Roger Mardon fire service history

Fire service historian and author

Roger Mardon

www.romar.org.uk

New Dimension

Incident response units

Prime movers

High volume pumping units

Urban search & rescue units

Disrobe and re-robe modules

DIM units

Enhanced command support vehicles

The prime movers are built on the 4.5m wheelbase MAN TG-A 26.363 FDLRC 6x4 chassis with air suspension on the rear and leaf suspension on the front. These units are shorter than the IRUs and are given a 6x4 drive configuration for better traction control.

The system for loading and unloading the demountable bodies that the vehicle is designed to carry is a Partec Multilift LHS 260.51 hook-lift installation with a capacity of 20 tonnes.

Integrated electrical and communications systems are the same as for the IRUs, with on-board data system, comprehensive radio and mobile phone installations, satellite navigation and vehicle tracking facilities. The one difference lies in the packaging of the communications and electrical control systems. Prime movers have a rear cab window so that the driver can see the hook-lift system as he loads and unloads the demountable bodies. This means the control cannot be housed in a single cabinet and the radio and power systems are split into two separate cabinets, whilst the the electrical control system is located in its own housing between the driver and passenger seats.

The prime movers carry demountable bodies comprising high volume pumping units, urban search & rescue units, and mass decontamination disrobing & re-robing modules. It was expected that further modules, including water rescue, command & control, welfare, stores and power, would be provided but this is no longer the case. Of the 238 prime movers provided 160 were initially allocated to fire & rescue services in England & Wales and subsequently 7 have been sold to Scotland, 11 to Northern Ireland and one to Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service. Apart from 6 retained centrally as spares, the remaining 57 have been distributed to brigades in England (48) and Wales (3).

Following its success with the Phase 1 contract for incident response units (IRUs), Marshall SV was awarded a variation contract in January 2004 for up to 238 prime movers. The use of prime movers with the ability to load and transport a variety of different body units, or pods, is not new in the fire service and the concept offers a versatile and economic way of providing specialist vehicles.

Unlike the IRU contract, Phase 2 of the New Dimension initiative for the development and supply of prime movers allowed sufficient time for the production of prototype vehicles for evaluation and test purposes. The first of five prototypes was displayed in May 2004 and production started in August. By mid-February 2005, seventy-four vehicles had been supplied and delivery of the remainder was scheduled for April of that year.