Logistics Vehicle System
Encyclopedia
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
s used by the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
.
The LVS was fielded in 1985 as the Marine Corps heavy tactical vehicle system. It was designed and manufactured by the Oshkosh Corporation. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
has a similar tactical vehicle called the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT)
Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
The Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck series is a range of eight-wheel drive diesel-powered off-road capable trucks, used by the US military. Formally described as "Truck, Cargo: 10-Ton, 8x8", it has been nicknamed the "Dragon Wagon". HEMTT trucks first went into service with the U.S...
. The key differences between the two is the LVS's ability to interchange Front Power Units with Rear Body Units. The LVS also steers through both standard wheel pivoting (as on a typical automobile) and hydraulic yaw steering (by articulating the Front Power Unit against the Rear Body Unit). This gives the LVS remarkable maneuverability for its size. It and the LVSR can haul up to 22.5 tonnes (22,500 kg) on highways.
The Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) is an upgraded version, first fielded in 2009. The $740.2 million contract with Oshkosh signed in June 2006 will yield 1,592 of the 36 feet (11 m) units to the Marine Corps. The articulation system has been discarded in favor of a ten-wheel system, the TAK-4 suspension system used in the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement
Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement
Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement or 7-Ton, is a six-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy....
for off-road capability, an improved weapons turret with electric motor, and integrated vehicle armor with add-on kits available. The front two and back two axles can be steered, reducing the turning radius to 83 feet (25.3 m) from the 90 and 100 ft (27.4 and 30.5 m) without.
Variants
The LVS is composed of a Front Power Unit (FPU) coupled to a Rear Body Unit (RBU). The FPU can be driven on its own, but is front-heavy in this mode and prone to nose-diving when the brakes are applied. A suspension lockout strut reduces this problem. When describing a truck it is remarked by the combination of both units, for example, an MK48 FPU attached to an MK18 RBU is called a "48/18". For MK16's, which tow M870 semi-trailers, the type of trailer is added as well, i.e. "48/16/870A2".Front Power Units
- MK48 houses a unique turbocharged and supercharged 550hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
Detroit DieselDetroit DieselAs a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
V8, mated to a 4-speed Allison TransmissionAllison TransmissionAllison Transmission is an American manufacturer of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors including bus, refuse, fire, construction,...
. The engine also powers an alternator, air compressor and hydraulic pump. The MK48 also houses the cab, for a crew of 2. - MK48A1 offers slight improvements to the original MK48. Those improvements include a revised battery box and cover, an extra cab entry step for both sides, modified air intake cover, and added handles and steps to ease climbing on top of the power unit.
Rear Body Units
- MK14 Flatbed is 20 feet (6.1 m) long and features locks for ISO containerIntermodal containerAn intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
s. The MK14 can hold a single twenty-foot equivalent unitTwenty-foot equivalent unitThe twenty-foot equivalent unit is an inexact unit of cargo capacity often used to describe the capacity of container ships and container terminals...
(TEU) sized container, or three SIXCON units (pump or tank modules). There are also accommodations for tie-down hooks and ratchet straps for securing cargo. When equipped with a tow bar, two MK14's can be joined and towed by a single MK48 power unit. This is referred to as a 'Tandem Tow' or 'TT'. - MK15 Recovery Vehicle is capable of recovering LVSs, MTVRMedium Tactical Vehicle ReplacementMedium Tactical Vehicle Replacement or 7-Ton, is a six-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy....
s and HMMWVHigh Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled VehicleThe High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
s. - MK16 Fifth-wheelFifth wheel couplingThe fifth wheel coupling provides the link between a semi-trailer and the towing truck, tractor unit, leading trailer or dolly. Some recreational vehicles use a fifth wheel configuration, requiring the coupling to be installed in the bed of a pickup truck as a towing vehicle...
is designed to tow the M870 family of semi-trailers. It is the shortest of the FPU/RBU combinations, creating a smaller turning radius. This is useful, as when towing an M870 trailer, it becomes the Marine Corps longest tactical vehicle. - MK17 Material Handling Crane (MHC), features a slightly shorter flatbed (8 by) than the MK14. This is to accommodate the MHC at the rear of the unit. The boom is rated at a maximum lifting capacity of 15000 pounds (6,803.9 kg). The MK17 can also be fitted with benches to carry 20 combat-loaded Marines. This is rare however, as personnel transport is now mainly handled by MTVRMedium Tactical Vehicle ReplacementMedium Tactical Vehicle Replacement or 7-Ton, is a six-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy....
s and HMMWVHigh Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled VehicleThe High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
s. - MK18/18A1 Self-Loader is capable of loading ribbon bridgesArmoured vehicle-launched bridgeAn armoured vehicle-launched bridge is a combat support vehicle, sometimes regarded as a subtype of combat engineering vehicle, designed to assist militaries in rapidly deploying tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across rivers. The AVLB is usually a tracked vehicle converted from a tank...
