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Background  –  HET  Heavy Equipment Trailer  –  DAF Tropco System

Heavy Equipment Trailer –  Canada Leases Dutch Army Tropco Systems for use in Afghanistan In 2007, Canadian Forces in Kandahar had  the Leopard C2 tanks deployed and new Leopard 2A6Ms due to arrive.  Neither tank  type could be moved with the existing CF 'low-boy' trailer. Fortunately, the Dutch Army  in  neighbouring Uruzgan had Tropcos available – a transporter system specifically designed  for  the 65 tonne Leopard 2. [1] Sent to Afghanistan to haul 55 t SP howtizers, Tropcos could be spared for CF use.

The Koninklijke Landmacht has two variants of Tropco, the 480 (left) with a 4-axle trailer and the 530 (below) with a 7-axle. The Canadian Forces leased  the latter  from  the Dutch. Both systems use DAF XF95 tractors (albeit with different drivetrains, the model numbers showing engine power). The Tropco DAF tractor and the Broshuis trailer used  in Kandahar are covered separately.

Trekkeropleggercombinatie  to  Armoured  Heavy Support Vehicle The Tropco lease was a temporary solution to a CF capabilities gap. With the arrival of new CF AHSVS tractor and their seven-axle Doll trailer, the leased Tropcos could be returned to their rightful owners. By all accounts, the new AHSVS transporters are excellent  machines. One wonders, though,  if  the borrowed Tropcos  were considered  for  AHSVS.

[1] Tropco, a contraction of  trekkeropleggercombinatie (or tractor/semi-trailer combination) was a €58.4M project for the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Defensie wanted a commercial 6 x 6 tractor truck to simplify support. DAF Trucks won the contract in late 2002. With partners Broshuis BV and Plasan Sasa, prototypes were prepared in mid-2003, pre-series Tropcos in early 2004, production deliveries in April  2005.