The Tracked Supply Vehicle

Taming the Logistics Beast

The weakest link in the current supply chain for forward forces comes in the form of the current series of 2.5-ton and 5-ton trucks. The problem with these vehicles is quite simple – they are trucks, not combat vehicles. Trucks are entirely appropriate for some military applications but the Army could be vastly improved by fielding a single, basic tracked supply vehicle in place of the medium size truck transports currently used.

The use of a track platform provides an obvious improvement in off-road mobility but it offers an array of other advantages that most people fail to consider:

The elimination of the powertrain of a medium truck allows for a smaller vehicle to carry the same load or larger. This also allows for a lower vehicle weight overall.
By reducing the powertrain to a single drive axle, tracks can easily utilize hybrid diesel/electric powertrains. These can dramatically improve range and also reduce noise signatures.
Tracked vehicles have greatly lowered centers of gravity to reduce the risk of rollover when heavily loaded or of the load coming loose when operating off-road. Tracks also allow for a lower overall vehicle making loading and unloading easier for personnel.
A tracked chassis can be made to provide variable ride height to increase ground clearance for even greater mobility if we so desired in the future.

We can field a basic TSV using the existing PLS package available from Boughton Trailers in the UK to add PLS capabilities to this capable platform. An off-the-shelf system is currently available for 7.5 tons that would fit quite nicely in with current transport equipment. Incorporating PLS in the TSV offers us a wide array of possibilities including armored personnel containers, fuel/water pallets, expandable van boxes, med pallets, ammo reloaders, dump boxes, wrecker boxes, and other options. All of which would be available with the inherent advantages of the tracked platform. A variety of weapon options are also available including 105mm howitzer, HIMARS, EFOG-M, and AMRAAM, all of which could be operated mounted or dismounted and all can be helo'd in if need be

The inclusion of PLS in the medium transport would greatly reduce the need for MHE in the forward areas. This size limit is the maximum that logistical prime movers can carry without getting too close to their maximum operating potentials. CH-53E aircraft could carry two 7.5-ton pallets while CH-47 aircraft could carry one. This weight limit also works well with tactical transport assets like the C-130 allowing for movement of cargo without excessively overburdening the aircraft and enabling true air logistical mobility.

By using a 7.5-ton box, we essentially have four options for logistically supporting the force:

Existing C-130s can move the supplies from forward depots and airdrop or LAPES what is needed into the theater where it is required. Pallets in the 7.5-ton class are also ideal for the proposed use of KC-33 aircraft to transport supplies to forward areas outside of the theater. C-130s or helicopters would then move the supplies to the front.

A TSV with accompanying trailer (a tracked version of the current PLS) would be possible to replace the existing 5-ton platform as the prime mover of cargo in light divisions. This offers dramatically improved off-road transport options and far greater battlefield survivability than wheeled vehicles.

Where ground transport is not an option, the CH-47 takes over as prime mover through the air with CH-53Es available to support it. This allows us to still provide sufficient logistics in heavy terrain as well as from ships off shore if that is required.

In light and medium terrain where wheeled vehicles can properly operate, PLS-equipped HEMTTs and existing PLS assets can handle the bulk of supply transport needs.

One obvious issue that same astute types may think of here must also be addressed. Since most of our supplies are large and bulky items, won’t most of these 7.5-ton pallets weight far less? Yes they will which brings us to the second part of the equation. We need to add to this system a standardized dual-sided cargo net with one side OD Green and the other side Tan. Green means that the load is a GO for all transport systems (pallet weighs 5 tons or less so Blackhawks can carry one or CH-47 can carry two). The Tan side showing indicates a heavier load. An MHE cousin of the TSV will be operating in the rear with built-in scales to weigh the pallets for proper loading. Pallets get airdropped or helo’d to forward areas where TSVs enter the drop zone, grab the pallets with PLS and direct deliver to either the BSA or the front, depending on the load.

The TSV could make the greatest impact of any system in the modern era of warfare. It offers survivability, mobility, and flexibility in a compact and maintainable package. Efforts to develop and field this system need to begin immediately. We can start with the current M1108 as a basic chassis and modify it as needed to work with the Boughton PLS system. Throw in a high output version of the already developed hybrid powertrain for the M113 series and this entire package could begin fielding in a couple of years. The time to start is now.