M25 Tank Transporter | |
---|---|
M26 tractor
|
|
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1941-1955 |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designer | Knuckey Truck Company |
Manufacturer | Pacific Car & Foundry Co. |
Specifications | |
Weight | 22 tons |
Length | 7.7 m |
Width | 3.3 m |
Height | 3.2 m |
Crew | 7 |
|
|
Armor | front 3/4 inch sides, rear 1/4 inch |
Main
armament |
.50 cal M2 machine gun |
Engine | Type 440 6-cylinder gasoline engine 240 hp |
Suspension | 6×6 |
Operational
range |
400 km |
Speed | 26 mph (42 km/h) |
Heavy Equipment Transport System (abbreviated as HETS) is a term applied (primarily) to a U.S. Army logistics vehicle transport system, the primary purpose of which is to transport the M1 Abrams tank. It is also used to transport, deploy, and evacuate armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery, armored bulldozers and other heavy vehicles and equipment of all types.
The current U.S. Army vehicle used in this role is an Oshkosh-built M1070 tractor unit in A0 and A1 configurations which is coupled to a DRS Technologies M1000 semi-trailer. This combination replaced the earlier Oshkosh-built M911 tractor unit and M747 semi-trailer.
To meet a US Army requirement for the transport of the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) Oshkosh Truck Corporation (now Oshkosh Defense) proposed the M1070. A contract for 1044 M1070 was placed, with production commencing in July 1992.
The final U.S. Army contract for the original A0 version called for 195 vehicles. These were delivered between March 2001 and March 2003. U.S. Army deliveries of A0 versions totalled 2,488. Following extensive use, some M1070 have been Reset to original build standard by Oshkosh.
The M1070E1 model was developed in the mid-1990s in conjunction with the U.S. Army as a possible Technology Insertion Programme (TIP) for the M1070. No orders were placed.