MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

Sea Power, Jan 2005

M22O TOW

The TOW guided-missile system was developed as a' heavy antitank assault weapon and can be fired from a tripod, LAV-Antitank, the Humvee or an AH-IW Super Cobra attack helicopter. TOW can be employed in all weather conditions, day and night, with the UAS12 night sight attached. The TOW has a maximum range of more than 4,000 yards, and its high-explosive antitank round weighs approximately 50 pounds. The missile has a 20-year shelf life. The TOW 2 systems fielded after 1984 offer digital-guidance electronics, improved tracking and sighting, a larger warhead and an improved rocket motor. The TOW 2A has a tandem-warhead configuration to provide increased lethality against targets with reactive armor. The TOW 2B is a fly-over, shoot-down missile that attacks armored targets from above, firing two explosively formed penetrators through the top armor plates. The current TOW launcher can fire any of the existing TOW missiles. The Marines no longer have antitank companies in their tank battalions; most antitank systems have been transferred to infantry battalions to augment their offensive and defensive capabilities.

MAGTF EXPEDITIONARY FAMILY OF FIGHTING VEHICLES (MEFFV)

The MEFFV is the proposed replacement for the Marine Corps' family of LAVs and the M1A1 main battle tank in the 2018 to 2022 time frame. The MEFFV is analogous to the U.S. Army's program to field a family of manned ground vehicles as part of its Future Combat System (FCS). The MEFFV may consist of other combat, combat support and combat service support variants to capitalize on commonality of hulls and parts in order to minimize operations and maintenance costs. The U.S. Army and the Marine Corps have signed a memorandum of agreement to coordinate activities for MEFFV and FCS under a joint program office, including development of concepts/requirements, coordination of science and technology activities, coordination of command-and-control network integration and eventual potential for shared production facilities.

SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS VEHICLES

HIGH-MOBILITY MULTIPURPOSE WHEELED VEHICLE (HMMWV)

The HMMWVA2 Humvee is the third generation of the primary light tactical vehicle in the Marine Corps' motor transport fleet. The basic 1-1/4-ton HMMWV entered service in the mid-1980s. Additional mission requirements, engineering modifications and lessons-learned from the 1991 Persian Gulf War were the catalysts for the creation of the HMMWVA2, which boasts a 2-1/4-ton hauling capability, an advanced corrosion protection package, and increased reliability, availability, maintainability, supportability and durability. The HMMWVA2 is configured in six variants, including the M1123 troop/cargo carrier, M1097A2 shelter carrier, M1043A2 armament carrier, M1045A2 TOW missile carrier, M1035A2 soft-top ambulance and the M997A2 maxi-ambulance. The HMMWVA2 provides a mobile capability for infantry; air defense; command, control and communication; and maintenance personnel through authorized modification/configuration of each mission essential variant to meet the need of the user. The 10-year fielding plan will culminate with 19,280 vehicles.