Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck

Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT)

HEMTT M1120A4 in A-kit configuration - without cab armor, the B-kit
Type 8×8 heavy tactical truck
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1982–present[1]
Used by U.S. Army and others (see Operators)[1]
Production history
Designer Oshkosh Corporation
Designed 1981
Manufacturer Oshkosh Corporation
Produced 1982–present
Number built 27,000+ (new build and remanufactured)[2]
Variants M977A0/A2/A4 cargo truck.
M978A0/A3/A4 tanker.
M983A0/A2/A4 tractor.
M984A0/A1/A2/A4 wrecker.
M985A0/A2/A4 cargo truck.
M1120A2/A4 Load Handling System (LHS).
M1977A0/A2 CBT
THAAD Missile Launcher.
M1142 Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT).
M1158 water tender.
HEMTT A3 (ProPulse).[2]
Specifications (M977A4[2][3])
Weight 42,500 lb (19,278 kg) unladen; 69,000 lb (31,298 kg) laden (a-kit); 75,500 lb (34,246 kg) laden (b-kit); 109,000 lb (49,441 kg) (GCWR)
Length 409 in (10.39 m)
Width 96 in (2.44 m)
Height 118 in (3.02 m) (over spare tire)
Crew 2
Armor a-kit/b-kit; U.S. Army Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) compliant
Engine Caterpillar (CAT) C15, 15.2-liter, 6-cylinder inline water-cooled EPA 2004 compliant diesel
515 hp (384 kW)
Payload capacity rated at 10 tons
Transmission Allison 4500SP 5-speed automatic with Oshkosh enhanced 55,000 2 speed transfer case
Suspension Holland ADS-240 air (front); Holland AD-246 air (rear)
Fuel capacity 155 US gal (587 l)
Operational
range
 300 mi (483 km) loaded
Speed 62 mph (100 km/h)
Steering
system
 power-assisted on front tandem

The Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) is an eight-wheel drive, diesel-powered, tactical truck used by the US military and others. In evolving configurations it has been in continuous production since 1982. The M977 HEMTT entered service with the U.S. Army as a replacement for the M520 Goer.[4]

By early 2015 more than 27,000 HEMTTs in various configurations had been produced by Oshkosh Defense through either new-build or re-manufactured.[2] Current variants have the A4 suffix.

The 10x10 Oshkosh Logistic Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) is the U.S. Marines’ equivalent of the U.S. Army’s Oshkosh 8x8 HEMTT and Oshkosh 10x10 Palletized Load System (PLS). The Marines do not use the HEMTT or PLS, and the Army does not use the LVSR, but both services use a common trailer (M1076) with all three truck types.

History

Following the evaluation of proposals submitted by AM General, MAN, Pacific Car & Foundry (PACCAR) and Oshkosh Truck Corporation, In May 1981, the then U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command awarded an initial five-year contract valued at US$251.13 million to Oshkosh Truck Corporation for production of the 10 ton (9,070 kg) 8 x 8 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT).[2]

The first prototype HEMTT was completed in December 1981, pre-production examples followed during March 1982, with the first production vehicles produced in September 1982. Over five contract years a total of 2,140 vehicles were to be delivered. Contract options allowed for up to an additional 5,351 HEMTTs to be ordered, bringing production totals to 7,490 vehicles. The bulk of these options were exercised.[2]

The second HEMTT contract was awarded to Oshkosh Truck Corporation in April 1987. This contract called for a base quantity of 1,403 vehicles, with options for an additional 1,684 vehicles; all contract options were exercised. A supplemental agreement added a further 1,449 vehicles (plus an option for 363 vehicles) to the second HEMTT contract in April 1989; the contract option was exercised. The third HEMTT production contract was awarded mid-1994 and when deliveries under this concluded over 14,000 HEMTTS had been produced. The fourth HEMTT production contract was awarded in August 1995, this extending production through September 2001.[5]

The Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) contract was awarded to Oshkosh by the U.S. Army in March 2001. In addition to the HEMTT (both new and re-manufacture), the contract covered the M1070 HET, M1074, and M1075 Palletized Load System (PLS) trucks, and M1076 PLS trailers and called for up to 5,398 trucks and 1,100 trailers (including options). FHTV covered the production period from March 2001 until mid-fiscal year 2006 (FY06). The FHTV contract was extended and renegotiated, and in February 2007, Oshkosh announced it had been awarded a contract to continue production of FHTVs. The follow-on FHTV contract (FHTV 2) covered new production of HEMTTs (including current A4 variants from mid-2008) and PLS vehicles plus PLS trailers.[2] In total, 2173 new-build HEMTT A4 and 104 Recap HEMTT A4 were ordered under FHTV 2.[2]

Production of product-improved HEMTT A2s continued until production of the HEMTT A4 began in July 2008. The exception was the M1977 which initially remained at A2 configuration for fleet commonality reasons. There is now an M1977A4.[2]

Oshkosh Defense announced In October 2008 that it had been awarded the FHTV 3 contract by the U.S. Army's TACOM. More than 6,000 vehicles and trailers could be delivered under this three-year contract. FHTV 3 covered the HEMTT A4 and A1 models of the PLS and HET, and both new and recapitalized (Recap) vehicles. HEMTT A4 models were required to be Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) compliant and came off the assembly line fitted with upgraded suspensions and integral composite (A-kit) armor, and ready to receive an add-on (B-kit) armor appliqué.

The first FHTV 3 order was valued at US$1.2 billion and delivery commenced in November 2008. By late-2009 about 11,500 HEMTT A4s (new-build and Recap) had been ordered under the FHTV 2 and 3 contracts.

Oshkosh Defense announced in 2012, that it had been awarded a bridge contract to continue production and support of the FHTV. In October 2013, the U.S. Army released a revised pre-solicitation notice associated with FHTV 4 (presented FHTV IV). The original synopsis had been released in July 2013. According to the October release, the government intends to award a five-year requirements contract with an estimated value of US$822 million on a sole source basis to Oshkosh Corporation. It is understood the aim of the U.S. Army, was to ensure negotiations with Oshkosh Defense for FHTV IV were concluded in time to ensure there was no break in production between FHTV 3 and FHTV IV production and deliveries.[2]

On 19 June 2015 Oshkosh Defense announced the U.S. Army had awarded the company a five-year requirements contract worth a potential $780 million to Recapitalize (Recap) its Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV). The FHTV 4 contract covers an estimated 1,800 FHTVs and in addition to HEMTTs covers PLS trucks and also includes the production of approximately 1,000 new production PLS trailers. HEMTT models account for around 75 per cent of the Recap potential, and all work performed under the contract will be completed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Deliveries will run from 2015 to 2019. In March 2016 Oshkosh received FHTV 4 awards valued at $430 million and covering the Recap of 1212 HEMTTs and PLS, plus the production of 345 new-build PLS trailers. Deliveries are slated for 2016-2017.[2]

Since 1995, Oshkosh has worked with the US Army to restore in excess of 12,000 heavy vehicles.[2][6]

To be Recapitalized, used vehicles are returned to Oshkosh where they are stripped to the frame rails, and then fully rebuilt to like-new condition. Recapitalized vehicles are assembled on the same production line as new vehicles, and put through the same performance tests and inspection procedures as new vehicles. The latest technology and safety upgrades are included in the process, and Recap'd vehicles are returned to the Army with a new bumper-to-bumper warranty.[2][6]

Description

The HEMTT's objective is to provide heavy transport capabilities for supply and re-supply of combat vehicles and weapons systems. Compared to earlier generation 5-ton trucks in U.S. Army service it offers increased payload and mobility. The HEMTT is available in a variety of configurations, these including cargo, tanker, tractor and wrecker.[5]

The HEMTT was developed from the outset as a tactical truck, but to minimize procurement and life cycle costs included militarized commercial automotive components where possible, these including the engine and transmission. Some components used in early HEMTTs are common with the Oshkosh Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) vehicles which were supplied to the U.S. Marine Corps.

