Morrow project Overland train Mark II 3D model

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In the 1950s, LeTourneau's company innovated a fleet of off-road vehicles designed to navigate rough terrain with ease. These rugged transport systems, essentially super-sized semi-trailers, aimed to enable logistics operations without relying on existing roads or rail networks. The goal was to establish logistical supremacy in backcountry regions, independent of conventional transportation methods. Built for the US Army's experimentation purposes, these colossal machines measured almost 600 feet long, holding the record for the world's longest off-road vehicle. The first experimental unit, LCC-1, proved a resounding success in its role as a mobile logistics powerhouse. To expand on this innovative technology, the US Army contracted LeTourneau for a follow-up project - the TC-497 Overland Train Mark II, also known as OTTER (Overland Train Terrain Evaluation Research). This next-generation overland train featured key advancements, primarily an adaptable configuration system that enabled it to extend its length with relative ease. Compared to LCC-1, Mark II boasted significant upgrades, most notably a much larger six-wheeled cab reaching over 30 feet in height. Unlike the first model, all four wheels were now steerable due to improvements in power steering systems. To support operations, a team of up to six personnel could reside within this enormous structure for extended periods. The OTTER Mark II boasted a variety of advanced features, including a small turbine engine capable of accommodating sleeping quarters, onboard bathrooms, kitchen facilities and radar technology for improved situational awareness. In order to accommodate all these elements the powerplant had to be downsized which in turn meant that the vehicle interior could house much larger units such as two additional fuel tanks plus ten large cargo cars during operational deployments. A key goal of the OTTER project was testing, a feat accomplished when it arrived at the Army Proving Grounds facility located at Yuma, Arizona. In preliminary tests conducted by OTTER’s engineers under its program designation, Project OTTER demonstrated significant operational capacity and reliability despite the logistical and technical challenges involved in designing, building, constructing a behemoth such as OTTER, whose construction spanned nearly all of 1961 before it was delivered in February 1962 to meet Army logistics needs for forward bases and remote posts. Ultimately, the OTTER Project did indeed meet military planners' operational expectations as well but unfortunately not long term military needs. Its capabilities rendered moot by newer heavy-lift rotorcraft which made landing zones and off-road driving redundant and it became clear to all parties that continued development of the concept was no longer worth further investment. Following initial success with testing the Mark II sat in a storage facility until 1969, when LeTourneau's overland train was finally put up for sale to private collectors after failing military use, priced at $1.4 million but finding little interest in commercial circles. Its sole survivor now is merely control cab remains at the proving grounds, a relic of cutting edge technology of a bygone era as all that existed off production and on to storage eventually being auctioned or scrapped off. Today Mark II is not even used anymore with its last official purpose for training purposes ending. Key model specs: - Enclosed payload: Length = 15 meters Height=6.1 m Length 17.5 metres Width 4.1 metre The length of all combined was about the same and 18m, total over dimensions - 17.9m. This OTTER project retains an historic place within US military logistics records due to its off-road travel feats which earned record for being longest offroad vehicle globally built at time it made public debut on global scale prior being relegated obsolete through subsequent improvements in technologies available like newer rotor craft variants, still making mark and paving way for innovation for later projects of that time as OTTER served well military operations till became non relevant through further development new and more efficient designs and its record remains intact yet another notable chapter the story human engineering prowess when working innovative ideas for global betterment.