Lightweight Tactical All Terrain Vehicle (LTATV)
Lightweight Tactical All Terrain Vehicles (LTATVs) are small, side-by-side vehicles in use by American Special Operations Forces, including those operating in Afghanistan.
Like the ATV/Quad-bike vehicles also used, the LTATV provides SOF teams with a highly manoeuvrable and mobile form of transportation that is also low profile.
Models of LTATVs in use by U.S. SOF include militarized versions of Polaris MRZR (2 and 4-seat versions) and the Kawasaki Tyrex 750. LTATVs can be air transported in MH-47/CH-47 and CV-22/MV-22 rotary-wing aircraft.
Other features include 4-wheel drive front differential lock system, four-point shoulder harness, run-flat tyres, roll over protection and infrared headlamp filters.
U.S. Army Special Forces pictured on patrol in Farrah Province, Afghanistan, traveling in a Kawasaki Tyrex 750 LTATV. The Tyrex LTATV has a top speed in excfess of 48mph.
sourced from public domain | U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau/Released
U.S. Army paratroopers train on a 4-seat LTATV. Based on the Polaris MRZR-4, this LTATV variant is in use with both U.S. Army airborne divisions and SOCOM. It features a rear section that can be configured as a cargo bay, litter carrier or to accommodate 2 rear-facing seats.
sourced from public domain | U.S. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull
U.S. Special Operations Forces prepare to back a Polariz MRZR-2 LTATV onto a Chinook helicopter.
sourced from public domain | US DoD Photo by Spc. Jesse LaMorte, Special Operations Task Force - South
While small in size, a SOF-manned LTATV still carries a big punch - the passenger/gunner of a LTATV mans a M240 belt-fed machine gun mounted on a swing mount of a LTATV. Note the buttstock of a M320 grenade launcher which can be seen on the LTATV's dashboard. A number of 40mm grenades can be seen in a ammo belt strung from the vehicles roll cage.
sourced from public domain | U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau/Released
U.S. SOF operators engaged in combat with Taliban forces in Afghanistan - the LTATV's passenger/gunner engages with a belt-fed machine gun fixed to a swing mount while the driver has dismounted in order to get a line of sight on the enemy.
sourced from public domain | U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau/Released
U.S. Special Operations Forces transverse the Afghan terrain in a 2-seater Kawasaki LTATV. The LTATV offers little in the way of protection from small arms fire or from IEDs. Its ability to traverse rough ground means, however, that the LTATV can avoid the well-travelled roads where IEDs are likely to be placed.
sourced from public domain | U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau/Released
