Mack Military Truck ?

[umodelnut]

After MANY years of use and abuse, even the Mack M123 needs a break. Mack offered the U.S. Army a replacement in the form of the 6x6 F-900SX. However, the army didn't want an automatic transmission and the manual was difficult to shift fast enough when operating at slow speeds over hilly terrain. However several European customers expressed interests and sales were made, including to Morrocco.

Those are awesome!!!! Do you know if any survived and are still left?

[kscarbel]

While Mack’s U.S. operations have had an on-again, off-again history of doing business with the US military (an incredible direct-sales absence from 1965 thru 2004), the company’s Australian unit was extremely successful in cooperating with the Australian Defense Force (ADF). That Mack Australia has maintained a non-stop relationship with the Australian Defense Force since 1981 that is truly impressive.

So strong is the partnership and the Australian military’s satisfaction with its Mack trucks that it awarded Mack Australia a US$7 million contract to refurbish 158 of its RM6866RS 6x6 trucks in 2004, part of the military’s original RM fleet of 940 units purchased in 1981. Since the RM is regrettably no longer in production, the ADF elected to rebuild them rather than replace them with another brand truck. That speaks volumes about the ADF’s devotion to their dependable 6x6 Macks.

Whether on the fields of Afghanistan or the beaches of East Timor, military-spec model RM 6x6 Mack trucks of the Australian Defense Force are on the job day-in and day-out.

[kscarbel]

The Mack model RM6866RS 6 x 6 was produced by Mack Trucks Australia as the Truck, Cargo, Heavy, MC3. Three prototypes were produced in 1978 and after extensive trials an order was placed in 1981 for 906 units. These were delivered in 1985. In 1988, an additional 19 units were built which brought the grand total to 925 units in all configurations.

In 1993, an AUD8.77 million contract to upgrade 542 of these trucks was awarded to Mack Trucks Australia which included replacing the Mack camelback suspensions with Mack SA441W air suspensions. In 1994, the contract was expanded to the remainder of the Australian Army's Mack fleet.

The RM6866RS 6x6 heavy recovery vehicle (HRV) was developed by Mack Trucks Australia for the Australian Army and 64 units were ordered. The HRV has undergone major modifications from the standard Mack RM6866RS chassis to increase its capability, including increasing engine output from 285 hp up to 320 hp with peak torque now at 1,600 rpm. The transmission has been upgraded to an Eaton RTXF-14710B which gives a wider operating range for the loads required to be towed. The 'R' model cab has been substantially modified, with the rear cab wall having been removed and a crew cab bolted to the rear allowing additional seating for the recovery crew (two people). The complete cab set up has been placed on an air suspended sub-frame. A new integrated recovery unit has been mounted to the rear of the vehicle consisting of material handling equipment (MHE), two retrieval winches with fairlead systems, a lift towing system, and stowage facilities.

Edited July 10, 2012 by kscarbel

[1958 F.W.D.]

Took these pictures at the grand opening of the new Mack Customer Center/Museum Open House (formerly the R & D Facility in Allentown, Pa.) October of last year.

[kscarbel]

But that's not a mil-spec Mack. It's just a Pinnacle with army paint and an armored cab. It has no cross-country capability. Mack has yet to get back into the tactical vehicle arena and compete with Oshkosh.

[GearheadGrrrl]

IIRC, back in the Vietnam era Mack built some DMs for the U.S. military.

[JumperAndSon]

Dude, those are a lot of seriously awesome trucks. I would love to have any of them. That buffalo truck is kind of wierd though.

Ben

[kscarbel]

Mack sold some 6x6 DM6116S tractors and dump trucks to the U.S. Air Force in 1968 with 180hp END673E engines, 18-speed TRQ7220 quadruplex transmissions and 18.00x22.5 super single tires.

Mack also sold some DM800's to the U.S. Navy (with Cummins NTC335s and NTC350s).

Many years later, Mack sold some DM492S's to the Air Force (Caterpillar 3208s and Allison MT643s - not a Mack).

All of these were basically civilian spec trucks simply painted army drab, not tactical trucks like the M123/125 series.

[kscarbel]

_{Here are a couple more pictures of the massive M123 prime mover, and several of its legendary WW2 predecessor the model NO. Both the NO and the M123/125 shared the same brilliant front axle drive arrangement (via the kingpin).}

[leversole]

Damn! I like this one! I would move the headlights back where they belong and drive it!

[umodelnut]

Mack sold some 6x6 DM6116S's (Mack 673 power) to the U.S. Air Force during the 'Nam era, and sold some DM800's to the U.S. Navy (with Cummins NTC335s and NTC350s).

Many years later, Mack some some DM492S's to the Air Force (Caterpillar 3208s and Allison MT643s - not a Mack).

All of these were basically civilian spec trucks simply painted army drab, not tactical trucks like the M123/125 series.

Those are sweet!!!!!!! I like the DM800 tractor with bud wheels.

[kscarbel]

Built in 1945, Mack Truck’s T8 Tank Transporter was certainly impressive, with front and rear four-wheel drive modules that were powered by two 17.8 liter (1,090 cu.in.) 240hp (@ 2,000rpm) Hall-Scott 441 engines. It could carry a 41-ton payload cross-country with a gross weight of 86-tons. Tires were size 21.00-29.

