Posted: 5/25/2005 7:03:57 PM EDT
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My son sent me this from MCB Camp Pendleton yesterday. Hi res photo is here: img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/Pthfndr/ArmoredF350HiRes.jpg Up Armored Ford F350 
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Army unveils new tactical truck by Ron Morton WARREN, Mich. (Army News Service, March 20, 2000) - The Army unveiled the Commercially Based Tactical Truck, or COMBATT, at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2000 World Congress, March 6, at Detroit's Cobo Hall. COMBATT is a commercial light tactical vehicle remanufactured to Army specifications. U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command officials plan for it to be a mass-produced truck which they say promises four benefits: economies of scale to reduce costs; lower costs on parts and part distribution; use of commercial service manuals; and access to dealerships to greatly reduce maintenance costs. The first COMBATT demonstration vehicles are two maximum-performance, off-road pickup trucks and an advanced systems High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee. The vehicles used are a modified Ford F350 and a Dodge RAM 2500/3500. The areas modified to bring the vehicles up to the new standard are: air springs (ride height adjustment); active dampers; extended suspension travel; upsized wheels and tires; a central tire inflation system; four-wheel ABS and yaw stability management system; advanced differentials; variable stiffness antiroll bars; adaptive cruise control; body and chassis protection; chassis torsional rigidity; a black box recorder; driver vision enhancement with a flat-panel display; a complete suite of electronics for navigation/communication as well as for diagnostics, and an electronically controlled high horsepower diesel engine. The modifications on the M1097A2 Humvee include: emerging technologies to reduce interior noise; metal enclosure with federal motor vehicle safety standard-compliant doors; inflatable seat belts; collision warning; a four-wheel ABS management system; an improved steering idler arm and ball joints; an antiroll bar upgrade; adjustable caster/camber; a central tire inflation system, advanced differentials; new dampers; extended suspension travel; and a suite of electronics to include navigational aids (night vision enhancement) as well as diagnostics. Along with the commercial upgrades, the vehicles are militarized with the standard military equipment. This type of vehicle is being considered as a near-term solution for replacing the aging CUCV fleet, as well as for some cargo troop missions of the light tactical vehicle fleet. This would free more HMMWVs for front-line assignments. By leveraging commercial vehicle technology, the Army aims to maintain a consistently modern, mission-ready vehicle fleet while reducing the costs of development, production and spare parts, according to TACOM officials. The Army is even looking at leasing a fleet of COMBATTs. "After three or four years, the vehicles can then be turned in and new technologically advanced vehicles can be acquired," said Hal Almand, project manager, technology demonstration group, the Army's National Automotive Center. Once turned in, the trucks could be used by other agencies for off road use. Although the trucks are commercially based, they are not out in the commercial market place at this time. But according to Almand, "This is exactly what we are looking to do." Over the next few months the NAC will be taking these vehicles around to show them off to Army personnel and "Ford and Daimler Chrysler will be marketing them around the country over the next couple of years," added Almand. When asked if he would buy one of these vehicles, at an estimated price of $50,000, Staff Sgt. Rudolph Miller, Delta company, 204th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, said he would. He indicated the reliability of other trucks is not up to the reliability of these trucks. "I would rather have a truck that would last for 100,000 miles than a truck for 50,000 miles." |
Yup. my whole family has not owned one since 1985, but I would take it....with a pintel mount, not a 5th wheel..... and this: The modifications on the M1097A2 Humvee include: emerging technologies to reduce interior noise duh; metal enclosure with federal motor vehicle safety standard-compliant doors Ok, more metal to protect people; inflatable seat belts why? ; collision warning hmm, HOW fast will THAT get disabled in combat ; a four-wheel ABS management system Sometimes, sliding can be vital ; an improved steering idler arm and ball joints cool ; an antiroll bar upgrade ok, the thing is 9 FEET wide and can go across a 40% slope; adjustable caster/camber; a central tire inflation system, advanced differentials; new dampers; extended suspension travel; and a suite of electronics to include navigational aids (night vision enhancement) as well as diagnostics. |
see? told you guys. a lot of marines coming back hate the fucking up-armored humvees everyone was getting so hot and bothered over. all that armor makes a slow plodding vehicle just that much slower and ... uh ... ploddier ...  the marines want something that can get them to the scene quicker and even more important away from the scene even quicker if it gets too hot. guys liked the contractor vehicles, lightly armored, fast, and manueverable.nice to see someone listened... 
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