This is the delightfully named Gugumus 18 meter wheeled ladder, more or less like the British 50 or 55 foot wheeled escape ladder.
Although a handful of French ladder trucks like this Hotchkiss were equipped with pumps, the vast majority were exclusively ladder carriers. They had no pumps, water tanks or much in the way of other equipment.
The canopy crew cab could accommodate four, but they often turned out with only one or two, as they were invariably accompanied by at least one pumper with a full crew.
A handful are still in service in a few French SIDS, but they have mostly been replaced by either compact turntable ladder trucks or 12 to 15 meter ground ladders carried on pumpers - similar to what happened to the British escapes.
The BSPP, who used to operate this unit, have 15 meter ladders on all their on their FPT, FM and FA heavy pumpers, at least one of which normally responds to any structure fire call along with a turntable ladder and a PS light pumper and ambulance combination unit.
Although a handful of French ladder trucks like this Hotchkiss were equipped with pumps, the vast majority were exclusively ladder carriers. They had no pumps, water tanks or much in the way of other equipment.
The canopy crew cab could accommodate four, but they often turned out with only one or two, as they were invariably accompanied by at least one pumper with a full crew.
A handful are still in service in a few French SIDS, but they have mostly been replaced by either compact turntable ladder trucks or 12 to 15 meter ground ladders carried on pumpers - similar to what happened to the British escapes.
The BSPP, who used to operate this unit, have 15 meter ladders on all their on their FPT, FM and FA heavy pumpers, at least one of which normally responds to any structure fire call along with a turntable ladder and a PS light pumper and ambulance combination unit.
Added by Rob Johnson on 08 June 2017.