Oshkosh TAK-4 Independent Suspension System enhances Marine Corps HMMWV capabilities

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, will debut enhancements for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) at Modern Day Marine 2010, Sept. 28-30 in Quantico, Va. Oshkosh will feature the HMMWV with the company’s TAK-4 independent suspension system and vee-shaped underside armor. Together, these enhancements expand the vehicle’s mission capabilities for Marines - including improved off-road mobility, ground clearance, ride quality and survivability against underbody IED blasts.

“Our TAK-4 independent suspension system will significantly improve HMMWV mobility and speed on the severe terrain that Marines encounter in their tactical, combat and expeditionary missions,” said John Bryant, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager, Marine Corps Programs. “We continue to see vehicles equipped with the TAK-4 thrive in places like Afghanistan - where unimproved roads and rocky, rugged terrain make up the battlefields. We’ve also integrated our vee-shaped under-vehicle armor on the HMMWV, which is proven to mitigate the effects of IED blasts more effectively than flat bottom vehicles.”

Current US Marine Corps operational protection requirements call for add-on armor to improve the vehicle’s survivability (i.e., the Up-armored HMMWV, M1151A1 with B1 armor kit). With this up-armoring, the vehicle weighs in more than 1.5 tons above its originally designed Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and experiences performance, ride quality and mobility degradations.

“Oshkosh offers a new way forward for the Marine Corps’ light vehicle fleet, and does so using its proprietary TAK-4 suspension, which has been proven in theater on multiple vehicle classes,” Bryant added. “The HMMWV with the TAK-4 system improves vehicle ride height and performance, ride quality and restores the original vehicle payload capability - allowing for additional under-vehicle armor protection for improved survivability.”

Equipping the TAK-4 suspension on HMMWVs provides numerous benefits, including:

• A 70 percent off-road profile capability and 14 inches of independent wheel travel to overcome obstacles and navigate rugged, mountainous environments
• Ground clearance increased to 17 inches to improve mobility and occupant visibility while also helping to counter underbody blasts, such as IEDs, by enabling more stand-off distance
• A 40 percent increase in the vehicle’s maximum speed and a 46 percent improvement in braking
• Restoring a 2,500-pound vehicle payload capacity when the crew is embarked with all current add-on armor installed, which allows for consideration of an under-vehicle armor vee-shaped panel solution to further improve survivability

• Improved ride quality, with a reduction in suspension vibration and harshness for less crew fatigue
The Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension system is a proven, mobility-enhancing technology. It has been used on more than 10,000 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR), which Oshkosh designed and produces for the Marine Corps and Navy Seabees. It also is a vital component on the Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV), allowing the vehicle to drive 70 percent off-road and take on additional armor while maintaining its 4,000-pound payload capacity. The TAK-4 system has undergone more than 500,000 miles of government durability testing.

Oshkosh also will have an MTVR 4x4 and M-ATV Troop Carrier at Modern Day Marine. Oshkosh will be exhibiting at booth #2525 at the show, which is taking place Sept. 28-30 at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico.

Source: Oshkosh

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