Faun FS 42.75/42

   The Faun FS 42.75/42 Franziska, also known as the SLT-56, was designed to replace the previous Faun SLT 50-2 Elefant tank transporters in service with the former West German Army.

   Although the two vehicles are similar in many ways the FS 42.75/42 has many improvements over the earlier model which dated its origins back to the Heavy Equipment Transporter 70 international project of the late 1960s. The later model, introduced in 1981 and intended to be a relatively low cost design, embodies experience gained since that project. This is noticeable in the transmission arrangement which combines a ZF torque converter with an automatic transmission to provide drive power to suit almost any permissible load and terrain conditions.

   For steering the two front axles are used but only the front axle is driven. The FS 42.75/42 is in service with the German Army where it is mainly used to tow Leopard 2 tanks, the remaining SLT 50-2s being retained to tow Leopard 1s. The two vehicles share a similar forward control cab, with seating for the driver and three passengers; a hatch with provision for a machine gun mounting is provided in the roof.

   The cab also contains stowage for a number of German Army items such as tool boxes, weapon holders, signal flags and anti-skid chains. Behind the cab is a winch assembly housing a dual winch arrangement which is used for loading an unloading operations.

   Numerous forms of optional equipment are available for use with this vehicle, including sand tyres, but the most involved factory-built option is a full 8x8 version, the FS 42.75/48.