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 The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

’s

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); the Marines do not use the FMTV (with the exception of the FMTV-based HIMARS) and the Army does not use the MTVR. There were originally four, later seven, MTVR variants, then nine (plus a sub-variant) as deliveries and development continued. A dedicated trailer and prototype/developmental MTVRs have also been produced. The MTVR was designed and is manufactured by

Oshkosh Defense 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 ...

Development and production history

The MTVR has its design origins in two U.S. military programs, the 5 ton Tactical Truck Replacement (5TTR) for the

, and the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) for the U.S. Marines. The aim of these programs was to upgrade and extend the service life of around 3,400

M939 series 5 ton trucks, and 8,100 U.S. Marines M809 and M939 series 5 ton trucks. Prototype and development contracts for both programs were awarded in 1996. The 5TTR program was subsequently halted, and the MTVR program evolved from an upgrade to a new-build requirement. Oshkosh was awarded a multi-year MTVR production contract in February 1999. The first vehicles were scheduled for delivery by the end of 1999, and deliveries under the initial contract concluded during August 2005. The award initially allowed for up to 8,168 MTVRs (including options for 2,502) in four variants (MK23, MK25, MK27, MK28) to be ordered over five program years; 6,931 MTVRs were delivered, 6,393 to the Marines and 538 to the Navy (

Seabee , colors = , mascot = Bumblebee , battles = Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Cape Gloucester, Los Negros, Guam, Peleliu, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Philippin ...

s). The first MTVRs were fielded in July 2001. Three additional variants followed, the MK29, MK30 and MK36. Under a separate contract, Oshkosh commenced production in July 2004 of a further MTVR variant, the MK37. Based on the MK27 and fitted with a rear-mounted

Hiab Hydrauliska Industri AB (HIAB) is a Swedish manufacturer of loader cranes, demountable container handlers, forestry cranes, truck-mounted forklifts and tail lifts. The company is owned by the Cargotec Corporation. History The name, Hiab, co ...

materials handling crane rated at 10,000 lb at 10.5 ft maximum reach, the MK37 is a resupply vehicle for the U.S. Marines HIgh Mobility Artillery Rocket System (

HIMARS The M142 HIMARS (M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a light multiple rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the United States Army and mounted on a standard United States Army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) tru ...

). The companion trailer is designated MK38. Oshkosh was awarded a second MTVR multi-year contract (FY05-FY10) in July 2004. This award initially covered only potential

Foreign Military Sales The United States Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program facilitates sales of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services, and military training to foreign governments. The purchaser does not deal directly with the defense ...

(FMS), plus the continuing requirements of the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

. Ultimately the U.S. Navy and Marines combined received >2,000 vehicles under this contract. In 2005, the MK31 Medium Equipment Transporter (MET) tractor entered service with

Seabee , colors = , mascot = Bumblebee , battles = Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Cape Gloucester, Los Negros, Guam, Peleliu, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Philippin ...

s, and later in the year with the Marines. The MK28C is a variant of the MK28. The MK28C (C - chassis) replaced Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) types, these based on a mix of tactical and commercial truck chassis and including: water distributor, 2,000

US gallon The gallon is a unit of volume in imperial units and United States customary units. Three different versions are in current use: *the imperial gallon (imp gal), defined as , which is or was used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Austral ...

; fuel, 1,500 US gallon; field service;

asphalt Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term ...

distributor; earth

auger Auger may refer to: Engineering * Wood auger, a drill for making holes in wood (or in the ground) ** Auger bit, a drill bit * Auger conveyor, a device for moving material by means of a rotating helical flighting * Auger (platform), the world's f ...

