Italian airborne tricycle

[Petrus]

In a Wikipedia entry on the German Kraka airborne vehicle [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraka] an Italian vehicle of this kind is being mentioned:

ein militärisches Dreirad aus Italien, eventuell von Piaggio, zwei Sitze Seite an Seite, mit zusätzlichen einachsigem Anhänger. Zusammen mit dem Kraka in Deutschland getestet.

As far as my knowledge of the German language (as well as Google Translate) let me undestand, there was a tricycle built in Italy, probably by Piaggio company, designed as a military vehicle for airborne troops. The vehicle must have been built sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s, as the Kraka was being tested in 1971.

Does anybody know anything more on the Italian vehicle? Any info would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Piotr

 

[Ta152]

In the Book "Prototypen und Sonderfahrzeuge der Bundeswehr seit 1956" is one Picture with a small text

TVM luftverlastbarer Kraftkarren (3x2) der Fa. Staussler unter Lizenz der italienischen Fa. Motor-Guzzi: 2 Zylinder-Motor mit 15 PS, Haubraum 244ccm, Höchstgeschwindigkeit 57km/h. Das Fahrzeug nahm in den 60er-Jahren an der Vergleichserprobung mit dem Faun-Kraka teil, der dann bei der Luftlandetruppe eingeführt wurde. Vom abgebildeten Fahrzeug wurden rund 500 Exemplare gefertigt und vor allem bei den italienischen Streitkräften eingesetzt.

Short summary. Produced by Motor-Guzzi, 15hp. Tested against the Kraka in the 60th. Round about 500 built mainly for the Italian Army. The picure in the Book is not very good, there should be better pictures in the internet, the question is what is the name of the vehicle. If nobody can find a picture I will take of photo of the picture (after loading camera and flashlight batteries)

 

[Petrus]

I would lend you my scanner ...

As I saw your post I tried to google "Motor-Guzzi". Google shows much more hits for "Moto-Guzzi" and it really seems that the company under that name actually builds (or did build) tricycles.

Btw the book on Bundeswehr's prototype looks very interesting.

Piotr

 

[Arjen]

Moto Guzzi Mulo Meccanico. Ugliest thing they ever made in Mandello del Lario. Picture source: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/category/three-wheelers/page/2/

More about it here: http://www.tybrainstorm.de/review/mulo-e.html

The heart of the "Moto Guzzi 3x3" is a big two-cylinder-V-gasoline engine with 754 ccm, 20 PS/4.000 and a Weber carburator. Before, this engine was developed by Carcano just for fun, but now he could made some modifications to get a maximum speed of 50 km/h.

20hp for a 754cc V-twin isn´t much, but the designer would have been interested in torque rather than outright power. This may be an entirely different vehicle, but I haven't found any other military trikes by Moto Guzzi in that period.

 

[Petrus]

Moto Guzzi Mulo Meccanico. Ugliest thing they ever made in Mandello del Lario.

Thank you for you posting this! Know everything become perfectly clear: not only the Americans had the concept of naming a lightweight vehicle a 'Mechanical Mule' ...

Best regards,
Piotr

 

[lastdingo]

Btw the book on Bundeswehr's prototype looks very interesting.

I had both and sold them after warning the buyer that both are no good.

 

[Ta152]

I found a Picture of the vehicle.

3. from above
http://www.multi-board.com/board/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=19705

In that forum they write that the vehicle is a FN AS24 and Google says thats correct.
http://www.google.de/images?q=FN%20AS24&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=de&tab=wi

So Motor-Guzi instead of Moto-Guzi is not so only error in the Book...

The book is realy not very good. Yes there are many picutures of uncommon vehicles but ther is nearly no text so no real usefull Informations.

 

[Arjen]

More obscure trikes. That's good. Thanks, Ta152
Wikipedia has an entry about the FN AS24: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrique_Nationale_AS_24

Specifications

* Passengers: 4 including Driver
* Weight: 374 lb (170 kg)
* Cargo: 770 lb (350 kg) of men and equipment.
* Height: 2 ft 10 in (85 cm)
* Engine: 15 hp (11 kW) Two-cylinder, two-stroke, 15 cubic inch (0.245 litres, 245cc) model FN 24
* Speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)

It is a better match for the book's specs than the Moto Guzzi:

TVM luftverlastbarer Kraftkarren (3x2) der Fa. Staussler unter Lizenz der italienischen Fa. Motor-Guzzi: 2 Zylinder-Motor mit 15 PS, Haubraum 244ccm, Höchstgeschwindigkeit 57km/h.

Wikipedia's quoted top speed of 97 km/h would be an interesting experience in such a vehicle. I like the book's figure better.

Picture source: http://www.tempo-land-rover.de/Top100+.html

 

[CostasTT]

In addition to the Mulo Meccanico, the Observer's Military Vehicle Directory (Olyslager organization) mentions a 'covered' version of the KraKa, made in Italy by MV Agusta and named "Diana".

 

[lastdingo]

There was a Kraka hard skin prototype, meant to provide fragment protection. It was a failure and the answer was the Wiesel.

 

[Petrus]

There was a Kraka hard skin prototype, meant to provide fragment protection. It was a failure and the answer was the Wiesel.

It was referred to as the Kraka Terrier. Here you've got some pictures showing it.

Piotr

 

[Arjen]

The Kraka-entry (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraka) lists a british 'car':

ein englischer Kleinstmotorroller, flache Bauart, Lenker und Sattelstütze jeweils in normaler Höhe und klappbar

...and here it is:

A commercial private venture built by Hunting Percival Aircraft Company, Luton, England.
Designed by Mr J.Dolphin of Marlow,Bucks. ( Patent No 687794, 1953), at a time when the Army was looking for lightweight vehicles which could be used by airborne forces and carried in aircraft or slung under early helicopters. Vehicle could be folded into a box shaped unit measuring 10'4" x 1'9" x 3'0" for ease of transport. It could be lifted by its crew of four, unfolded and running in about 1 minute.

The jeep is powered by a 600 BSA A10 650-cctwin cylinder motorbike engine which is air cooled, 30 bhp, 4 forward gears, wheelbase 7' 10", Dimensions 8'9" x 4'0" x 2'10.75" (to top of engine), Weight 700lb, Speed 60mph.

http://www.milweb.net/webverts/50799/

 

[fockewulf261]

The shape of the Kraka Terrier reminds me the German WW2 APCs.

 

[cluttonfred]

More Kraka pics and info...

http://www.panzerbaer.de/helper/bw_lkw_00-75t_gl_kraka-a.htm
http://www.bmw700.net/index.php?lng_id=en&mnu_id=4&sub_id=38&cnt_pag=1

It's not hard to imagine an up-armored modern incarnation of the Kraka Terrier with lightweight modern sensors and a remote weapon station being quite handy as a scout car.

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.bmw700.net/index.php?lng_id=en&mnu_id=4&sub_id=38&cnt_pag=1

In addition: https://www.bmw700.net/faun-kraka