Tatra T816 6VWN9T 43.610

     Notes: This semi-tractor is related to the T816 LIWA series of heavy trucks, including the off-road suspension with swing-axle bogies and independent suspension for the wheels; performance off-road is therefore quite good.  It was designed to move tank transporter trailers and other semi-trailers over rough ground, and to specifically tow semi-trailers with off-road suspensions.  The vehicle has a forward control cab with seating for eight and two sets of doors for entry.  The cab tilts forward for access to the engine and transmission and has a hatch in the roof with a mount for a light or medium weapon.  The fifth wheel has its own supplemental suspension which keeps it at roughly the same level regardless of how the terrain is bouncing the primary suspension or the truck around.  The powerful engine is coupled to an automatic transmission and has a torque converter with two power takeoffs.  The engine is an MTU 12V183 TD22 turbodiesel with an output of 818 horsepower. The drive is 8x8 with permanent all-wheel drive, with twin tires for all wheels and a central tire inflation system.  The tires in the front are, however, somewhat smaller than those of the two rear axles.  The truck is provided with two winches with a capacity of 28 tons each to assist in loading vehicles or cargo; each one has 70 meters of 26mm cable.  There is also an auxiliary winch with a capacity of 2 tons, primarily used as a guide or stabilizing mechanism, and with 150 meters of 8mm cable.  Antilock braking is optional, as is exhaust filtering, electronic central tire inflation system controls, and a governor for the engine. 

     In November of 2001, the US company SDC International purchased a 92% stake in Tatra Vehicles, effectively making Tatra an American company.  Tatra’s vehicles, however, are still produced in the Czech Republic, and sold primarily outside of North America.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Needless to say, Tatra still belongs to Czechoslovakia in the Twilight 2000 timeline.  However, the T816 6VWN9T 43.610 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.