. Interchangeable commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) - or modified COTS - bodies are fitted to MK28C chassis as field circumstances dictate. Also in 2005, Oshkosh was awarded a contract to re-manufacture an initial 27 MTVRs to new configuration and with a full new vehicle warranty. On 16 May 2008 the 10,000th MTVR was completed. By late 2011 an estimated 11,135 MTVRs had been ordered, that figure including 9,221 for the USMC and 1,855 for the Navy. In FY12 the third (and final) five-year multi-year MTVR contract was awarded to Oshkosh. The final known MTVR delivery order (US$67 m for 338 vehicles; 278 Marines, 60 Seabees) was placed in September 2012, and inclusive of this order 11,359 MTVRs were ordered by the US Marines', about 1900 of these for the Navy. Orders under the final contract could be placed until June 2016. In conjunction with Pierce Manufacturing (an

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 Manufac ...

company), Oshkosh developed the MTVR MK23/25-based Hawk Extreme, a wildland firefighting water tender. This product has been sold commercially.

Technical description

All production versions of the MTVR are based on the same 6×6 drive configuration and utilize a

chassis A chassis (, ; plural ''chassis'' from French châssis ) is the load-bearing framework of an artificial object, which structurally supports the object in its construction and function. An example of a chassis is a vehicle frame, the underpar ...

constructed using bolted / huck-bolted, formed channel (9.75 × 3 × 0.38 in) made of heat-treated carbon manganese steel with a

yield strength In materials science and engineering, the yield point is the point on a stress-strain curve that indicates the limit of elastic behavior and the beginning of plastic behavior. Below the yield point, a material will deform elastically and wi ...

of 110,000 psi minimum. The engine is located under a forward

fibreglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass clo ...

hood. The cab seats three and is of welded

aluminium Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It ha ...

extrusion Extrusion is a process used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile by pushing material through a die of the desired cross-section. Its two main advantages over other manufacturing processes are its ability to create very complex c ...

construction with adhesive bonded aluminium skins. The cab folds down to reduce overall height to 98 in and from mid-2007, production vehicles are armor-ready and have air-conditioning, revised cab mounts and upgraded cab suspension. With the exception of the UK's Wheeled Tanker variants, all MTVRs are powered by a

Caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sy ...

C-12, Advanced Diesel Engine Management (ADEM) III 11.9-litre six-cylinder

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-cal ...

that develops 425 hp at 1,800 rpm and 1,550 ft-lb of

torque In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...

at 1,200 rpm. When the central tire inflation system (CTIS) is set at 0 to 2 tons payload, engine power output is automatically reduced by around 20%. Driveline is completed by an

Allison Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer Companies * Allison Engine Company, American aircraft engine ...

HD 4070P seven-speed

automatic transmission An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...

, TC-541

torque converter A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that transfers rotating power from a prime mover, like an internal combustion engine, to a rotating driven load. In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the torque converter connects the p ...

and an Oshkosh 30000 Series single-speed transfer case. All-wheel drive is permanent and under highway driving conditions the torque split is 32% front, 68% rear. Oshkosh TAK-4 independent coil spring suspension is fitted to the MTVR, this providing each front wheel with a total vertical travel of 16.0 in and a travel of 12.8 in on the rear axles. The front axle is rated at 16,000 lb, the second at 23,500 lb, the third at 25,400 lb. The MK36 wrecker and MK31 tractor variants have Hendrickson hydraulic suspension on the rear

axle An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, beari ...

s. Standard tires fitted to the MTVR are

Michelin Michelin (; ; full name: ) is a French multinational tyre manufacturing company based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ''région'' of France. It is the second largest tyre manufacturer in the world behind Bridgestone and larg ...

1600 R20 XZL and with the exception of the MK36 wrecker variant, no spare is carried. Compensating for no spare is a runflat setting option on the CTIS. CTIS allows the driver to adjust tire pressures to suit both payload and terrain conditions, from the driving seat. The two-piece bolt-together steel wheel rims are fitted with beadlocks for extreme low-pressure operations and tires will remain seated at pressures down to 10 psi. In the event that any one tire should fail totally, a limp-home facility allows for a second axle suspension unit to be raised and secured. Mobility parameters include a climatic operational range of -50 °F to 125 °F. The MTVR has a maximum speed of 65 mph and on-road cruising range of 300 mi. It can climb a 60% gradient and traverse a 40% side slope with its maximum cross-country load. It can ford 60in of water.

