Snow and Ice Control
9
3
THE SEE TRACTOR SNOWPLOW
Overview
The Small Emplacement Excavator (SEE) tractor is a superb vehicle for
plowing snow. It is used by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
forces and is the vehicle of choice for plowing in the mountains of Germany. The
SEE tractor is an upgrade to U.S. specifications of the German Unimog. Many
soldiers find fault with the SEE; however, the SEE, if properly maintained and
operated in accordance with the operator's manual, will provide excellent
service, especially in SNIC operations.
The SEE tractor snowplow is manufacturer's model R3610 and National
Stock Number (NSN) 3825-01-7801. This plow was developed from a commer-
cial plow to fit the SEE tractor and is manufactured by Schmidt Engineering and
Equipment, Inc., of New Berlin, Wisconsin. This is the same manufacturer that
built the front loader for the SEE. Removing the front loader and replacing it
with the snowplow is quite easy to do and takes less than 30 minutes when doing
it outdoors in 0 F. The front loader and the snowplow use the same connections,
mechanically and hydraulically. The same action in the cab that raises and lowers
the front loader will raise and lower the snowplow and the same action that tilts
the front loader up or down will move the snowplow right or left.
The SEE tractor with chains correctly installed is the vehicle of choice for
operations in the mountainous areas. In tests and demonstrations the SEE with
snowplow was used in new snow, up to 10 inches, and in old snow up to 12
inches, both with varying percentages of snow density. It was used on paved
roads, gravel roads, frozen organic soil roads, and on open fields with short grass,
long grass, and tufted grass. With chains installed the SEE with snowplow was
able to clear a 70- 70-meter helicopter landing pad in fifteen minutes. The area
was covered with old snow up to 10 inches deep and topped with 46 inches of
new snow.
During the test and demonstration phase at the Ethan Allen Training Center
(EATC) in northern Vermont, the SEE tractor with snowplow was used on
grades up to 12% with and without chains and traveling uphill and downhill in
old and new snow. Over a period of five days the SEE tractor with snowplow
plowed various types of snow in various depths up to 12 inches, accumulating
160 miles with and without chains. The vehicle performed without incident
except for a small hydraulic leak in one hose on the plow. This was easily
repaired by tightening the connection and replacing the lost fluid.
Previous Page
