Image via Complex Original
Today, Monday, November 11, is Veteran's Day, a day to honor and salute the people who have dedicated their lives to serving the country. Some companies and stores have their own way of showing their appreciation, like free haircuts, car washes, meals, or discounts. We're taking a more mechanical approach. In addition to thanking the brave people who go out there to protect us, we'd like to also dedicate this post to the vehicles and machinery that are out there protecting the veterans in their lines of duty.
Tanks, submarines, fighter pilots, dune buggies, and of course Humvees all play instrumental, and extremely different, roles in combat. Lets take a look at past, present and future military achievements with these The Most Badass U.S. Military Vehicles of All Time (in no exact order).
RELATED: 24 Military Tanks We Wish We Could Use in "Call of Duty" Games
M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier
Entered Service: Early 1960s
Vehicle Type: Military land vehicle
This all-terrain vehicle can travel at maximum speeds of 40 mph and has a range of 300 miles. So far, 80,000 M-113s have been produced and have been exported to 50 nations. The M-113 can travel on land, in the water, and can be air transported as well. They have been in use during the Vietnam war, the Middle East conflicts, and the Iraq conflicts.
M-3 Halftrack
Entered Service: 1941
Vehicle Type: Military land vehicle
More than 40,000 M-3 Halftracks had been produced by the end of the second World War. Production of these military land vehicles was completely stopped by 1945. The Halftracks could play a number of different roles-- they could be used as personnel carriers, artillary tractors, or communication vehicles.
Universal Bren Gun Carrier
Entered Service: 1939
Vehicle Type: Armored fighting vehicle
This World War II vehicle was capable of having several roles. It could be a platform for a machine gun, flamethrower, or mortar platform. It could transport troops. It could be used as a Medivac. It could also be a gun tractor. It was yet another indespensible, innovative piece of vehicle technology that was crucial to the second World War.
LVT-MK 4
Entered Service: 1944
Vehicle Type: Landing vehicle tracked
This vehicle was extremely important when the U.S. Marine Corps landed in the Pacific theater during the second World War. The simple back door design of the LVT made it a vehicle that could easily transport troops and cargo.
The Humvee
Entered Service: 1980
Vehicle Type: High mobility multipurpose vehicle
Over 160,000 Humvees have been produced and are currently being used in 36 countries. The Humvee can be used as any of the following: Armored carrier, special operations vehicle, missile platform vehicle, and recoilless rifle vehicle. The Humvee can reach maximum speeds of approximately 65 mph.
Oshkosh MRAP
Entered Service: 2009
Vehicle Type: All terrain vehicle
Links:
This is a 13-ton, 370 hp, Caterpillar diesel engine all terrain vehicle. In combat, the Oshkosh MRAP is supposed to be useful as a tactical ambulance or a special forces vehicle with infrared driving lights to allow it to navigate invisibly and stealthily.
Oshkosh LVSR
Entered Service: Not Specified
Vehicle Type: Heavy tactical vehicle
This is 35.5-foot, 67,600-pound vehicle with 10 independently suspended wheels. It is also completely covered with strong, durable armor.
Oshkosh HET
Entered Service: Not Specified
Vehicle Type: Heavy equipment transporter
This monster can transport tanks. How? With the help of its 700hp, 18.8L diesel engine that can help the Oshkosh HET achieve speeds of up to 50 mph. Interesting note: Sylvester Stallone's character from Over the Top wishes he drove an Oshkosh HET. Who doesn't?
Force Protection Buffalo A2
Entered Service: Not Specified
Vehicle Type: Military land vehicle
The "Bonecrusher" robot from Transformers was inspired by the robot-crane design of the Buffalo. It has a 30-foot arm that is remote controlled, it weighs 75,000 pounds, and it has a 12.5L Caterpillar diesel engine.
Desert Patrol Vehicle
Entered Service: Not Specified
Vehicle Type: Desert Patrol Vehicle
These are powered by Volkswagen engines and were built by Chenoweth Racing Products. DPV's can reach maximum speeds of 80 mph with a capacity of two soldiers. Originaly, these off-roaders were equipped with TOW missiles and recoilless rifles, but the recoil on the rifle was too powerful, and the TOW missiles needed three people to operate it. They've stuck to machine guns since.
