TAG Group Croco

     Notes: This is an “ultralight” 4x4 vehicle similar in concept to vehicles like the French LOHR Fardier and the German Kraka 640.  The Croco is a two-part vehicle joined by a ball joint and is amphibious.  There are two seats and a cargo section.  The cargo section contains two boxes for loose cargo (22 cubic meters) and tie-downs for other cargo. The engine is a rotary 32-horsepower gasoline engine; the engine is under the driver’s seat and the transmission and battery are under the passenger’s seat. The suspension is 4x4 and the Croco is amphibious, with the large balloon tires providing a lot of the buoyancy as well as propulsion in water. The rear and front wheels are both steerable. The cab has a large windshield which cannot be folded (but can be removed) and a rear window (which can also be removed, along with the roof).  The cab roof may be canvas, rubberized fabric, or aluminum. The cab sides are large and open. The TAG Group hoped for sales en masse to the military, as it can cross virtually any terrain.  However, it was only sold in large numbers to the Forestry Service in Northern Italy, and it is believed that less than 50 were built. They were also sold to individual civilians as an all-terrain vehicle, and were often resold several times.

MOWAG 1500 kg Truck

     Notes: This boxy light truck looks sort of like a shorter and wider Unimog; however, there is no relation between the two.  These trucks were built for the Swiss Army between 1951 and 1962, with 1688 being built.  They were still in service with the Swiss Army until at least the late 1980s, but I have no information about their service with the Swiss Army beyond that point.  Some of them were apparently sold to civilians, and some placed in museums.  These trucks were built using a lot of components made by Dodge.  The truck has a forward control-type cab with the small engine partially in front of and partially under the cab, and the transmission under the cab.  The engine is accessed via a hatch in front, and the transmission from underneath the vehicle.  The transmission is a manual transmission.  The suspension is 4x4 and it does well off-road.  The cargo area has a tailgate, low sides with picket-type extensions, removable bows and a canvas tilt, and folding troop seats on each side.  Many of these trucks have a front-mounted winch.  The MOWAG 1500 kg Truck was originally powered by a 94-horsepower engine, but this was later replaced by a 103-horsepower engine.  Variants include an ambulance with an enclosed rear cargo body able to up to five stretcher patients and a medic, or 9 seated patients and a medic. Another common variant was a communications vehicle, also with a fully enclosed cargo body.

Saurer M4

     Notes: This is an artillery tractor, i.e., a vehicle designed to carry gun crews and tow artillery pieces and ammunition trailers.  As such, the vehicle can tow 2.5 tons.  It looks very much like an oversized jeep-like vehicle or World War 2 staff car.  It has a winch in the front with a capacity of 2.5 tons and 50 meters of cable.  The engine is at the rear and the personnel carrying ability is large. The crew and passenger area are covered by a canvas tilt over bows, and the windshield may be folded down and the tilt removed. The tilt has roll-down sides. The cargo area is small, but can carry a heavy load. The engine is a 4-cylinder diesel developing 75 horsepower, coupled with a manual 6-speed transmission.