The Logistics Vehicle System (LVS), nicknamed by U.S. Marines as "Dragon Wagon" which is a reference to the famous

M25 tank transporter The M25 tank transporter (G160) was a combination 6x6 M26 armored heavy tank transporter/ tank recovery tractor and companion 40-ton M15 trailer introduced into US Army service in Europe in 1944–45. Manufactured by Pacific Car & Foundry Co. ...

which had the nickname of the Dragon wagon. The LVS is a modular assortment of

eight-wheel drive Eight-wheel drive, often notated as 8WD or 8×8, is a drivetrain configuration that allows all eight wheels of an eight-wheeled vehicle to be drive wheels simultaneously. Unlike four-wheel drive drivetrains, the configuration is largely confin ...

all-terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike or quad (if it has four wheels), as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, has a seat ...

unit combinations used by the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

. The LVS was fielded in 1985 as the Marine Corps heavy tactical vehicle system. It was designed and manufactured by the

Oshkosh Corporation Oshkosh Corporation, formerly Oshkosh Truck, is an American industrial company that designs and builds specialty trucks, military vehicles, truck bodies, airport fire apparatus, and access equipment. The corporation also owns Pierce Manufact ...

. The

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

does not use the LVS, it uses the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). 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 Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...

yaw steering (by articulating the Front Power Unit against the Rear Body Unit). This enabled the LVS to meet the turning radius requirements of the U.S. Marines. LVS is rated to haul up to on highways. The Oshkosh Logistic Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) is the replacement for the LVS and was first fielded in 2009.

Description

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. 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 turbocharged 729 cubic inch, 450 hp Detroit Diesel V8, mated to a four-speed Allison transmission. The MK48 also houses the cab, for a crew of two. * 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: A flatbed which is long and features locks for ISO containers. The MK14 can hold a single

twenty-foot equivalent unit The twenty-foot equivalent unit (abbreviated TEU or teu) is a general unit of cargo capacity, often used for container ships and container ports.Rowlett, 2004. It is based on the volume of a intermodal container, a standard-sized metal box tha ...

(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 MK14s can be joined and towed by a single MK48 power unit. This is referred to as a "Tandem Tow" or "TT". * MK15: Recovery vehicle capable of recovering LVSs, MTVRs and

Humvee The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of Military light utility vehicle, light, four-wheel drive Military vehicle#Military trucks, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It ...

s. * MK16: Fifth-wheel 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), which features a slightly shorter flatbed () 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 . 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 MTVRs and HMMWVs. * MK18/18A1: Self-loader capable of loading ribbon bridges, 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

; System-Wide Specifications

Operators

References

Headquarters Marine Corps Factfile

by Federation of American Scientists
Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR)
by Federation of American Scientists

at GlobalSecurity.org

at GlobalSecurity.org
Additional Maintenance Information
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M25_tank_transporter

External links

Manufacturer's Website

LVS and MILITARY VEHICLE INFORMATION FORUM
{{Post-WWII US Soft Vehicles Military logistics of the United States Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s Oshkosh vehicles United States Marine Corps equipment

Description

Specifications

Operators

See also

References

External links