With the exception of the M984 wrecker variant (254 × 89 × 9.5 mm, front; 356 × 89 × 9.5 mm, rear), on all HEMTT variants the chassis is formed of 257 × 89 × 9.5 mm heat-treated carbon manganese steel with a yield strength of 758 MPa. Bolted construction with Grade 8 bolts is used throughout. A centrally mounted self-recovery winch is an option and this is fitted to around 20% of production.[5]

The HEMTT's two-door forward control cab seats two. It is of heavy-duty welded steel construction with corrosion-resistant sheet metal skins. Simula Inc. (acquired by Armor Holdings in 2003 and now BAE Systems) supplied 186 add-on cab armoring kits for use in the former Yugoslavia. These were not issued, but from 2004 were used in Iraq. BAE systems supplied a next-generation armor kit for the HEMTT and by late-2006 had supplied the U.S. Army with around 3600 kits for the Oshkosh HEMTT and PLS. The HEMTT A4 is fitted with the slightly larger from the Oshkosh PLS A1. This cab complies with the U.S. Army's Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) requirements of an A- and B-kit armoring philosophy. It also comes as standard with integrated floor armor, an integrated mount for a machine gun and gunner protection kit, and air-conditioning.

A Detroit Diesel 8V92TA V-8 two-stroke diesel developing 445 hp is fitted in HEMTT A0 and A1 models, with the DDECIV version of this engine fitted to A2 HEMTTs. An EPA 2004 compliant Caterpillar (CAT) C-15 six-cylinder, 15.2-liter diesel developing a peak of 515 hp is fitted to HEMTT A4 models. HEMTT A0 and A1 models are fitted with an Allison HT 740D 4F/1R automatic transmission, torque converter, and Oshkosh 55000 two-speed transfer case. HEMTT A2 models have the Allison HD 4560P 6F/1R automatic transmission. HEMTT A4 models are fitted with an Allison 4500SP 5F/1R automatic transmission and an uprated version of Oshkosh's 5500 two-speed transfer case.[2][3]

The front axles on all HEMTTs are single-reduction Oshkosh 46K, the rear are Dana single-reduction which vary according to configuration. Drive to the front axles is selectable and all axles have differential locks. Suspension on A0/A1/A3 models is by Hendrickson leaf springs with equalizing beams. Suspension on A4 models is Holland air suspension, load rating on the rear axles varying by configuration. Tire size is 1600 R20 on all models, and standard tire fit is Michelin XZL.[3]

All models are capable of fording water crossings up to 48 inches deep, and can climb a gradient of at least 60%. All original variants are air transportable in the C-130. All variants are air-transportable in the C-17.[1]

Original HEMTT models now have the suffix A0. Only the M984 wrecker was produced in A1 configuration. All models were produced in A2 configuration. The A3 suffix is applied to HEMTT technology demonstrators with a diesel-electric drive system. Current HEMTT production models have the suffix A4.

HEMTT Models

Operators

See also

References (bibliography)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "HEMTT Fact File for the United States Army". Army.mil. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 "Oshkosh M977 heavy expanded mobility tactical truck (HEMTT) and M989A1 heavy expanded mobility ammunition trailer (HEMAT)". IHS Jane's Shaun C Connors & Christopher F Foss. 2015-06-14. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck HEMTT A4". Oshkosh Defense. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  4. ↑ "HEMTT". olive-drab.com. Olive-Drab.com LLC. 2008-05-22.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Connors, Shaun (March 2006). "Feature: Oshkosh HEMTT". Military Machines International. Stamford, England: Key: 34–39.
  6. 1 2 "Oshkosh Defense Awarded Contract to Recapitalize U.S. Army's Heavy Tactical Vehicles". 2015-06-19. Retrieved 2015-06-20.
  7. 1 2 3 Doyle, David (2003). Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Kraus Publications. pp. 247–250. ISBN 0-87349-508-X.
  8. ↑ "TM 9-2320-338-10 Operators Manual for Truck, Cargo, M977A4". US Dept. of the Army. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2014-12-19.
  9. ↑ "TM 9-2320-339-10 Operators Manual for Truck, Tank, M978A4". US Dept. of the Army. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
  10. ↑ "TM 9-2320-340-10 Operators Manual for Truck, Tractor, M983A4". US Dept. of the Army. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
  11. ↑ "TM 9-2320-341-10 Operators Manual for Truck, Tractor(LET), M983A4". US Dept. of the Army. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
  12. 1 2 "TM 5-5420-234-14&P Operators Unit Maintenance Manual for Common Bridge Transporter M977A2". US Dept. of the Army. 1999-07-15. Retrieved 2014-12-19.
  13. ↑ "TM 5-5420-249-13&P-1 Operator's and Field Level Maint. Manual for TFFT M1142". US Dept. of the Army. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
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