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UNIC Cranes at Bastion

Cast your mind back a a year, I covered UNIC Spider Cranes in a post about cranes and aircraft shelters.

How about an update from the GGR Group

http://www.ggrgroup.com/news/unic-spider-gives-lift-to-operations-at-camp-bastion-in-afghanistan/

 

 

 

 

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Think Defence

Think Defence hopes to start sensible conversations about UK defence issues, no agenda or no campaign but there might be one or two posts on containers, bridges and mexeflotes!

This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Ace Rimmer July 30, 2013

    Tell me what’s wrong with a Bedford 4-Tonne with an Atlas crane on the back? Half the price and twice the utility, with a truck you can also put the engine straight into the transportation box on the flatbed on the back and drive it away, all with one vehicle. With the crane you have to have two vehicles.

  2. Topman July 30, 2013

    Aren’t the Bedford’s going soon? Might well because the crane is easier to move, you can easily put into an ISO with your PEP, might not want to tie up a Bedford just for ECU change on a chinny, possibly no real need for a Bedford on a chinney Sqn probably a bit too big.

  3. Think Defence July 30, 2013

    Your can transport a Unic crane internally by Chinook which is ideal for engine changes in situ, try doing that with a Bedford!

  4. Ace Rimmer July 30, 2013

    Topman: re Bedford, any generic truck will do:) REME had them for transporting around Ground Service Equipment (GSE), I’m sure the RAF have something similar for the same job.

    TD, hang it underneath!

  5. Topman July 30, 2013

    Not really very few on any unit (or similar), for GSE either on a civvy flat bed type van or towed.

  8. Topman July 30, 2013

    Most of that stuff is long gone. Most MT is leased or bought overseas, if it’s staying on base. Bits and bobs still about plus 2MT.

  9. Ace Rimmer July 30, 2013

    TD & Topman, I’m still stuck in the halcyon days of Bedford MK’s and Landrover Lightweights, I’ll think I’ll sit in the corner and sulk for a little while…

  10. paul g July 30, 2013

    what happens when your Bedford with your only crane goes VOR? Had a 4t off the road for 8 months at middle wallop, screwed up aircraft recovery for ages, plus the fact you need a HGV driver to move it. The crane I pointed out could actually fit through a standard door!! I’m saying nothing about the lazy bastards going for the bigger version so they get a seat!!!!

    edited to add on a documentary about Afghanistan, they followed a Chinook from the UK to the sandpit and they waited 24 hours for an available crane and in the end the REME tipped up with a foden recovery, lost 2 days of a Chinook in total.

  11. Ace Rimmer July 31, 2013

    Paul g, pros and cons I guess…

    Re: the Chinook, don’t they have an airframe mounted jib and winch that can be used? The Lynx did, used it now and again for an engine change when the crane went U/S.

    Not the most interesting of subjects GSE, but useful none the less…

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