Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
While much attention is paid to United States Army combat vehicles such as the M1 Abrams tank, tanks and artillery pieces could not go far without logistic support, coming from the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) family. The HEMTT series, primarily made by the Oshkosh Truck Company, are the "big brothers" to the many variants of the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV).
HEMTTs, in turn, are the smaller siblings of the Heavy Equipment Transporter System (HETS), which can carry 70-ton M1 Abrams tanks.
There are five basic HEMTT variants.
Designation | Function |
---|---|
M977 | Cargo truck with material handling crane |
M978 | 2500 gallon fuel tanker |
M985 | Cargo truck with material handling crane |
M983 | Tractor (e.g., for MIM-104 Patriot) |
M984 | Wrecker |
They are more than a set of trucks, but a transportation system.
HEMTT Load Handling System
The cargo trucks and tankers have an 8x8 foot payload area, with the ability to load and unload 11 ton payloads, and tow an additional 11 ton trailer that can carry "flatrack" pallets for equipment, equipment, or supplies.
A containerized roll-in/out platform (CROP), an A-frame type flatrack is a compatible with the internationally standardized shipping intermodal container, which roll on/roll off ship and train facilities are equipped to handle. Depending on requirements, CROPs and flatracks can exchange among the LHS carrier or the Palletized Load System.[1]
References
- ↑ Haas, Peter M. (September-October 1996), "Palletized Loading System: Not Just Another Truck", Army Logistician