The requirements for what became the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) were worked out in the early 1980's and crystalized with a formal US Army tender in 1988. FMTV's object was to replace the US Army's ageing M35 trucks with a modern truck to last beyond the year 2000. Stewart & Stevenson and Steyr Daimler Puch were successful with trucks based on Steyr's 12 M 18 model.

The FMTV family consists of 2.5-ton (capacity) 4×4 LMTV trucks and 5-ton 6×6 MTV trucks in various configurations. They are produced by Stewart & Stevenson's Tactical Vehicle Systems Division at Sealy, near Houston Texas.

Interchangeability of components was an important design objective to ease servicing and reduce costs. For example, the 4×4 and 6×6 trucks share front and rear axles, transmission and Caterpillar engine (225hp version in the 4×4 and 290hp version, courtesy of higher turbo boost, in the 6×6).

An on-the-move central tyre inflation system is fitted (left). Also note that the truck, as is, is 6" too tall for the C141 aircraft. To load it into this aircraft, the operator deflates cab air-bags and lowers suspension by air, uses chassis shackles to keep the road springs compressed and lowers the tire pressure to 12psi; it then fits.

Various bodies is being made by outside suppliers - tractor, drop-side trays, tipper, fuel tanker, wrecker and vans. The trucks are also available in civilian versions as the SS400 and SS800.

1988: US Army tendered for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. Steyr Daimler Puch start developing prototypes based on their Steyr 12 M 18 truck. Steyr links with Stewart & Stevenson. Stewart & Stevenson, General Motors and Teledyne short-listed.

1989/1990: Steyr prototypes sent to the USA.

1991, October 11: The Steyr / Stewart & Stevenson bid succeeds.

1993, June 25: Roll out at Sealy plant.

1996 January: Ft. Bragg N.C., The US Army's XVIII Airborne Corps become the first unit to receive MTV trucks.

1998, October 16: contract for 9000 trucks to be delivered over 4 to 5 years. Improvements to flywheel housing and drive shaft; ABS brakes fitted.

2008 May 22: "BAE Systems received a $54 million contract from the U.S. Army to manufacture approximately 370 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). ... More than 48,000 FMTV trucks and trailers are in service with the U.S. Army. ..." - BAE #170/2008.

2008 June 3: "[DOD] awarded BAE Systems a contract for the supply of up to 10,000 [FMTV trucks] worth up to us$2.2 billion, with us$1.65 billion of funding already agreed." - BAE #171/2008.

2008 November 12: "BAE Systems has been awarded a us$1.6billion contract ... to build another 10,000 [FMTV] and trailers for delivery during 2009 and 2010...." -- BAE #280/2008.

2009 August 17: Oshkosh Defense (not S&S/BAE) was selected to produce 2,568 FMTV trucks and trailers for us$280.9million. More orders, to Oshkosh, followed in 2010.

(A SS/BAE counter appeal was rejected Feb. 2010.)

2013 April 17: Oshkosh had "delivered the 15,000th Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) truck to the U.S. Army and National Guard ..."

2016 September 29: "The U.S. Army has awarded Oshkosh Defense, LLC ... a us$409 million contract to produce 1,661 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) trucks and 31 trailers, under Order Year 7 of the current FMTV contract. Deliveries will continue through July 2018. ..." -- Oshkosh.

References

The Soldier's Choice. SDP Topical, 3/91, p.3-9, 1991.

Industry Begins Billion Dollar Order. Trailer / Body Builders p.42, 1993.

MTV 6×6

The MTV is the 5-ton capacity six wheel drive (6×6) member of the US Army's FMTV Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.

It is supplied as standard cargo (M1083), standard cargo with crane (M1084, drop-side tray), long cargo (M1085, extended rear chassis), long cargo with crane (M1086), expansible van (M1087), tractor (M1088, semi-trailer), wrecker (M1089), dump truck (M1090), fuel tanker (M1091), bare chassis (M1092), and long chassis (M1096). The standard cargo and the dump truck are available in versions with the cab folding at the window line for air transport and parachute drops (M1093 and M1094). Some of the specialised models have extended wheelbases of up to 5500mm (216.5").

This 6×6 wrecker (M1089) has a "pickle fork" towing lift with 4990kg (11,000 lb) capacity at the rear and lifting booms midships. It also has an extended wheelbase of 5300mm (209") and an uprated towed load limit of 16,709kg (36,836lbs).

M1083 MTV Standard Cargo 6×6 Truck, drop-side tray, rear-mounted crane, 2-doors;

loa 7768mm (306in), width 2438mm (96in), height 2845mm (112in) (2680mm (105.5in) for air transport), wheelbase 4500mm (177in), grnd clearance 559mm (22in), approach 40, departure 36, side slope 30, gradability 60%;

weight 10740kg (unladen), GVM 15276kg, towing 9526kg;

Caterpillar, 6.6L, diesel, 6-cyls, turbo-charged intercooled, bore 105mm, stroke 127mm, power 216kW (290hp) at 2600rpm, torque 1000Nm (737lb-ft) at 1600rpm;

transmission Allison MD-D7, 7-speed auto/select, full-time six wheel drive, 30/70 torque split on road, 50/50 offroad;

axles Rockwell 3.9:1 diff', 2:1 hub reduction, 7.8:1 overall;

suspension live-leaf/live-leaf+coil, brakes dual circuit air;

tyres Michelin XML 395/85R 20";

Note also available as 5-ton chassis, van; tractor, dump truck, long cargo, fuel tanker, wrecker.

LMTV Light Medium Tactical Vehicles 4×4 Trucks

The LMTV is the light-medium 2.5-ton capacity four wheel drive truck of the US Army's FMTV family. It shares many components with its 6×6 5-ton sibling, including the engine (lower turbo boost) and transmission.

The 4×4 LMTV is supplied as either a bare chassis (M1080), standard cargo (M1078, drop-side tray) or a van (M1079). The van body adds 635mm to the vehicle's height but can be removed for air-transport.

There is a special version (LVAD, M1081) of the standard cargo model with a cab folding at the window-line for airborne transport and parachute drops.

M1078 LMTV Standard Cargo 4×4 Truck, drop-side tray, 2-doors,

loa 6429mm (253in), width 2438mm (96in), height 2845mm (112in) (2680mm (105.5in) for air transport), wheelbase 3900mm (153.5in), grnd clearance 559mm (22in), approach 40°, departure 40°, side slope 30°, gradability 60%;

weight 7484kg (unladen), GVM 9752kg, towing 4700kg;

Caterpillar 3115 ATAAC, 6.6L, diesel, 6-cyls, turbo-charged intercooled, bore 105mm, stroke 127mm, power 168kW (225hp) at 2600rpm, torque 863Nm (636lb-ft) at 1600rpm;

transmission Allison MD-D7, 7-speed auto/select, full-time four wheel drive, 30/70 torque split on road, 50/50 offroad, axles Rockwell, 3.9:1 diff', 2:1 hub reduction, 7.8:1 overall;

suspension live-leaf/live-leaf, brakes dual circuit air;

tyres Michelin XML 395/85R 20";

Note also available as 2.5-ton chassis and van.