Stryker
Entered Service: 2003
Vehicle Type: Armored personnel carrier
These extremely capable land vehicles have been mass-produced by the U.S. Army, currently with 4,000 in service. The Stryker makes good use of electronic, containing a battlefield information management system that is linked to other, similar vehicles or command posts. The Stryker vehicles are divisioned into brigades of 300 vehicles. Astoundingly, these Stryker brigades can be deployed to absolutely anywhere on Earth, just within 96 hours.
M2 Bradley
Entered Service: 1981
Vehicle Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
This military monster vehicle can not only navigate rough terrain, but can also travel through water and almost. There are inflatable buoyancy tanks that can improve the water-meneuvering capabilities of this incredible vehicle. The M2 Bradley is powered by a 500hp turbocharged diesel engine.
M-4 Sherman
Entered Service: 1942
Vehicle Type: Tank
This World War II tank was extremely easy to manufacture and produce as approximately 48,000 of these were created in just three years. Indeed, the importance of land vehicles during the second World War was considerable and often the only means of really winning battles and gaining territory.
M1A2 Abrams
Entered Service: 1992
Vehicle Type: Tank
The M1A2 Abrams is a highly developed, extremely complex tank to design, engineer, and manufacture. This is why the actual production of these tanks is so low. The tank's engine requirements hinder its maneuverability. However, it easily makes up for its weaknesses with strengths in other areas: incredible weaponry and armory.
Ford Class
Entered Service: 2015
Vehicle Type: Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
This is a gigantic carrier and can be expected to carry a crew of 2,500 men and an aircrew of 2,500 men as well. It is hoped that the life cycle for this new breed of nuclear powered aircraft carreers will be 50 years. The nuclear propulsion system for the carrier is being designed and developed by Northrop Grumman. The first Ford Class carrier will be named the USS Gerald R. Ford.
Kitty Hawk Class
Entered Service: 1961
Vehicle Type: Aircraft carrier
The capacity for this carrier is huge: 2,930 crew men and 2,480 aircrew men. There are four of these in existence: The USS Kitty Hawk, the USS Constellation, the USS America, and the USS John F. Kennedy. All four carriers have been decommisioned.
USS Enterprise
Entered Service: 1961
Vehicle Type: Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
This giant carrier can carry a crew of 3,215 men and 2,480 aircrew men. It is powered by multiple nuclear reactors and steam turbines. The first USS Enterprise cost$451.3 million to build and is expected to be decomissioned this year.
Virginia Class
Entered Service: 2004
Vehicle Type: Nuclear-powered attack submarine
The Virginia class is a smaller, cheaper version of the Seawolf class-- the nuclear-powered attack submarine that is next on our list. These submarines can carry a crew of 134 men. There are currently five Virginia class submarines in use, USS Virginia, USS Texas, USS Hawaii, USS North Carolina and USS New Hampshire. The nuclear reactor within the submarine was designed to last for about 33 years without refueling needs.
Seawolf Class
Entered Service: 1997
Vehicle Type: Nuclear-powered attack submarine
The Seawolf submarines have the reputation of being the most advanced and most expensive models currently in existence. These killing machines can carry a crew of 134 men. The Seawolf is known for its stealth nature, which is why it was built just at the end of the Cold War era. The goal was to maintain the U.S. Navy's superiority over Russia and other members of the old Soviet Union.
Los Angeles Class
Entered Service: 1976
Vehicle Type: Nuclear-powered attack submarine
This monster can carry a crew of 133 men. It is able to store extremely large amounts of nuclear weaponry and is quite lethal. The Los Angeles class has been used for operatons is Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. They have also been used in under-ice operations near and within the Arctic ice cap.
Ohio Class
Entered Service: 1981
Vehicle Type: Ballistic missile submarine
Links: http://www.military-today.com/navy/ohio_class.htm
At the moment, the Ohio class is the only submarine in the U.S. Navy that can carry ballistic missiles and can hold a crew of 155 men. Ohio Class subs include the Ohio, Louisiana, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Henry M. Jackson, Alabama, Alaska, Nevada, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Maine and Wyoming.
Arleigh Burke Destroyer
Entered Service: 1991
Vehicle Type: Destroyer
The Arleigh Burke destroyer has an advanced weaponry system and can maintain a crew of about 300 to 325 sailors. It was first created in defense against Soviet missiles, submaries, and aircraft. Today, it is used in "high threat" situations for anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface, strike military operations.
