Logistics: December 28, 2000

Archives

The US Army's new medium brigades, using wheeled armored vehicles (LAVs, or Light Armored Vehicles) instead of tracked tanks and APCs of the heavy brigades, will cost much less to operate and maintain. The medium brigade will cost $4.7 million a year, versus $7.6 million for the heavy brigade. The wheeled vehicles are expected to be more reliable. Tracked vehicles travel an average of a thousand kilometers between breakdowns. The LAVs will travel over 2,000 kilometers. The LAVs will also be able to move along roads at a up to 100 kilometers an hour, about a third faster than tracked vehicles. This is an important feature in peacekeeping operations, where getting to a trouble spot fast is critical. Finally, the medium brigades won't need the 27 tank recovery vehicles and 132 tank transporters of the heavy brigade. Tracked vehicles last longer if you drive them to the combat zone on the back of a tank transport (a tractor trailer.)

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close