Today marks the 240th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, and tomorrow is Veteran’s day. In honor of these two days, we want to recognize and thank all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard for the sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms. We have the utmost respect for the hard work and dedication these men and women make for us as citizens, and without them, we couldn’t be here to do what we love. Without the vehicles that transport them, our soldiers would not be able to do as much as they do, and for those machines, we are thankful as well.
We are proud Americans, and we are proud of and thankful for our military members and their families. However, we are also gearheads, and that means that there are a few unsung heroes of battle that we love as well. This article is dedicated to the awesome vehicles that make modern warfare possible, and serve as the tools that protect, transport, and assist our troops. Here is a list of our 10 favorite military vehicles:
Number 10: The JEEP!
At number 10, the Jeep is the first vehicle on our list. Though no longer in service, the JEEP was the workhorse of World War II, and has become an icon as a civilian, co-anywhere lifestyle vehicle. The JEEP takes its name from the initials G.P. which stood for General Purpose vehicle. This 4-wheel-drive vehicle won the contest over several competitors in 1940, and began production in 1941 for the war effort. Its simple shape was designed to be produced in factories made for other purposes, and thousands of them saw time in WWII, and evolved over the years. It has also become an iconic favorite of off-roaders, and is one of the most recognizable vehicles ever produced.
Number 9: The M4 Sherman Tank
At number 9 we have another hero of WWII, the infamous Sherman Tank. The Sherman Tank was the first tank designed as a striking vehicle to go ahead of the infantry and blow open enemy defenses. The actual logistics of WWII saw them used more as a support to infantry forces, but nonetheless, the M4 Sherman Tank could deliver a devastating blow with its main 75mm cannon, and its Browning machine guns provided heavy firepower to combat Axis troops. The Sherman’s Chrysler engine and heavy duty mechanicals made it deadly reliable and helped to bring home victory.
Number 8: M2 Bradley
The M2 Bradley comes in at number 8 on our list. The Bradley is manufactured by BAE Systems, and has been in use since 1981. This armored personnel carrier is designed to transport troops and take out enemy tanks. These 3.166-million-dollar vehicles have proven to be very capable fighters and have been used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some versions of the Bradley were even designed to be amphibious, further extending its utility on the battlefield
Number 7: M104 Wolverine
At number 7 on our list, we see the very unique M104 Wolverine. The Wolverine is a vehicle designed to provide a very important function in battle, and that is creating a strong, fast-deploying, temporary bridge. Essentially a drawbridge on tank-treads, the M104 sits on a modified M1A2 Abrams tank chassis, and can be used to deploy a bridge spanning over 85 feet and capable of quickly moving troops and vehicles past rivers, gorges, and other obstacles. The Wolverine can quickly drop a bridge in place, get troops and supplies past, and pick the bridge up on the other side and move along. This capability allows forces to move quickly across difficult terrain without the time spent to build a bridge, and provides security by taking the bridge on the move and not leaving it accessible to enemy forces. The Wolverine is very much an unsung hero of war.
Number 6: IAV Stryker
Named for two Medal of Honor recipients, the Stryker is an Interim Armored Vehicle which serves an important role for ground troops and has been in use since 2002. The Stryker is an 8-wheeled armored fighting vehicle that has served well in Iraq and Afghanistan. Strykers are configured several different ways, but provide an agile, armored platform to transport troops in and out of hostile areas. They are extremely useful in urban warfare, providing safe mobility for troops, as well as significant firepower. To further facilitate mobility, the Stryker is designed to be quickly transported in the cargo hold of a C-130 transport plane in lesser-armored variants.
Number 5: M36 Tank Destroyer
As the name implies, our 5th place M36 was a vehicle designed to take out enemy tanks. The M36 was first used in World War II, and remained in service through the Bosnian War of the early 1990s. Armed with a 90mm M3 Canon, the M36 was designed to devastate German Panther and Tiger tanks. Additionally armed with a Browning .50 Caliber machine gun, the Ford-engined M36 was definitely a force to be reckoned with. The M36 was such a great battlefield tool that many other countries adopted its use, several still using it today.
Number 4: Harley-Davidson WLA
For number 4, we could have chosen from any number of WWI and WWII era motorcycles, such as the Indian 841, or the Harley-Davidson XA, or even earlier motorcycles. We chose the Harley-Davidson WLA because it was likely the most widely used motorcycle in the US Army during the Second World War. Motorcycles are no longer in wide usage in the US Military, but in the World Wars, they provided excellent mobility for many different uses on the battlefield, and proved to be tough, reliable, and versatile. After the war, many of these were absorbed by the “chopper culture” as cheap surplus motorcycles to be customized.
Number 3: M1 Abrams Tank
Having entered service in 1980, the M1 Abrams Tank is a main battle tank named after General Creighton Abrams, commander of the U.S. military during Vietnam. This tank is designed to provide high mobility and heavy firepower for the modern battlefield. With high-tech armor, 120mm cannons, and multiple machine guns, the Abrams is a force to be reckoned with. First seeing battle in the Gulf War in 1991, the speed and efficacy of the M1 tank has proven to be a powerful force in modern conflict. The M1 platform has many variants to serve many purposes in the military, and looks to be a fixture for a long time yet to come.
Number 2: HMMWV “Humvee”
Built by AM General, and replacing the JEEP in 1984, the Humvee has been the motorized face of the US Military for over 30 years. The Humvee is a highly capable four-wheel drive light truck that can be configured as a cargo vehicle, a personnel transport vehicle, or armored and designed for urban warfare. This extremely versatile platform has been proven to be a very capable off-roader, and garnered significant attention from civilians, including celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1992, AM General began marketing modified HMMWVs for civilian use under the brand name, Hummer. After 32 years of faithful service, the HMMWV is now due to be replaced starting in 2018.
Number 1: Oshkosh L-ATV
At number one is the vehicle that is set to replace the venerable Humvee. Planned to enter service in 2018, the Oshkosh Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle, or L-ATV, won the JLTV program to select the Humvee’s replacement, and the decision was announced in August 2015. The JLTV program was designed to find a vehicle better suited to the ever-changing face of ground warfare, with a prime concern being defense against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). While the US already has over 25,000 larger Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP vehicles, a fleet of smaller, heavily armored vehicles is needed to replace the Humvee. The L-ATV is set to be just as versatile and capable as the HMMWV, while providing better protection for occupants and being propelled by the Duramax diesel engine, backed by an Allison heavy duty transmission, and hosting various weapon systems.
Honorable Mention: Light Strike Vehicle
This honorable mention represents the hot-rodder of the military fleet. Essentially a Volkswagen-powered dune buggy or sand-rail, the LSV made our list simply because it is cool, and similar to something we could build at home. The LSV and similar vehicles were put into use around 1991 to quickly traverse the sandy terrain in the Middle-East. Powered by an air-cooled Volkswagen motor, the un-armored LSV can quickly and reliably get Special Forces in and out, carrying only the necessities, and of course, firepower. A more advanced version of the LSV, now known as the Advanced Light Strike Vehicle, or ALSV, is in use powered by a Porsche Diesel engine, and can accelerate quickly and work beautifully for Navy SEAL operations.
Matthew Polley, Cincinnati Automotive, inc. 