MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- At nearly 11 feet tall, it's huge, and sporting a 425 horsepower caterpillar C12 engine, it's very powerful. It's the latest edition to the Marine Corps fleet of motor transport vehicles called the MTVR (medium tactical vehicle replacement), a 7-ton truck.
Fleet Support Division received 10 of the trucks approximately two weeks ago and on May 3 a representative from the Oshkosh Truck Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., the company that manufactures this beast, visited to assist with the inspection and receiving process.
"I'm here to help these guys go through what we call deprocessing," said Lisandro Olivares, Oshkosh Truck Corp. representative. "It's a very thorough inspection that must be done before putting the vehicle in service to ensure everything is operating properly."
The deprocessing involves going through a 17-page checklist that covers every thing from inspecting the hydraulics to the wiper blades. Another portion of the checklist involves road testing the vehicle, which insures the engine and transmission are in concert with each other, and that the computerized brake system is in proper working order.
"It's a very sophisticated vehicle," said Olivares. "Virtually everything on the truck is computerized."
This 21st century technology vehicle incorporates databus self-diagnostic technology, a central tire inflation system, anti-lock brake system and command zone plus electronics, according to the company's data sheet.
"One of the most unique features on the truck is its central tire inflation system," said Olivares. "If you want to go off road, you flip a switch and the tires deflate, you flip another switch to inflate the tires when you get back on the highway."
When climbing into the cab of this vehicle, it's almost like entering the cockpit of an aircraft. There are buttons and switches for just about anything that operates the vehicle to include shifting the 7-speed transmission, which is reminiscent of the early 60's Chrysler automobiles only more advanced.
"The truck is very comfortable, and a lot better than the 5-ton," said Pfc. Nicole Sava, a motor transport operator at FSD and one of the first people to take it for a test run around Maintenance Center Barstow's test track.
Sava was one of 15 people from FSD and MCB to get an opportunity to go over the checklist, inspect the vehicle and take it for a test run. Part of the inspection after the test run included checking the truck for fluid leaks around the seals specifically.
"Right now FSD has 10 of the trucks with another dozen or so expected to arrive soon," said Joe Costa, quality assurance inspector at FSD.
The MTVR, or the MK as it's known in the Marine Corps, was developed as a replacement for the 5-ton truck, according to Costa.
It can carry seven tons of cargo off road and 15 tons on road. It can also be transported inside a KC-130 Hercules or slung beneath a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.
Like it's predecessor the 5-ton, or 900 series, the MK comes in several configurations. FSD was deprocessing the MK23, the short-bed version, and the MK-28, which is the extended-bed version outfitted with a heavy-duty winch.
Fleet Support is receiving the trucks as part of the overflow from the fleet for storage, and every month will be required to perform the vehicle inspection, according to Master Sgt. Neil Pinchefsky, assistant operations officer at FSD.