Turning radius The turning diameter of a vehicle is the minimum diameter (or "width") of available space required for that vehicle to make a circular turn (i.e. U-turn). The term thus refers to a theoretical minimal circle in which for example an aeroplane, a g ...

and approach, departure, and ramp breakover angles vary by variant. MTVR variants can be internally transported by C-5,

C-17 The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two ...

and

C-130 The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally desi ...

Hercules transport aircraft. The MK23 can be transported underslung by CH-53 helicopter. The original MTVR trailer was designed and developed by Oshkosh to provide a matching trailer for the MTVR truck. Two prototype MTVR trailers were manufactured and tested between May 2000 and March 2001. In June 2005 the U.S. Marine Corps System Command (MARCORSYSCOM) awarded the

Choctaw The Choctaw (in the Choctaw language, Chahta) are a Native American people originally based in the Southeastern Woodlands, in what is now Alabama and Mississippi. Their Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choctaw people are ...

Manufacturing and Developing Corporation (CMDC) a $1.9 million Small Business Sole Source design and development contract for the MTVR Trailer. Oshkosh manufactures and supplies the associated trailers for the MK37

resupply variant.

MTVR Armor Systems (MAS)

Oshkosh promotes the current MTVR armor packages as the MTVR Armor Systems (MAS). The current Standard MAS with Survivability Upgrade (MAS-SU) kit is available for a variety of models. The Reducible Height MAS (MAS-RH) is also available. Installation of armor requires a vehicle front axle and cab suspension mount upgrade, plus a revision to the cab roof gun mount.

Air-conditioning Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C or AC, is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior environment (sometimes referred to as 'comfort cooling') and in some cases also strictly controlling ...

is also fitted. From mid-2007 all production MTVRs have been armor ready, these modifications now forming part of the standard vehicle specification. Development of a protection kit for the MTVR commenced in 2003, with the first production contract awarded in 2004 and calling for 920 baseline appliqué APKs for the cab, plus 460 modular armored rear troop carrier compartments. The cab and troop carrier kits, while complementary, are separate units and can be installed as such. A follow-on contract for 930 cab kits and 465 rear troop-carrier compartments was awarded in 2005. Two further contracts for a total of 293 cab kits were awarded in 2007. Oshkosh announced in August 2008 an initial contract award for height reducible armor kits for MVTRs. Around 2400 height reducible armor kits for MVTRs have been ordered. Additional awards for armor/protection-related upgrades have been made. A small arms fire and mine blast protection kit for the U.K. MoD's MTVR-fronted Wheeled Tanker fleet has been developed and fitted to vehicles used on overseas operations.

Gallery

File:2D Marine Regiment CPX 130502-M-ZE445-002.jpg, Designation for standard cargo 4.674 m wheelbase MTVRs is MK23 or MK25 (with winch). This MK23/MK25 is fitted with an armored cab. File:USMC-050527-M-0884D-002.jpg, Prior to development of an official armor kit for the MTVR in 2003, MTVRs were fitted with a variety of interim armor solutions File:USMC-080801-M-1502P-04.jpg, Development of a protection kit for the MTVR commenced in 2003, with the first production contract awarded in 2004 File:CLB-15 Marines support 1st Marine Division, Japanese during Iron Fist 2014 140215-M-VZ265-807.jpg, Designation for extended cargo 5.486 m wheelbase MTVRs is MK27 or MK28 (with winch) File:MWSS-271 Ground Preparation 130807-M-SA716-026.jpg, Designation for dump truck MTVRs is MK29 or MK30 (with winch). This MK30 is fitted with an armored cab File:New rearming point expands Marines 110405-M-CL319-003.jpg, MTVR MK31 tractor with an armored cab File:USMC-110212-O-9999J-528.jpg, Designation for the wrecker MTVR variant is MK36, this example fitted with an armored cab File:USMC-111122-M-LU513-002.jpg, Designation for standard cargo 4.674 m wheelbase MTVRs is MK23 or MK25 (with winch). This example has an armored cab and is equipped with mine rollers File:Tactical Air Refueller MOD 45150786.jpg, In 2003 the UK became the first export customer for the MTVR, ordering 218 CSTs (fuel); 82 TARs (shown here)) and 48 CSTs (water)

