefant with original four-axle trailer in 2012. Note the driver training variant of the Boxer as cargo.
Source: Unterillertaler
Copyright: GNU Attribution Share Alike license
SLT-50-3 Elefant
SLT-50-3 tractor truck with MSA armor package and 52 t trailer in use in Afghanistan in 2009.
Source: US Marine Corps (John Scott Rafoss)
Copyright: Public domain