MARINE CORPS WEAPONS & VEHICLES

Sea Power, Jan 2006

COMPLEMENTARY LOW-ALTITUDE WEAPON SYSTEM (CLAWS)

Beginning in fiscal 2006, the Marine Corps will buy CLAWS, developed by Raytheon, along a parallel course with the U.S. Army's Humvee-mounted AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). AMRAAM is a weapon carried by modern fighter aircraft and has been adapted to be launched from the Humvee as the HUMRAAM. CLAWS is expected to defend expeditionary forces from attacks by cruise missiles and various enemy aircraft. CLAWS will complement current Avenger air defense weapon systems.

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.

M1030 MILITARY MOTORCYCLE

The M1030 motorcycle is used as a messenger vehicle, transporter of communication traffic in lieu of electronic systems, military police support, convoy control, tactical/urban reconnaissance and transportation of forward observers. The M1030 is a 1991-model Kawasaki KLR 250-D8 commercial cross-country motorbike modified by the Marine Corps with two detachable document carrying cases. The size and construction of the KLR 250 make it highly mobile on all roads and cross-country terrain. The existing fleet of M1030s will be replaced by the M1030M1, a KLR 650 commercial, state-of-the-art, 584cc militarized motorcycle capable of transporting an operator, one passenger, documents and light cargo that has been modified for military use to burn JP-4, JP-5, JP-8 and diesel fuel.

LOGISTICS VEHICLE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT (LVSR)

The LVSR is a heavy motor transport vehicle that provides bulk transport of fuel and water, ammunition, break-bulk cargo, tactical bridging, standardized containers (to 20 feet), heavy equipment transport (including combat vehicles) and heavy wrecker recovery within all elements of the MAGTE Its secondary mission is to provide augmentation for tactical distribution.

The LVSR will be capable of keeping pace with the increasingly mobile and widely dispersed maneuver forces dictated by expeditionary maneuver warfare doctrine. The LVSR is designed for 85 percent on-road and 15 percent off-road mission profile, while carrying payloads of 22.5 tons on-road and 16.5 tons off-road.