Dennis Rapier Explained

Dennis Rapier
Manufacturer:Dennis Specialist Vehicles
Type:Fire engine
Production:1991-2000s
Assembly:Slyfield Industrial Estate, Guildford
Designer:Capoco Design (1993 facelift)
Class:Large goods vehicle (N2, N3)
Body Style:Cab over engine
Related:Dennis Sabre
Engine:Cummins C260-21, turbocharged
Transmission:Allison MCDR 'World Series' five-speed automatic
Weight:[1]
Predecessor:Dennis RS/SS series
Successor:Dennis Dagger
Sp:uk

The Dennis Rapier is a purpose-built fire engine produced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles of Guildford, Surrey, England from 1991 to the early 2000s.

Features

Regular production of the Rapier began in 1991, following a demonstrator unit being shown around different fire brigades in the United Kingdom a year prior.[2] The first Rapiers maintained some design elements of the RS/SS series they replaced, although featuring a redesigned front grille and rectangular headlights.

The Rapier would receive a facelift in 1993, designed by Capoco Design.[3] The facelift would be mainly focused on the cab, giving it a modern and streamlined appearance and also allowing the cab to tilt to a total of 42 degrees. This facelift redesign would see Dennis and Capoco win a British Design Award in 1994.[4] [5]

As standard, the Rapier is powered by a Cummins C260-21 turbocharged six-cylinder engine and has an Allison MCDR five-speed automatic transmission. The Rapier's suspension uses "race car technology" such as a double-wishbone and coil springs with telescopic dampers, and the gearing allows a governed top speed of 75mph.[6]

While the Rapier proved very popular with some brigades, others found it to be prohibitively expensive and limited in its equipment load capacity. The Dennis Sabre would be launched in 1995 as a low-cost alternative with increased load capacity, which would ultimately succeed the Rapier and eventually be the last full-size fire engine produced by Dennis Specialist Vehicles.[7] Production of the Dennis Rapier would eventually cease in the early 2000s due to low sales and a parts shortage as a result of the discontinuation of the Renault Midliner, which sourced the Rapier's front suspension and brakes.[8]

Operators

The Humberside Fire Brigade were a major customer for the Dennis Rapier in the United Kingdom, with the brigade standardising on the appliance throughout its production into the late 1990s.[9] [10] [11] Other operators of the Rapier in the United Kingdom included fire brigades in Merseyside, who took on a handful of pre-facelift examples, West Sussex, Kent,[12] Shropshire[13] and Nottinghamshire.

Dennis Rapiers were also built for fire brigades in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.[14] [15] [16]

Two Dennis Rapiers were delivered to Frankfurt and Erfurt, Germany in 2000 to evaluate whether the Rapier could function as a standard rescue pumper. The Rapier was met with a mixed reception by Frankfurt's fire crews in particular, and following a brief trial period, no further orders of the Rapier followed.[17] [18]

One Dennis Rapier was delivered to Hong Kong.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welcome to Rapier; the fire fighter's machine . Dennis Fire . 6 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040621011438/http://www.dennisfire.com/pages/rapier3.html . 21 June 2004.
  2. . 17 October 1991 . Dennis Rapier launched . Commercial Motor . 31 July 2021.
  3. . 7 October 1993 . Truck makers going to blazes . Commercial Motor . 31 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Ninety Years of Dennis Fire . Dennis Fire . 31 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040605230128/http://www.dennisfire.com/pages/history.html . 5 June 2004.
  5. Web site: Alan Ponsford . Speakers for Schools . 31 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Rapier Standard Specification . Dennis Fire . 31 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040621093359/http://www.dennisfire.com/pages/rapier4.html . 21 June 2004.
  7. . 20 March 1997 . Road Test: Dennis Sabre vs Volvo FL614 . Commercial Motor . 31 July 2021.
  8. Book: Goundry, Andy. Dennis Buses and Other Vehicles. 31 July 2021. 23 March 2020. Crowood. 978-1-78500-708-8. 137–139.
  9. News: Rapiers at the double . Grimsby Telegraph . 2 June 1995 . 25 . . 10 October 2023.
  10. News: Brigade gets new engines . Hull Daily Mail . 24 February 1998 . 11 . . 10 October 2023.
  11. News: £150,000 fire engines join the battle to save lives . Grimsby Telegraph . 9 February 1999 . 5 . . 10 October 2023.
  12. . 30 January 1992 . Deals for Dennis . Commercial Motor . 10 March 2022.
  13. Web site: Asset Stewardship Report . . 21 September 2006 . shropshirefire.gov.uk . Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority . 13 April 2022.
  14. . 14 May 1992 . Brigade Action. Commercial Motor . Nearly 30 Rapiers have been built so far, including a left-hooker for a brigade in the Netherlands. . 31 July 2021.
  15. . 12 September 1996 . Hot competition in the firing line . Commercial Motor . 31 July 2021.
  16. News: . Dennis breaks pound barrier . GetSurrey . Guildford . 17 April 1998 . 6 August 2021.
  17. Das HLF – ein Frankfurter Kind . . Museumsdepesche . 23 . December 2015 . Feuerwehr Frankfurt am Main . 1 October 2021 . German . The HLF - a Frankfurt child.
  18. Web site: HLF Dennis . . www.feuerwehr-dittelstedt.de . Feuerwehr Erfurt-Dittelstedt . 1 October 2021 . German.