Prototype and developmental MTVRs

* Two each of 6×6 and 8×8 prototypes with Hiab load handling systems have been built. The 6×6 chassis are 9/14 ton (8,165/12,701 kg) on-/off-road rated, while the two 8×8 prototypes are rated at 16.5 tons (14,967 kg) and 15,000 kg payload. Both 8×8 chassis are fitted with a tridem rear axle layout, the rear axles (of which axles three and four steer) sprung hydraulically. * Two 4×4 variants have been developed, the Short Bed Cargo Truck and Lightweight Cargo Truck. The Short Bed Cargo Truck has a high degree of commonality with the 6x6 MTVR, while the Lightweight truck is aimed at the opposite end of the payload/capability scale, this variant being fitted with beam-type axles and a simpler

leaf spring A leaf spring is a simple form of spring commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles. Originally called a ''laminated'' or ''carriage spring'', and sometimes referred to as a semi-elliptical spring, elliptical spring, or cart spring, i ...

(front) and airbag (rear) suspension set-up. * A four-door crew-cab option is available for longer wheelbase chassis. * A European-friendly forward control (with the engine mounted behind the cab) variant of the MTVR, designated as Z Series, has been built. * In July 2005, Oshkosh was awarded a five-month contract from the Office of Naval Research for the first phase of a four-phase project to develop an MTVR with a 60 kW on-board power generating capability. * Together with a selection of industry partners, Oshkosh has developed the MTVR-based TerraMax, an autonomous vehicle equipped with an extensive array of sensors, cameras and navigational computers. * The

Bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e., cows), bulls have long been an important symbol in many religions, includin ...

MRAP Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP; ) is a term for United States Armed Forces, United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IE ...

is based on the MTVR. In October 2007 Ideal Innovations Inc., Oshkosh Truck Corporation, and

Ceradyne Ceradyne, Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British company, Avon Rubber. Ceradyne, Inc. is a manufacturer of advanced ceramic systems and components and involved in many technical industries including nuclear power, oil and gas, sol ...

Inc. announced that they had delivered Category I and Category II

II vehicles to the US Army Aberdeen Test Centre for further service evaluation. Ultimately no orders for any MRAP II vehicles were placed

Operators and details

* (limited evidence) * - 73: 18 MK27 chassis were delivered to ELBO (Hellenic Vehicle Industry) during 2004. A further 15 MK27 chassis were delivered during 2005, and during October 2006 a further 40 MK27 chassis were delivered. Initial deliveries (2004/2005) are fitted with medium recovery equipment supplied by Eyal of Israel, while the October 2006 delivery are fitted out as ammunition transporter vehicles to operate alongside the Hellenic Army's Leopard MBTs * * - 357: In March 2003 the UK became the first export customer for the MTVR. The Wheeled Tanker contract is valued at approximately £160 million (US$250 million) for initial vehicle acquisition and support over 15 years. The contract called for 218 Close Support Tankers (CSTs) (fuel); 82 Tactical Aircraft Refuellers (TARs) and 48 CSTs (water); a contract option for an additional nine CST (water) has been exercised * - 11,359 delivered 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 c ...

and Navy Seabees (contract details in main article)

References

External links

Oshkosh Defense MTVR portal

Oshkosh MTVR Heavy Utility Truck

TerraMax; autonomous MTVR

TerraMax MTVR vs. Range Rover (Top Gear)

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 All-wheel-drive vehicles Military trucks of the United States Military vehicles introduced in the 1990s Off-road vehicles United States Marine Corps equipment Oshkosh vehicles