Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
Encyclopedia
The Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) 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. Army in 1982, as a replacement for the M520 Goer
.
A 10x10 variant of the HEMTT truck is used as prime mover in the Palletized load system
(PLS). The vehicle is produced by the Oshkosh Corporation. In the civilian realm the truck's chassis is also used in airport firefighting vehicles.
The United States Marine Corps
uses a similar vehicle, the Logistics Vehicle System (LVS)
, also manufactured by Oshkosh. An LVS differs in that it is actually an articulated vehicle
, similar to a semi-trailer truck
, using a modular system of a Front Power Unit attached to a Rear Body Unit, whereas HEMTTs are non-articulated, single unit vehicles.
The HEMTT's objective is to provide heavy transport capabilities for supply and re-supply of combat vehicles and weapons systems for the United States Army
. It is distinguished by extreme mobility compared to standard 5-ton trucks
, thanks to its large number of wheels and turbo-charged engine, combined with all-wheel drive and very large, low-pressure tires. Though far less publicized than the Humvee, it has been extremely important in transporting logistics behind quick-moving forces based on the M1 Abrams
tank. Having proved itself as a key workhorse of the US heavy tactical wheeled vehicle fleet, about 13,000 HEMTT vehicles are in service today.
HEMTT trucks exist in several configurations:
The cost of a 'plain' HEMTT (M977 or M985) begins at approximately $135,000.
The HEMTT A3 is a technology demonstrator with hybrid powerplant.
In the HEMTT A4, the latest in the series, the familiar Detroit Diesel engine has been replaced by the Caterpillar C15/17 inline six-cylinder diesel engine. All "CAT" engines are turbo charged and highly computerized. They are much more powerful than the previous Detroit Diesel engines, and more fuel efficient. Maintenance has also been simplified (at least when it comes to diagnostics) through the inclusion of OBD II style technology.
All models are capable of fording water crossings up to 48 inches deep, and are air transportable in the C-130, C-141, and
C-17.
Eight-wheel drive
Eight-wheel drive, 8WD, or 8x8 is an eight-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all eight wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously.Some severe/extreme duty semi tractors may have this configuration...
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
Dragon Wagon
Dragon Wagon may refer to:*M25 Tank Transporter, M26 tractor and M15 trailer combination built by Paccar and used in World War II*Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, a modern military transport vehicle...
". HEMTT trucks first went into service with the U.S. Army in 1982, as a replacement for the M520 Goer
M520 Goer
The M520 'Goer' "Truck, Cargo, 8-ton, 4x4" truck series was formerly the US Army’s standard heavy tactical truck before its replacement by the HEMTT...
.
A 10x10 variant of the HEMTT truck is used as prime mover in the Palletized load system
Palletized load system
The Palletized Load System is a logistics supply program that entered service in the United States Army in 1993. It performs line haul , local haul , unit resupply, and other missions in the tactical environment to support modernized and highly mobile combat units...
(PLS). The vehicle is produced by the Oshkosh Corporation. In the civilian realm the truck's chassis is also used in airport firefighting vehicles.
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...
uses a similar vehicle, the Logistics Vehicle System (LVS)
Logistics Vehicle System
The Logistics Vehicle System , is a modular assortment of eight-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles used by the United States Marine Corps....
, also manufactured by Oshkosh. An LVS differs in that it is actually an articulated vehicle
Articulated vehicle
An articulated vehicle is a vehicle which has a permanent or semi-permanent pivoting joint in its construction, allowing the vehicle to turn more sharply. There are many kinds of articulated vehicles, from heavy equipment to buses, trams and trains...
, similar to a semi-trailer truck
Semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
, using a modular system of a Front Power Unit attached to a Rear Body Unit, whereas HEMTTs are non-articulated, single unit vehicles.
Description
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...
. It is distinguished by extreme mobility compared to standard 5-ton trucks
M939 Truck
The M939 series 5-ton 6x6 truck is a family of United States military logistical transportation trucks which was designed in the late 1980s and has been in service ever since. About 32,000 M939 series trucks are in service...
, thanks to its large number of wheels and turbo-charged engine, combined with all-wheel drive and very large, low-pressure tires. Though far less publicized than the Humvee, it has been extremely important in transporting logistics behind quick-moving forces based on the M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
tank. Having proved itself as a key workhorse of the US heavy tactical wheeled vehicle fleet, about 13,000 HEMTT vehicles are in service today.
HEMTT trucks exist in several configurations:
- M977 and M985 cargo trucks carry all types of equipment, including ammunition. A crane is mounted at the rear of the vehicle.
- M978 tanker refuels tactical vehicles and helicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s in forward locations. - M983 tractor tows the trailer-mounted MIM-104 PatriotMIM-104 PatriotThe MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States. The Patriot System replaced the Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium...
missileMissileThough a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
systems. - M983 with 30 KW generator and a crane mounted behind the cab towed the MGM-31 Pershing Erector Laucher in CONUSConusConus is a large genus of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs, with the common names of cone snails, cone shells or cones. This genus is placed in the subfamily Coninae within the family Conidae. Geologically speaking, the genus is known from the Eocene to the Recent ...
(a MAN tractor was used in West GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
). - M984 recovery vehicle uses a lift-and-tow system to recover disabled vehicles in two-to-three minutes. It mounts a recovery winch, a crane and a large storage box.
The cost of a 'plain' HEMTT (M977 or M985) begins at approximately $135,000.
The HEMTT A3 is a technology demonstrator with hybrid powerplant.
In the HEMTT A4, the latest in the series, the familiar Detroit Diesel engine has been replaced by the Caterpillar C15/17 inline six-cylinder diesel engine. All "CAT" engines are turbo charged and highly computerized. They are much more powerful than the previous Detroit Diesel engines, and more fuel efficient. Maintenance has also been simplified (at least when it comes to diagnostics) through the inclusion of OBD II style technology.
All models are capable of fording water crossings up to 48 inches deep, and are air transportable in the C-130, C-141, and
C-17.
See also
- M939 TruckM939 TruckThe M939 series 5-ton 6x6 truck is a family of United States military logistical transportation trucks which was designed in the late 1980s and has been in service ever since. About 32,000 M939 series trucks are in service...
- Heavy Equipment Transport System
- Logistics Vehicle System (LVS)Logistics Vehicle SystemThe Logistics Vehicle System , is a modular assortment of eight-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles used by the United States Marine Corps....