, small boats, containers, and SIXCON modules with no external heavy-equipment support. The 18A1 features improvements to the loading and offloading process. The 18A1 features a prominent 'stick-figure'-shaped Front Lift Adapter (FLA) rising from the middle of the vehicle.
Specifications
| Vehicle nomenclature | Length | Curb weight Curb weight Curb weight or kerb weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables , a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.This definition may differ from definitions used by governmental regulatory agencies or other... |
Payload capacity onroad / offroad Off-roading Off-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:... |
Turning radius Turning radius The turning radius or turning circle of a vehicle is the size of the smallest circular turn that the vehicle is capable of making. The term turning radius is actually a misnomer, since the size of a circle is actually its diameter, not its radius. The less ambiguous term turning circle is preferred... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK48/A1 | 238.5 inches (605.8 cm) | 24500 pounds (11,113 kg) | N/A | N/A |
| MK48/14 | 456 inches (1,158.2 cm) | 40300 pounds (18,279.8 kg) | 45000 pounds (20,411.7 kg) / 25000 pounds (11,339.8 kg) | 38.5 feet (11.7 m) |
| MK48/15 | 444 inches (1,127.8 cm) | 50550 pounds (22,929.1 kg) | 20000 pounds (9,071.8 kg) | 38.5 feet (11.7 m) |
| MK48/16 | 398 inches (1,010.9 cm) | 40550 pounds (18,393.2 kg) | 46000 pounds (20,865.2 kg) | 32.5 feet (9.9 m) |
| MK48/17 | 456 inches (1,158.2 cm) | 47200 pounds (21,409.6 kg) | 39000 pounds (17,690.1 kg) / 20000 pounds (9,071.8 kg) | 38.5 ft |
| MK48/18 | 456 inches (1,158.2 cm) | ? | 45000 pounds (20,411.7 kg) / 25000 pounds (11,339.8 kg) | 38.5 feet (11.7 m) |
| LVSR | 430 inches (1,092.2 cm) | ? | 45000 pounds (20,411.7 kg) (200000 lbs towed GCWR Gross combined weight rating The gross combination weight rating is the maximum allowable combined mass of a towing road vehicle, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle, plus the mass of the trailer and cargo in the trailer... ) |
83 feet (25.3 m) |
System-Wide Specifications
| Crew: | 2 |
| Width: | 96 inches (243.8 cm) |
| Height: | 102 inches (259.1 cm) |
| Maximum speed: | 57 miles per hour (25.5 m/s) on roads (65 miles per hour (29.1 m/s) for LVSR |
| Maximum range: | 300 miles (482.8 km) |
| Highest climbable grade: | 60% |
| Steepest approach angle: | 45° |
| Steepest departure angle: | 45° (48° for MK48/16, 40° for MK48/17) |
| Maximum side slope Banked turn A banked turn is a turn or change of direction in which the vehicle banks or inclines, usually towards the inside of the turn. The bank angle is the angle at which the vehicle is inclined about its longitudinal axis with respect to its path.... : |
30% |
| Maxmium fording Ford (crossing) A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns... depth: |
60 inches (152.4 cm) |
See also
- Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical TruckHeavy Expanded Mobility Tactical TruckThe Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck series is a range of eight-wheel drive diesel-powered off-road capable trucks, used by the US military. Formally described as "Truck, Cargo: 10-Ton, 8x8", it has been nicknamed the "Dragon Wagon". HEMTT trucks first went into service with the U.S...
- Medium Tactical Vehicle ReplacementMedium Tactical Vehicle ReplacementMedium Tactical Vehicle Replacement or 7-Ton, is a six-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy....
- High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled VehicleHigh Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled VehicleThe High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
- LVS and MILITARY VEHICLE INFORMATION FORUM