Crossings by caterpillar

A half-track is a land vehicle whose front axle has conventional tires but where the rear axle is equipped with a system equipped with tracks. This system, developed by Adolphe Kégresse in 1910, has two advantages:

- lighter tracks;

- more stable and precise steering.

The Kégresse-Hinstin system will equip many Citroëns between 1921 and 1940 with a certain success in France and abroad. On the technical level, this Citroën P17 is the fifth evolution of the car based on the C4 F. They are distinguished by a more powerful engine allowing them higher speeds.

Manufactured on the basis of a Citroën C4F, the Citroën P17 is one of the first half-track cars, namely with wheels at the front and tracks at the rear.

Used by Citroën from 1923, the different half-tracks will carry out 4 incredible cruises:

- The crossing of the Sahara:

Launched on December 17, 1922, the crossing of the Sahara will connect Toggourt (Algeria) to Timbuktu (Mali). Led under the command of Georges-Marie Haardt and Louis Audouin-Dubreuil, it is the first crossing of the Sahara by car. The 2800 kilometers separating Toggourt from Timbuktu will be swallowed up in only twenty days.

- The black cruise:

Started on October 28, 1924, the black cruise will cross the African continent from north to south. Its objective was to make the Citroën brand known and to open a regular motorized line crossing Africa. The expedition will be led by 8 half-tracks equipped with the Kégresse-Hinstin propulsion device with rubber treads. They will travel 20,000 kilometers until June 26, 1925.

- The Yellow Cruise:

This is the third mission led by Georges Marie Haardt and Louis Audouin-Dubreuil. Also called the "Centre Asia Mission", it will take place from April 4, 1931 to February 12, 1932 and will connect Beirut to Beijing across 13,000 kilometers. Two groups make the journey in the opposite direction. The "Pamir" group leaves from Beirut while the "China" group leaves from Tianjin before meeting in Winjiang to finish the route, together, to Beijing.

- The white cruise:

Very happy with the media feedback from the previous Cruises, Citroën lets Charles Bedaux tempt him to make a fourth cruise, across the American continent. The project launches five Citroën Kégresse which leave from Edmonton in Canada. Faced with difficulties, particularly weather-related, the mission had to be cancelled on August 16, 1934 after three of the five half-tracks sank in a flooded river. This is the least known of the Citroën Cruises.