Navistar awarded 1300 truck contract

[McG]

I learned today from my Transport sergeant that the engineer SEVs are being delayed. The reason: they break in half because they’re too heavy.

I heard from the MSVS PM that the priorety was the cargo & TCV variants.  Therefore, the design & acceptance milestones for all the SEVs were contracted for later and production of the vehicles was planned for the end of the run.  This is the source of delay in the specialist vehicles, and it is part of the plan.

 

[Belaj]

The ML was easy to turn, mind it was the first vehicle I drove with powersteering, the deuce was a realy bugger to turn.

The cargo ML, yeah (even when the power-steering doesn't work right). But the SEV is a different story. The first time I drove one, I missed half my turns, even when I used two lanes! :-[

I heard from the MSVS PM that the priorety was the cargo & TCV variants.  Therefore, the design & acceptance milestones for all the SEVs were contracted for later and production of the vehicles was planned for the end of the run.  This is the source of delay in the specialist vehicles, and it is part of the plan.

That makes sense actually (we're getting our cargo variants in advance of schedule).

 

[JackD]

Is there anything new to be said about these trucks since the last posting? Has anyone driven/used them? What about the other part of this -  the purchase for the reg force component - indeed, what's going on in the field/sea/skies of reequipping/modernizing the armed forces?

 

[CBH99]

There has been plenty of development in regards to this thread.  If nothing turns up in a search, then look at the DND website under "News" and "The Maple Leaf".  (The DND newspaper.)

From what I understand, this contract has been implemented quite efficiently and prudently.  Not sure if units are seeing them arrive yet, but they are on the way.  (And not a moment too soon!!)

 

[Nfld Sapper]

When I left Gagetown in early October they where still doing train the trainer....

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Some pics of the first 3 MSVS's in Newfoundland.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Some more....

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Crikey! that's a fair size truck! How well does the spare tire carrier work? I missed the carrier on the old deuce, simple and easy to use. On the bright side you be able to carry a fair bit of the bulky items that take up more space than weight. What will be the exchange ratio 1 for 1 I hope, but I fear it will be less than.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Spare tire change is now a 2 person job. The box is huge, you can fit an ML in it and only have the front bumper hanGing out the tailgate.

Turns are huge too. Minimum turn diameters are 76 ft outside and 58 ft inside. Lets just say there will be a bit of a learning curve for the drivers. She is 36ft2in long, 12ft7in heigh and, 8ft4in wide.

Both the Engineer SEV and Arty Gun Tractor are the same length as any other MSVS except they will have a shorter box (this has been confirmed from the NAVISTAR INITAL CADRE TRAINING).

Not sure what the exchange ratio is. I do know that my unit is getting 7 of them, and we are turning in 1 ML (as that is all we got). Out of those 7, 4 are going to be SEV's, 1 Caged truck and the rest TCV's (I think)

EDITED TO ADD

And ground clearance might be an issue.

Maximum Ground Clearance:

Rear Diff: 12 in
Front Diff: 14 in
Transfer case: 18.5 in

 

[Sprinting Thistle]

Two of the trucks caught fire last week in Petawawa and the fleet has been grounded for the time being.  Further the trucks are being used in Fort Irwin.  Not a vehicle to be used off the pavement.  Issues are being pushed up the chain of command.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Let me guess arcing in/near the soleniods on the drivers side? If so then this is a known issue identified way back in Oct.

Two of the trucks caught fire last week in Petawawa and the fleet has been grounded for the time being.  Further the trucks are being used in Fort Irwin.  Not a vehicle to be used off the pavement.  Issues are being pushed up the chain of command.

 

[FEEOP042]

The front will bottom out on the suspension when going over very small bumps and when turning. The Arty and Engr trucks should  have been the SMP version since these trucks are not for off road. We need trucks to go off road. Make sure your QM's order the air valve adapter for the front wheels. May be take some of the cargos and turn them in to dump trucks for the PRes will be better then the dinky trucks we have now that get stuck on light snow covered roads. The Engr sev are having issues with the cost for it and all the tooling.

 

[Sprinting Thistle]

For the TCV / Cargo variant in use on Ex, the suspension is too rigid and the engine underpowered.  The troops don't like riding in the back off pavement. 

 

[Nfld Sapper]

The front will bottom out on the suspension when going over very small bumps and when turning. The Arty and Engr trucks should  have been the SMP version since these trucks are not for off road. We need trucks to go off road. Make sure your QM's order the air valve adapter for the front wheels. May be take some of the cargos and turn them in to dump trucks for the PRes will be better then the dinky trucks we have now that get stuck on light snow covered roads. The Engr sev are having issues with the cost for it and all the tooling.

FEEOP042 the complete vehicle EIS has yet to made avail to the gaining units.... we where told to only to keep certain tools of the ML until the complete EIS kits are made avail through the system.....

For the TCV / Cargo variant in use on Ex, the suspension is too rigid and the engine underpowered.  The troops don't like riding in the back off pavement. 

Any word on what part of the truck caught fire?

 

[FEEOP042]

I am in Ottawa and I have a complete section tools and supplies transfered to the MSVS project and I get info from the pers in the project. The generic ml eis is getting transfered from each units surrent ml fleet to the new MSVS's this is not the items I am not talking about the tooling as in the auger and the hyd lines and the cages and cabinets being made for the section tools.

 

[Sprinting Thistle]

Electrical, possibly battery related but no firm idea right now.  LFCA fleet still grounded.

 

[FEEOP042]

The cause so far that I know of is the solenoid and the crse staff followed the instructions to disconect it and it fried the solenoid any ways I don't think it will be solved just yet

 

[Nfld Sapper]

I am in Ottawa and I have a complete section tools and supplies transfered to the MSVS project and I get info from the pers in the project. The generic ml eis is getting transfered from each units surrent ml fleet to the new MSVS's this is not the items I am not talking about the tooling as in the auger and the hyd lines and the cages and cabinets being made for the section tools.

Ack FEEOP042. My understanding is that the auger was going to be brand new not a recycle of ML parts same goes for the gages and cabinets......especially since they had to get measurements for the camouflet set, MK 1......

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Electrical, possibly battery related but no firm idea right now.  LFCA fleet still grounded.

The cause so far that I know of is the solenoid and the crse staff followed the instructions to disconect it and it fried the solenoid any ways I don't think it will be solved just yet

Yeah we had a similar problem with that solenoid arcing (was a wet snowy/misty day) on one MSVS but no damage to the vehicle.... way too much exposed wireing and the likes.......

 

[scas]

its not the solenoid.. Its actually the batteries.. They run a split 24/12v system (CRAP). Alternator puts 24, SMP connections run 24, all other parts use 12v. Theres a stepper transformer next to the batteries, that can get really hot, and start to melt the batteries and cause all other kinds of problems.  The other big problem is that the master switch is not a true master like on other SMP, as the 12v system is still live.. You can play with everything in the cab, but not start the truck. The only thing that I think is cool, is the SMP light switch is digital, and not the old switch style...  BTW Ours in Edmonton aren't grounded.. They're still doing drivers courses on them right now.