US Marine Corps Logistics Vehicle System (LVS)
The Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) began service with the USMC in 1985, replacing the M123 10-ton tractor. The 16.5-ton LVS provides the Marine Corps with a heavy tactical lift capability by transporting bulk cargo, bulk fuel and water, and ammunition. The LVS is superseded by the Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR).
The Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) modular system consists of the common Mk-48 Front Power Unit (FPU) and LVS Rear Body Units (RBU) which differ by function. The LVS is sometimes called the "Dragon Wagon," a name borrowed from the World War II M-26 Heavy Transporter.
USMC Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) with Mk-14 Trailer, Container Transporter RBU seen crossing a Medium Girder Bridge at OP-5, Camp Lejeune, NC, 11 February 1997. The LVS is armed with an M-2 .50 Cal. machine gun.
The LVS has an off-road payload of 12.5 tons and an on-road payload of 22.5 tons. All vehicles in the LVS family are manufactured by Oshkosh Truck Corporation of Oshkosh, WI.
LVS Rear Body Unit trailers (RBUs) powered by the Mk-48 front power unit include:
- Mk-14 Trailer, Container Transporter
- Mk-15 Trailer, Wrecker-Recovery
- Mk-16 Trailer, Semitrailer Adapter
- Mk-17 Trailer, Dropside Cargo
- Mk-18 Trailer, Ribbon Bridge/Container Transporter
The FPU and RBU combination will be referred to, for example, as Mk-48/14 or Mk-48/18. Additional information and photos of each of the LVS component vehicles are found on the linked pages.
Operator's manuals for the LVS are divided by variant:
- TM 08780B-10 covers the MK48/48A1 with Mk14, 15, 16 and 17/17A1
- TM 2320-10/11 Supplement 1 covers the MK48/48A1 with Mk18
- TM 09470B-10/1 covers the MK48/48A1 with Mk18A1
The lubrication order is Marine Corps Lubrication Instruction LI 2320-12/9B or Army Lubrication Order LO 9-2320-297-12. It consists of 25 cards.
LVS Mk48/18 carrying sections of Ribbon Bridge rolls off USNS 1ST Lt Jack Lummus (AK 3011), Gladstone Port, Queensland, Australia, 28 September 1999.
