US Marine Corps Logistics Vehicle System (LVS)
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.