A more powerful version, the T8E1, was powered by two all-aluminum 18-liter 500hp Ford GAA tank engines featuring dual overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder with a top speed of 31 mph. (32-valve DOHC V-8 - sounds more like a modern engine rather than one produced in 1945).

In 1950, the T8E1 was adapted to carry the army’s 280mm atomic gun carriage (it fired atomic shells), resulting in the Mack T9. Length increased from 60 to 71 feet.

[kscarbel]

Always submitting requests for large and expensive experimental toys (few that ever see production), the U.S. Army in 1957 approached R.G. LeTourneau for an 8x8 version of the tank transporter.

Mack Trucks supplied all the axles and bogies to Letourneau, including triple-reduction front axles and double reduction rear axles (with a 9.02:1 final ratio).

Designated the XM376 (front unit) and XM377 (rear unit), they were designed to travel in one direction (unlike the previous Mack T8). The entire unit weighed 64 tons and was designed to carry a 50-ton tank. It was noted that maneuverability was terrible except in open fields and “the amount of money spent on the project must have been immense, and served no practical purpose.”

Each eight-wheel drive module was powered by a 560hp (@2800rpm) 1,195-cu.in. air-cooled Continental AOI-1195-5X horizontally opposed piston 8-cylinder engine connected to Allison CBT 5640-2X 4-speed automatic transmissions. Top speed was 35 mph.

The XM376/XM377 was sold as surplus in 1961.

[GearheadGrrrl]

BTW, every once in a while is see a red CL700 with US Government plates pulling a lowboy loaded with Humvees around here. Did the military buy many of these CL700s?

[MackMann85]

I saw some stuff on the internet this week about Mack selling a hundred military trucks and figured it would be interesting on this message thread...

[kscarbel]

While Oshkosh and Navistar have received orders for thousands of mainstream all-wheel-drive tactical trucks, Mack gets an order for 100 civilian-spec 6x4 Granite water trucks painted olive-drab.

Aside from the RM-6866RS produced for the Australian Defense Force, Mack hasn't produced a tactical military vehicle since the M123/125.

[41180]

whats the vab mark 2 thats shown on macks website ? its ether 4x4 or 6x6 armored vehicle.

[kscarbel]

whats the vab mark 2 thats shown on macks website ? its ether 4x4 or 6x6 armored vehicle.

That's not a Mack product. It's an armored personnel carrier that is designed, produced and sold by "Renault Trucks Defense". The VAB Mark 2 has actually been superceded by the Mark 3 (more under belly armor to resist road mines and a larger engine to handle the additional weight).

[MackMann85]

I would have thought selling 100 trucks was good news? I guess not?

[bulldogboy]

I'm sure that Mack is happy selling 100 trucks to the military regardless of whether they are tactical or administrative models.

bulldogboy

[kscarbel]

Mack for years participated in the 2-1/2 to 10-ton medium tactical truck segment. Now lets's consider the business activity there.

Oshkosh has sold the U.S. Army 10,000 units since 2010. That's impressive. Oshkosh's current 5-year contract calls for 12,415 trucks (and 10,926 trailers) The contract value is over $3 billion.

Navistar, which during WW2 was uniquely the primary supplier to the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marines, decided in 2003 to get back into the high volume military tactical truck business. And you have to admire them for the speed at which they ramped up and began producing cutting edge tactical vehicles. Thru March 2012, Navistar has sold 8,779 versions of its MaxxPro MRAP (they run $520,000 to $550,000 per unit)

This is the kind of meaningful high-volume repeat military business you want to get. Otherwise, it's more a distraction than a useful expense of time.

[41180]

im really sick of the arrogance of kscarbel. go to paccar site

[rsb502]

I've been told by my Detroit Diesel Rep. that the Military is still using the 8V-92's in all of there big haul tractors like the Oshkosh with the Allison Trans. I'm told the new ones being built are over 500 Hp. & the reason for them still using this combo ? The parts all interchange and the motor is compact & light. I don't know, what do you guys think ??.

BULLHUSK

No new military vehicles have Detroit 2 strokes, they have 8v92's in the HET tractor and the HEMMTT trucks but the new HET's have 700hp CAT's and the new Freightliner/Western Star line haul trucks have Detroit series 60's as for Mack trucks in the military there are 0 none in the inventory yet they were bumped due to budget cuts and the only new trucks were the Freightliner line haul trucks with the Wester Star cab. ( I know these things because I have to)

[bullhusk]

No new military vehicles have Detroit 2 strokes, they have 8v92's in the HET tractor and the HEMMTT trucks but the new HET's have 700hp CAT's and the new Freightliner/Western Star line haul trucks have Detroit series 60's as for Mack trucks in the military there are 0 none in the inventory yet they were bumped due to budget cuts and the only new trucks were the Freightliner line haul trucks with the Wester Star cab. ( I know these things because I have to)

Oh my GOD I sure hope they arn't Cat A-Cert Motors, or we are sure to lose the next war!!!

BULLHUSK

[kscarbel]

Oh my GOD I sure hope they arn't Cat A-Cert Motors, or we are sure to lose the next war!!!

BULLHUSK

Caterpillar 18.1-liter C18 ACERT

700hp

1,900 l.b. (2,576 N.m) @ 1,300 rpm