Sunday, August 22, 2010

LVSR: The Marines’ Heavy Trucks

Why are trucks a big deal? Because they’re the unglamorous but very necessary backbone of any mobile military force. The US Marines certainly fit the description of a mobile force, and Oshkosh Defense supplies their MTVR medium trucks. In 2006, the Marines took the next step, and chose a winner to replace a worn-down Oshkosh LVS heavy truck fleet that has served since 1985.



Like their predecessors, these new “Logistic Vehicle System Replacement” (LVSR) heavy trucks will usually find themselves transporting heavy equipment, or basic supplies such as ammunition, fuel, and water. The LVSR winner was also an Oshkosh design…


Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’...

Oshkosh’s LVSR shares MTVR features like the TAK-4® independent suspension system for better off-road performance, leverages advances in automated vehicle diagnostic systems, includes factory-installed armor, and sports a special 600 hp CAT C15 engine. The new 10×10 all wheel drive LVSR trucks have a a 22.5 ton on-road payload and a 13.5 ton off-road payload, with a maximum recommended vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 98,000 pounds/ 44,452 kg. The LVSR can ford 5 feet/ 152.4 cm of water, travel at up to 65 mph/ 105 kph, and has an on-road cruising range of 300 miles/ 483 km. The vehicle will also load and unload flat racks from towed trailers, each of which adds 33,000 pounds/ 14,969 kg of payload. All adapters and lift hardware are carried on the vehicle.

The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, VA manages these contracts. Unless otherwise indicated, Oshkosh Corporation in Oshkosh, WI is the contractor. The core LVSR contract could be worth up to $740.2 million; initial Pentagon releases indicated up to 1,900 vehicles, but 2009 Oshkosh releases put the contract’s maximum at 1,592.


For a history of contract awards, click here.

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