Bell AH-1Z Viper
Entered Service: 2010
Vehicle Type: Attack helicopter
This attack helicopter is currently being used by the U.S. Marine Corps. Characteristics of the Bell Viper: Improved avionics, a kickass target-sighting system, an infrared supression system, improved maneuverability, and the ability to carry 16 Hellfire ground attack missiles, as well as unguided rockets and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
Bell AH-1 HueyCobra
Entered Service: 2001
Vehicle Type: Attack helicopter
The first attack helicopter ever flown was in 1965, a Bell product. The Bell HueyCobra is the daughter of the very first attack helicopter, a creation from the modifications and improvements to the 1965 systems.
Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache
Entered Service: 1995
Vehicle Type: Attack helicopter
The Longbow Apache has recently been used during the Iran and Afghanistan wars. It also being used by the United Kingdom, Israel, and the Netherlands. The radar system for the Longbow Apache can detect as many as 12 simultaneous targets and can also prioritize over fog and smoke in the combat area.
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress
Entered Service: 1955
Vehicle Type: Strategic bomber
This is quite an old aircraft first seing service in 1955. However, the Stratofortress has low operating costs and great performance, which is why they are expected to be used until as late as 2044.
Rockwell B-1B Lancer
Entered Service: 1986
Vehicle Type: Strategic bomber
This aircraft is capable of carrying 74,957 lbs of weaponry, a record amount. It is also able of carry nuclear weapons, but has been supplied with traditional weapons instead since the Cold war. There are about 70 Lancers that are currently being maintained and operated. They are divided between three divisions of the U.S. Air Force Combat Command and two divisions of the U.S. Air National Guard.
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
Entered Service: 1993
Vehicle Type: Strategic bomber
The Northrop Grumman Spirit definitely looks like something out of a Batman movie. This bomber aircraft is one of the most expensive U.S. Airforce developments ever at approximately $737 million per unit. Only 20 are currently being operated, because they're so costly and hard to maintain. The aircraft is coated with a substance that absorbs radar and it can fly for about 7,456 miles without refueling. It carries 39,683 lbs worth of weaponry. It was also initially created to attack Soviet targets during the Cold War era.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Entered Service: 1978
Vehicle Type: Fighter Aircraft
This fighter aircraft is currently being used by 25 Air Forces around the world. The U.S. Airforce plans on using the F-16 Falcons till 2025 and then they will be replaced by a newer model: The F-35 Fighter. The maximum speed for this killing machine is 1,317 mph.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter
Entered Service: 2016
Vehicle Type: Fighter Aircraft
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter is supposed to enter service in 2016 and should replace all F-16 Fighting Falcons by 2025. This is another incredibly advanced war machine with astounding capablities. The funding to design and develop the F-35 Fighters was primarily supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom. However, this aircraft will probably also be used by Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and Turkey. Initially, two types of engines were created for the F-35 Fighter, one of which was a Genereal Electric/Rolls-Royce development which is currently being used by the STOVL aircraft.
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Entered Service: 1971
Vehicle Type: Fighter Aircraft
Some of the technologies of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler were used to develop the Super Hornet, the next plane on our list. This killing machine definitely has a lot of historical significance since it has been in service during the Vietnam War. This was also one of the primary aircrafts for the U.S. Navy but is expected to go out of service by 2015.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Entered Service: 1999
Vehicle Type: Fighter Aircraft
The Super Hornet is able to target enemies both in the air and on land, which makes it an extremely capable fighter aircraft. It actually is a U.S. Navy fighter jet but is also used by the Australian forces. The newest models have a digital fly-by-wire control system, and the maximum airspeed for this killing machine is 1,190 mph.
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Entered Service: 1976
Vehicle Type: Fighter Aircraft
This animal was responsible for 36 out of 39 U.S. Air Force aerial victories during operation Desert Storm, the U.S. air attack strategies against Iraq in efforts to defend Saudi Arabia in 1990.
Lockheed Martin/ Boeing F-22 Raptor
Entered Service: 2003
Vehicle Type: Fighter Aircraft
It's tough to say anything else is more badass than the F-22. The Raptor is currently the most advanced long-range, modern fighter jet in existence at the moment. It is so advanced in terms of its technologies that a lot of information about the Raptor remains classified. Additionally, this killing machine is nearly invisible to radar systems. It is extremely easy to maneuver in the air because of its advanced fly-by-wire control system. The F-22 Raptor is not offered for export which means that only the United States owns these monsters.