FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor (CET)

History of the FV180 Combat Engineering Tractor (CET)

As mechanized warfare became an integral part of the battlefield, war planners soon realized that specialized, skilled vehicles were needed to clear obstacles in the Allied path of advance and prepare for the defense of friendly territory. This led to the accepted practice of modifying existing tank chassis as such a solution, and this practice continues to this day.

During the second half of the Cold War, the British Army's Royal Engineers relied on types such as the FV180 Combat Engineering Tractor (CET) to fill this role.

The origin of the vehicle lies in the 1962 requirement for an anti-tank anti-tank military vehicle. To balance design, development and production costs, the solution was jointly developed by Great Britain, France and the then Federal Republic of Germany. The Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) in Leeds built the first prototypes ready for testing.

However, the French dropped their participation in the program in 1968, and West Germany followed in 1970 - both opting for other paths.

The British Army stuck to the design until the 1970s, implementing a number of cost-saving measures, including the use of off-the-shelf components that made up the powertrain and steering. The vehicle became the British Army's "FV180 CET" after successful testing in 1975, and mass production began in 1977, with the first quality-of-service forms arriving in May 1978.

The final form of the system is a proven tracked undercarriage with a large dozer blade in the front. A solid armored hull superstructure was mounted to the chassis, providing some basic protection for the two crew members. Power is provided by a Rolls-Royce C6TFR 6-cylinder 320-horsepower diesel engine, giving the vehicle a range of up to 320 kilometers and road speeds fast enough to keep up with the workhorse. Amphibious capabilities are built into the design, allowing passage through water sources with little to no preparation.

The propulsion system consists of four wheels with a front idler and a rear drive sprocket on each side of the hull.

The FV180 series has been replaced by the updated "Terrier Armored Digger" (described in detail elsewhere on this site). The product has advanced features including enhanced crew protection and enhanced situational awareness in all weather and low light environments.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

No.

Changes