The Military, Tactical, Eight-by-Eight Trucks Leonard S. Moore U. S. Army Tank-Automotive Center International Automotive Engineering Congress Detroit, Michigan January 11-15,1965 961E Downloaded from SAE International by University of British Columbia, Monday, September 24, 2018The Military, Tactical, Eight-by-Eight Trucks Leonard S. Moore U. S. Army Tank-Automotive Center ABSTRACT Tactical trucks are trucks that can travel where the con­ ventional commercial trucks are immobilized by adverse terrain conditions and, for military use, must be able to withstand misuse, abuse, and neglect, yet still perform their mission. The eight-by-eight configuration evolved from the mo­ bility requirements. Swimming capability, with payload, is a new requirement met by the trucks, 2-1/2 Ton, 8x8, XM410E1 and 5 Ton, 8x8 XM656. Curtailment of military personnel has resulted in the availability of less maintenance and supply support. Con­ sequently, these new 8x8' s have been designed for a min­ imum of maintenance by using very durable components, sealed units, and lubed-for-life-bearings. COMMERCIALLY AND MILITARILY many are all familiar with "trucks" of all kinds, shapes, and requirements. A little less familiar in the commercial area is the term "eight-by-eight" which means the vehicle has eight wheels and all eight wheels are powered to contribute to the moti­ vation of the vehicle. Even less familiar is exactly what is meant by the term "tactical." Our military complex uses thousands and thou­ sands of trucks. They are very obvious wherever they go because of their distinctive military olive-drab color. The military trucks you generally see on the public streets are pure commercial trucks with olive- drab paint, procured from the lowest bidder, to haul our military supplies here and there as necessary, on normal streets and highways. A soft muddy field would immediately immobilize these commercial type logistical -supply military vehicles. In peace time there is no need for these vehicles to leave the highways and there is time to wait for the building of a good solid gravel road across a muddy field if it becomes neces­ sary to move supplies and equipment to a site remote from a highway. In time of war or emergency, the military cannot depend upon the availability of highways. Armies do not fight on highways and missiles, bombs, or artillery shells can soon make highways untenable and impassable for the conven­ tional commercial trucks. This is where the " tactical" truck becomes a necessity. It has to be capable of traversing wherever the military need or situation dictates and without time lost for extensive de­ tours. First let me emphasize that a " military tactical truck " is unlike anything in commercial industry. There are some who would try to argue that industry's " off-highway" trucks are the same as or encounter the same severity of terrain and use as our military tactical trucks. We' ve gone so far as to purchase some of these and test them alongside of our tactical trucks. In every case, commercial trucks of sim­ ilar curb weight and carrying identical payloads have been unable to negotiate all the required courses and obstacles or have required too many repair parts, or both. The tactical military truck has components, seals, and parts that are especially made to exclude or tolerate mud, water, heat, cold, abuse, and excessive demands and still function. That is the big reason why a military tactical ve­ hicle seems so expensive when you compare it with a com­ mercial truck of similar rating. Also a new military tactical truck is developed once every 10-20 years and most of it is entirely new to the military whereas the commercial truck develops gradually and eco­ nomically year after year by partial improvement of indi­ vidual components and possible introduction of one or two really new features. Since 1940, the military has relied almost exclusively upon 6x6