America is well known for its obsession with vehicles. Sports cars, NASCAR, awesomely sized SUVs, swank black car services – if it’s got an engine we want to know about it. That said, this Memorial Day we’re taking a look at some of the coolest vehicles our troops ride around in.
Today’s Military Vehicles
A large part of the defense budget goes to making sure our troops are protected when they travel around war zones. That task is met by a lineup of rugged, highly technological military vehicles.
The IAV Stryker is an eight-wheeled serious combat machine. The ominous name actually comes from two U.S. servicemen that posthumously received the Medal of Honor: Robert F. Stryker and Stuart S. Stryker.
Used Since: 2002
Cost: $4.9 million
Speed: 62 mph
Interesting features: can switch from front wheel to all wheel drive; engine can be taken out and repaired within a few hours; it has a day-night thermal imaging camera; computer training modules are right inside.
Bradley Fighting Vehicles have seen their fare share of deployments to the Middle East. Mainly used for scouting and transport these vehicles are still equipped to protect soldiers and suppress enemy combatants if need be.
Used Since: 1981
Speed: 41 mph
Interesting features: There are 12 different variations of the Bradley; the Bradley was created in large part as a response to the Soviet’s BMP infantry vehicles; the Bradley Urban Survival Kit onboard reduces threats in cities and adds 3 tons to the weight of the vehicle.
LARC-V stands for Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo, 5 ton. It’s a mouthful but this vehicle has a lot going on. They’ve served the military so well over the decades that the Navy recently added the LARC-V to its Service Life Extension program to update the model for future use.
Used Since: 1962
Speed: 31 mph on land / 7.5 knots on water
Interesting features: It is amphibious; towing capacity on land is 29,000 lbs.; towing capacity on water is 7,600 lbs.; can hold 3 crew members and 20+ passengers.
The HMMWV, better known as the Humvee, is well known amongst Americans because it was the inspiration for the Hummer line of SUVs. MMWVs became widely used by the U.S. military during the Gulf War, but today they are used by many other countries.
Used Since: 1984
Cost: $65,000 – $140,000
Speed: Over 70 mpg
Interesting features: HMMWVs come in both armored and unarmored versions; 17 variations of the HMMWV are currently in service; originally designed as a personnel and light cargo carrier.
Original Source: https://www.royalaustin.com/luxury-rider-insider/transportation-for-our-troops-what-soldiers-ride-around-in