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Ranger Special Operations Vehicle
An RSOV with M2 Browning displayed at the National War College in April 2001
TypeMilitary light utility vehicle
Place of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Service history
In service1992–present
Used by75th Ranger Regiment
Production history
DesignerLand Rover Special Vehicle Operations
ManufacturerLand Rover Special Vehicle Operations
Produced1992–
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass7,734 kg (17,051 lb)
Length173.8 in (4,415 mm)
 length123 m (403 ft 7 in)
Width70.5 in (1,791 mm)
Height76 in (1,930 mm) (without gun mount)
Crew3
Passengers4

Main
armament
M2 Browning machine gun or Mk 19 grenade launcher
Secondary
armament
M240 machine gun
Engine2.5 L 200Tdi turbodiesel I4

The Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV) is a light military vehicle used by the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, based on the Land Rover Defender. The RSOV is not meant to be an assault vehicle, but a rapid defensive platform-type vehicle.[1]

History

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In 1992, the 75th Ranger Regiment decided to adopt the RSOV in order to replace the M151 ¼-ton 4×4 utility truck.[2]

Design

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The RSOV's design is based on the Land Rover Defender 110, having different specifications from the British Weapons Mount Installation Kit.[2] It is designed for a crew of three and up to four passengers.

Weapons

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For a typical operation, both vehicles in an RSOV section would be equipped with various machine guns at the forward Truck Commander (TC) station, with a Mk 19 grenade launcher at the top gunner position in one vehicle, and an M2 Browning machine gun mounted on that top position in the other vehicle.[1][3]

Variants

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The MEDSOV carries six patient litters.

In addition to the RSOVs with their crew-served weapons, each Ranger battalion has two medical variants of the Defender known as a Medical Special Operations Vehicle (MEDSOV).[4] Instead of the weapon mounts found on standard RSOVs, the MEDSOV variant has fold-down racks capable of carrying six litter patients.[4] Along with its transported casualties, a typical MEDSOV crew would include a driver, a TC and two or three medics to treat the wounded.[4]

Another RSOV variant used by the Ranger battalion mortar platoon. Known as MORTSOVs, the platoon's two Defenders—they also have three Humvees—replace the top-gun configuration with storage boxes and guy wires that allow the vehicle to carry thirty 120 mm (4.7 in) mortar rounds along with the extra equipment required by the platoon.[3] In addition to its on-board carrying capacity, the MORTSOVs can be used to tow the platoon's 120 mm (4.7 in) mortars.

A RSOV communications variant is also used.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ranger Special Operations Vehicle". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Land Rover Defender Ranger Special Operations Vehicle". War Wheels. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (SOV)". American Special Ops. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Ranger Medical Special Operations Vehicle – Special Ops Photos". American Special Ops. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
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Category:Land Rover vehicles Category:Military vehicles of the United States Category:Off-road vehicles Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles Category:Military light utility vehicles Category:United States Army Rangers