The M970 Semi-Trailer Refueler is a fuel dispensing tanker designed for under/overwing refueling of aircraft. It is equipped with a filter/separator, recirculation system and two refueling systems, one for underwing and one for overwing servicing. The tanker is designed to be towed by a 5-ton, 6x6 truck tractor or similar vehicle equipped with a fifth wheel. The M970 can be loaded through the bottom or through the top fill openings. A ladder is provided at the front of the semitrailer for access to the top manhole, and a 4-cylinder diesel engine and pump assembly provides self load/unload capability. The body of the refueler is a 5,000-U.S.-gallon, single compartment, stainless steel tank. The chassis is of welded steel construction and is equipped with full floating tandem axles and a manually operated landing gear. There has been talk of retiring the M970, but a suitable off-road replacement has not been found. The Marine Corps also uses R-9 and R-10 tankers, but they are not capable of off road use. The M970 is a part of the "
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
Maintenance Center -
Albany, Georgia
Albany ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located on the Flint River, it is the seat of Dougherty County, and is the sole incorporated city in that county. Located in southwest Georgia, it is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia ...
, USA - An Integrated Enterprise Scheduling Case Study" which is working to upgrade the Semitrailer for future use.
The M967 and M969 versions are similar but are configured to carry vehicle fuels (gasoline, diesel). The M967A1, M969A1 and M970A1 versions relocate the top access ladder from the front of the tank to the rear.
Utilization
The M970 can be used as a stand-alone fuel tanker, delivering fuel directly to aircraft on a flight line. The Semitrailer is also used in Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) delivering fuel to multiple nozzles for quick fueling operations at the front lines or beyond. This is generally used for helicopters, but can also be utilized with
AV-8B Harrier II
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II is a single-engine ground-attack aircraft that constitutes the second generation of the Harrier family, capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL). The aircraft is primaril ...
or with an Expeditionary Airfield (EAF). M970's were used to assist in loading the bladders for the Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing Systems (TAFDS) in the field as well.
The M969/M969A1 is a self loading and unloading tank semi-trailer designed to carry and dispense fuel to other vehicles at Forward Arming and Refueling Points. The M967/M967A1 is similar but it is designed to only carry bulk fuels between fuel terminals and depots and is not equipped to dispense fuel to other vehicles.
[TM-9-2330-356-14]
Specifications
All models of the M970/M970A1, M969/M969A1 and M967/M967A1 share a common basic chassis, motors, etc. The basic tank is a baffled tank.
BASIC DIMENSIONS:
*Length :
*Width :
*Height :
*Square :
*Cube :
*Weight: Empty -
*Weight: Loaded -
*Ground Clearance: M970 - / M970A1 -
*Kingpin Height:
FUEL CAPACITY:
*33,950 lb/ highway
*25,800 lb/ cross country
*20% maximum side slope wo/leakage: 5,000 U.S. gallons
*10% maximum longitudinal slope wo/leakage:5,000 U.S. gallons
FUEL DATA FOR 4-CYLINDER ENGINE
TYPE : Diesel
GALLONS PER HOUR:
Self Onload - 300gpm
Offload - 600 pgm
FORDING CAPABILITY:
Can ford hard, flat bottoms.
Depth depends on prime mover and semitrailer payload (fuel is lighter than water and will float)
Without a fording kit the tanker can enter of water safely.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:
24 volt, negative ground, powered by prime mover; pump motor, 12 volt, negative ground, 65 amperes
BRAKES: Air, powered by prime mover
EQUIPMENT OPTIONS:
Kits: Vapor Recovery, Recirculation System, Two Refueling Systems - for Underwing and Overwing Servicing
Engine
The M970 and M970A1 models use a
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products. Cummins also services engines and related equipment, including fuel systems, controls, air ...
Onan
Onan ''Aunan'' was a figure detailed in the Book of Genesis chapter 38, as the second son of Judah and Shuah, and the brother of Er and Shelah. After being commanded by Judah to procreate with the late Er's wife Tamar, he instead "spilled his s ...
four-cylinder inline diesel engine with air cooled compression ignition, producing . It has a fuel tank of 3.2 us gal.
Tires
The M970 uses 11:00 R20 tires with two tires per side per axle in the rear
Models
The M970 series includes the following base models:
The M970 is towed by the following Prime Movers:
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! Model
! Description
, -
, M-931 , , Tractor-trailer truck
, -
, M-932 , , Same as the M-931, but with a {{convert, 15000, lb, adj=on winch on the front
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, M-818 , , Tractor-trailer truck
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MTVR (MK31) , , An MTVR tractor
Safety
Equipped with Filter Separator System which removes water and sediment from fuel; has emergency cut off valve for fuel dispensing; has shear pins and a spring valve in the underwing refuel hose should the hose separate from the hose reel while in use, preventing fuel from spilling into the deck; equipped with
Purple-K Purple-K, also known as PKP, is a dry-chemical fire suppression agent used in some dry chemical fire extinguishers. It is the second most effective dry chemical in fighting class B (flammable liquid) fires after Monnex (potassium allophanate), and ...
fire extinguishers.
See also
*
Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement
The Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) is a series of vehicles used by the U.S. Marines. The first MTVRs were delivered in late 1999. The MTVR is the equivalent of the U.S. Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV); the Marines ...
(MTVR)
*
Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
The Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) is an eight-wheel drive, diesel-powered, tactical truck. The M977 HEMTT first entered service in 1982 with the United States Army as a replacement for the M520 Goer, and since that date has re ...
(HEMTT)
*
Humvee
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ori ...
*
Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) is a series of military vehicles that are based on a common chassis and vary by payload and mission requirements. The FMTV is derived from the Austrian Steyr 12M18 truck, but substantially m ...
(FMTV)
References
* TM 43-0001-31
* TM 11240-15/4B
* TM 9-2330-356-14
External links
Military Safety: USMC Fuel Tanker
Military trucks of the United States
Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s