Marine Corps PEO Land Systems: Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles

MTVR and LVSR are joined by LVS, P-19 fire truck, and multiple trailers under PM MHTV.

By Scott R. Gourley - December 6, 2012

Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, load onto MTVRs and LVSRs operated by Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 5. Marines with CLB-1 completed an exercise coordinated with 1/4 on Nov. 8, 2012, where they subjected themselves to very austere conditions to train with an expeditionary mindset. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik

One broad area that has witnessed significant programmatic transformation over the past year encompasses the Marine Corps fleet of medium and heavy tactical vehicles.

Original Portfolio

The original PEO Land Systems portfolio contained two tactical vehicle systems: the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) and the Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR).

MTVR is a family of vehicles that performs a growing variety of logistics and tactical functions. Often called the “7-ton” due to its cross-country maximum load, it can carry up to 15 tons on the road. Manufactured by Oshkosh Defense, the vehicles were first fielded in 2001 as replacements for the obsolete M813 series, M923 series, and M925 series vehicles.

Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) variants include (left to right) the dump truck, cargo, wrecker, and tractor. Oshkosh Defense photo

The platforms have an on-road cruising range of 300 miles (483 kilometers), the ability to ford 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water, and can traverse a 60 percent gradient and 30 percent side slope with the maximum cross-country load. Operational performance is further enhanced by advanced technologies like the Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension system and Command Zone™ integrated control and diagnostics system.

MTVR variants include: Standard Cargo and Extended Wheel Base Cargo Trucks; dump trucks; tractors; wreckers; and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Resupply Trucks. The vehicles are reducible or non-reducible height and about half are armored.

The LVSR system serves as the “heavy logistics” counterpart to the MTVR. The LVSR is replacing the Marine Corps’ aging Logistics Vehicle System (LVS), which incorporates the MK 48/MK 48A1 front power unit with associated Rear Body Units (RBU) to transport large quantities of supplies around the battlefield.

Developed by Oshkosh Defense, the LVSR includes three variants: MKR 18 Cargo, MKR 16 Tractor, and MKR 15 Wrecker. Company descriptions highlight the system as: “One of the world’s most technologically-advanced logistics platforms,” pointing to its 22.5-ton (20,412 kilograms) on-road/16.5-ton (14,969 kilograms) off-road payload, 600 horsepower diesel engine, Command Zone integrated control and diagnostics, and factory-installed armor integrated into the initial vehicle design.

Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles Program Realignments

The end of 2011 witnessed a significant portfolio expansion through the directed realignment of the entire Motor Transport portfolio from Marine Corps Systems Command Product Group 15 to the Program Executive Office. The realignment, which focused on the synergies to be obtained from consolidating similar capabilities, brought in programs like the current LVS, the P-19 series fire truck, and multiple trailer programs affiliated with medium and heavy tactical vehicles.