US Military Vehicles, Spanning the Legends of History
The importance of US military vehicles is sometimes overlooked. Since the beginning of time, war was a part of life. Defenders sought to protect their lands and freedom. Invaders sought to build upon what they already had. From Ramses II to Attila the Hun to Alexander the Great. The biggest challenge each of them faced was transporting massive armies and weaponry across large expanses of land and sea, sometimes traversing thousands of miles. Most people know how the chariots helped the Egyptians in battle, and historians recall how Octavian’s nimble Liburnian vessels made the difference between success and failure in the Battle of Actium. Even though chariots and Liburnian vessels aren’t used today, military vehicles have not disappeared.
Imagine driving down the road in three tons of steel armor that is impervious to any amount of gunshot. This big hunk metal can detect bombs and other threats around you. And when you reach the lake shore, it just keeps on going. Nothing can stop it. But you just can’t get away with all of that in your standard Prius, no matter what commercials say.
Military technology has advanced enough that today a vehicle can easily clear debris in a matter of minutes or protect hundreds of soldiers’ lives by detecting nearby bombs. Most can cover almost any type of terrain imaginable and some perform miraculous rescue missions. Let’s take a look at some specific military vehicles and what they can do.
Types of US Military Vehicles
Buffalo Mine Protected Route Clearance Vehicle: This vehicle was specifically designed to redirect blasts away from passengers and provide all-around coverage. The most distinguishing feature of the Buffalo is the hydraulic claw arm (operated within the vehicle) that can dig and extract any material. It can also reach speeds up to 65 mph.
M9 Armored Combat Earth mover (ACE): This earth mover is created primarily for construction purposes. It can perform a number of tasks, including grading, dozing, hauling, and towing. It can also create an alternate route wherever there is a body of water in the way. This vehicle can drive up to 30 mph, it’s air transportable, and it can even swim. With all of these capabilities, this ACE is a huge asset to the military.
M1117 Armored Security Vehicle: This is a fighting vehicle armed with an Mk19 grenade launcher, M2 .50 caliber machine gun, and M240 machine gun. It can reach up to 63 mph and cover a range of 440 miles. This ASV performs any number of military police operations, including security in the rear area and battlefield circulation. Its arming protects the crew and gunman as well as the ammunition area. It even has a payload of 3,600 lbs.
M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle: This one is armed with a number of weapons, including both the M2 .50 caliber machine gun and the M240 7.62 mm MG. It has 62 mph speed and a 300-mile range. This is much lighter than tanks and other armored vehicles, making it more transportable as well. This conflict vehicle is designed to perform any number of fast-paced operations within the combat spectrum.
Paving the Way
US military vehicles help protect and defend our troops and all the citizens of the U.S., and new technology is coming out all the time that makes these tools even more effective, more efficient, and cheaper. The military constantly trains soldiers how to use all of these vehicles to their fullest capacities. But only a very small list is included here.