Danish Army
Specific: 3 Rough Terrain
Container Handlers (RTCH) were aquired in the mid and
late 2008.
Historical: The RT-240 came about in the late
1990s when the U.S. Army Transportation School identified
a need for the Army to take advantage of world-wide
standardisation of shipping containers.
The Transportation School realised that the Army would
recognise savings if they used the commercial innovations
in logistics systems. An operational requirement document
(ORD) for a piece of equipment that could handle a
53,000-pound ISO container in a military environment,
over all terrain types and in sea water up to five feet
deep was developed.
That ORD, which was approved and published in January
1998, led to an acquisition process that drew bids from
three vendors: Caterpillar Inc., Kalmar Industries and
Liftking Industries Inc. After a down-selection process,
Kalmar Industries was awarded the contract to produce the
RTCH in April 2000.
As of December 2004 the Army had received the full
fielding of 346 RTCH systems procured under the initial
contract. However, while the Army production line went
cold, Marine Corps planners had identified the equipment
with capabilities that they also desired. After teaming
with the Army, the Marines purchased an initial 25 of
their own RTCH systems, the first step in an anticipated
total buy of 105 systems.
Length: 4.00 m (156 inches).
Width: 12.00 m (468 inches).
Height: N/A.
Weight: 53.000 kg (116.600 lb.).
Engine: N/A.
Horsepower: N/A.
Transmission: N/A.
Transfer case: N/A.
Electrical system: N/A.
Brakes: N/A.
Fording depth:
without preparation: N/A.
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Tyres: N/A.
Fuel type: N/A.
Fuel capacity: N/A.
Range: N/A.
Crew: N/A
Additional: The RT-240 lifts and
transfers containers that weigh up to 53,000 pounds. It
has four-wheel drive and are able to skid steer. It is
C-5 or C-17 capable in a drive-on or drive-off mode.
Another feature is the fact that it is capable of fording
up to five feet of salt water.
The RTCH is also equipped with a top handler that allows
the cab operator to expand the system capabilities from
20-foot to 40-foot containers.
The RT-240 can stack
multiple containers - normally they go as high as three
high. And it also has the reach capability to pick up a
container in the second row.
The introduction of the
RT-240 into the US Army's inventory allowed the Army to
reduce the number of personnel required to move a
container. It can be quickly reconfigured because the
operator simply has to press a button in the cab to move
it from 20-foot ISO container to 40-foot ISO container.
And they are also able to lock the container in place
from within the cab.
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