Starting from Algiers, one was to reach Atar in Mauritania to the West, the other Largeau in Chad via Tamanrasset. Each mission comprised 2 vehicles and a crew of 10 men. Fennec 2, the most difficult mission, saw temperatures of 52°C and had to cross the Ténéré desert.
The "Fennec" mission VCOM
On their return, each mission had covered 30,000 km, proving the strength and reliability of the VCOM. "We found that the journey had worn out the men and their luggage rather than the vehicles themselves", wrote one observer. He added: "Manoeuvrable, robust, reliable, lightweight, transportable by air, able to use the ancient African bridges, cross the steepest slopes (...), with ample water and fuel reserves, very simple maintenance, extremely usable and ideal for various applications (...), the VCOM can't fail but raise the prestige of French engineering."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION…
Book : L’armée (the army), april 1964, n°37
Charge utile magazine, Hors série n°67