Military Vehicle Spotlight: M1078A1 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle

The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) is divided into two groups, the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) and the Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV). The LMTV is a 2 1/2-ton 4x4, while the MTV is a 5-ton 6x6. There is an 80 percent parts commonality between the two groups. Stewart and Stevenson of Searly, Texas, is the builder of this series.

The LMTV series consists of a truck chassis as well as cargo and van trucks with 12-foot bodies. In a departure from the practice used since World War II by the Army when describing the load capacity of medium tactical vehicles, the FMTV’s on-road capacity is NOT double the stated capacity. Rather, the 2.5-ton rating of the LMTV is constant, and the truck is designed for use primarily on primary and secondary roads and trails. It is intended for line haul, local haul, unit mobility, unit resupply and other missions in combat, combat support and combat service support units. A complimentary trailer has been designed, which has an equal load rating and uses the same size body as the truck.

All FMTV variants were built to be capable of airlift in C-130 aircraft. Cargo variants are Chinook (CH-47) helicopter sling-load-capable, and there are variants specifically designed to be deliverable by low-velocity airdrop to meet the needs of airborne operations.

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