Hello All.
I would like to share some history and stats with you regarding the M213 Ridgerunner-class HTV. The in-story vehicle, the HURON, with CO Captain Jake Billet, is one of these massive beasts, and I thought you'd like some detail on this beautiful American-made monster.
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HISTORY
When the H7N9 pandemic first took solid hold, in the U.S., to get vital medicines, personnel and other hard and soft transferrable and transportable goods between infected lands, GDG&M Land Systems LLC (Grusnis, Dietrich, Gilmore & Myszak Land Systems LLC) offered the beleagured
U.S. DoD a new concept in HTV (Heavy Transport Vehicle) design.
A combination between a tracked APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) and wheeled HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck), the M213 HTV was offered as a workhorse vehicle that could be up-armored with a variety of small arms and weaponry, including larger turreted weapons like 25mm
chain-fed autocannons.
Initially the project was put on hold as there wasn't a need for a juggernaut land vehicle like the M213. Still, the first five vehicles were built at DATP (Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant) in Warren, Michigan. They rolled into service September 2013 as the pandemic worsened.
Further vehicle assembly was halted as Detroit filed for bankruptcy in December 2013.
With the global and national crisis strangling the United States, Canada bought Detroit and a section of the east side of Michigan, north to Mt Clemens, south to Rockwood, west to South Lyon and Ann Arbor. It was called the Detroit-Windsor Providence starting in May 2014.
The already-built and rolled-out M213 transport vehicles stayed in Michigan, stationed first in the Lansing area under the command of Major J. Golczynski and A. "Sonny" Saenz, then the full unit was transferred to Grand Rapids, the second largest city in Michigan. (Detroit had been the
largest.)
The M213 Ridgerunner-class HTV's were named after the five great lakes: MICHIGAN, SUPERIOR, HURON, ERIE and ONTARIO.
With room to seat 24 men, a CO, and supplies in the main body of the vehicle, plus a driver and navigator, it beat out APC's. Typically a commander, front gunner and rear gunner were part of the crew and held topside positions. With four roof-top hatches, these stations could be fully utilized as gun ports.
Towing capabilities rival its own weight, the M213 beats the HEMTT and the HET (Heavy Equipment Transport) vehicles when it comes to payload hauling requirements and needs.
With wheeled and tracked mobility available on the spot, the M213 is the prime armored transport for any tactical environment.
STATS
Weight: 72 tons
Length: 32 feet
Width: 14 feet
Height: 12.5 feet (from ground to roofline)
Speed: Road 52 mph (83km/h) Off-Road: 30 mph (48km/h)
Engine: Twin Cummins VTA-903T diesel, 1200 hp total
Fuel Capacity: 155 US gal (587 l)
Operational Range: 220 mi (354km)
Transmission (tracked): XT-1410-5A cross-drive (3 speed forward, 1speed reverse)
(wheeled): Allison 4500SP/5_Speed automatic (can be synced with track transmission)
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At the time of this writing, only the ONTARIO and the HURON remain in service.
(Illustrations by Tim Holtrop, Jason Conley and Google)
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Read about the HURON and her crew in the TRANSPORT Series.
TRANSPORT Book One is available now online and wherever books can be ordered.
Amazon (paperback)
Barnes & Noble (paperback and Nook)
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