Latil M4TX 8x8, of Suresnes, was ordered "urgently" to 100 copies for the French Army in September 1939, but only this prototype was built which we do not know what became of it. Its competitors were the Laffly S45 6x6 and the Somua MCL. The more powerful, Latil, was capable of towing the B1bis tank with locked tracks, a pulling force of 100 T on the road. The Pan winch had a pulling force of 1000 kg and a Gauthier crane of 1500 kg. It could also be fitted with a 3 T slipper. An anchor spade completed the whole. The four front and rear wheels were fitted with interconnected suspensions. With 140 hp, 42 km / h, total mass 10,700 kg, steering front and rear axles. 4 lockable differentials, fuel tank 300 l, hook force 13,000 kg, we could say that this super tractor was ahead of its time.
From the review: ’Histoire de Guerre, Blindés et Materiel’ of Jan, Feb, March 2016, No. 115, by François Vauvillier. http://www.avant-train-latil.com/M4TX.php
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Opperman Scorpion MK 1, amphibious vehicle prototype, was tested in 1942 by the Ministry of Defense and Opperman Limited of Elstree, Boreharmwood, established in England from 1860 to the end of the 50’s. Jeff Woods described this vehicle in 1983 in his book: ’MV1 Amphibious Vehicles of WW II’.
We can particularly notice its 8 unsprang wheels of different sizes, all driven, distributed over 5 axes. The interesting innovation of this configuration gave good all-terrain capabilities for a wheeled vehicle. It should be noted, however, that on uneven ground, if the extreme wheels were raised by bumps and the other wheels in a vacuum, the vehicle could overturn.
The absence of suspensions caused jolts due to the pitch of the whole. The differential braking steering on the two central wheels made the vehicle very maneuverable but did not work well in water. He could not get out of the water if he had to cross a vertical bank of more than 25 cm. An outboard engine allowed a speed of 1.8 km / h in water. On road, 40 km / h were possible, 15-30 km / h on bumpy gravel road. From Classic Military Vehicle, April 2003.
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