M915

   The M915 is a baseline model of a series of heavy US Army trucks.

   In the late 1970s the US Army was looking for new commercial logistic trucks. In 1977 a request was issued for a series of heavy trucks. The US Army received technical proposals from 6 manufacturers. The AM General offered the lowest price and was eventually selected as a winner. In 1977 the US Army awarded a contract for 5 507 trucks. First vehicles were delivered to the US Army in 1978.

   The M915 is based on Centaur series of commercial trucks, built by Crane Carrier Company. The AM General had a license agreement to manufacture and sell these vehicles to the US government. Only minimum modifications were made to adapt vehicles for military use. The M915 is a baseline model. This series consists of M915 line haul tractor, M916 light equipment transporter, M917 dump truck, M918 bituminous distributor, M919 concrete mixer and M920 medium equipment transporter. There are three basic chassis with 6x4, 6x6 and 8x6 configurations. Layout of all vehicles is similar.

   The M915 Line Haul Tractor (LHT) is primarily used for long distance movement of containers. It is used to move cargo from port to division operation area. Normally this truck was used in conjunction with a M872 semi-trailer, which has a payload capacity of 30 t. This vehicle was designed to operate on hard surface roads.

   All of the M915 series truck were fitted with day cabs. The cab accommodates driver, co-driver and one more passenger. The cab has an all-steel construction. Some add-on armor kits were developed for the M915 series of trucks by several companies. These provide some degree of protection against small arms fire, artillery shell splinters and blasts. Over 3 000 armor kits were supplied to the US armed forces for operation in Iraq.

   This line haul tractor is powered by Cummins NTC 400 14-liter turbocharged diesel engine, developing 400 hp. It is mated to Caterpillar semi-automatic gearbox with 16 forward and 2 reverse speeds. This tractor truck has 6x4 configuration.  Its operation is limited to hard surface roads only.

Variants

   M915A1 improved production model. This tractor truck is fitted with Allison 5-speed automatic transmission. It has a maximum road speed of 92 km/h. Otherwise it is similar to the M915. A total of 2 511 of these truck were ordered in 1981. Production began in 1983. Deliveries were completed in 1984.

   M915A2 is a new model, produced by Freightliner. Despite similar designation this truck is unrelated to original M915 and M915A1, produced by AM General. This truck is powered by Detroit Diesel DDE 12.7-liter engine, developing 400 hp. It is mated to Allison 4-speed automatic transmission. Production contract was awarded to Freightliner in 1988. First production vehicles entered service with the US Army in 1990. Production of the first batch was completed in 1992. Additional vehicles were ordered in 1995. A total of 2 440 M915A2, M916A1 and M917A1 trucks were produced by Freightliner.

   M915A3 tractor truck. It is a further improved model, produced by Freightliner. Production contract was awarded in 2000. Production of this truck began in 2001. It has a number of improvements. It is powered by a slightly more powerful Detroit Diesel Series 60 DDEC IV 12.7-liter diesel, developing 430 hp. Engine is mated to Allison 6-speed automatic transmission.

   M915A4 refurbished and updated tractor truck. In 1997 the US Army announced a requirement for modification kits to update original M915A0 and possibly M915A1 trucks, that were produced in late 1970s and early 1980s. Most of these trucks had reasonably low mileage and had performed well over the years. Upgrades began in 1999. Some sources report that by 2004 a total of 3 650 modification kits were acquired from Freightliner. Upgraded trucks were fitted with reconditioned engines, completely new cabs, and a number of other enhancements. The M915A4 designation has been applied to these updated vehicles. Refurbished vehicles were delivered to the US Army, Army Reserve and National Guard. Externally these resemble M915A2 or M915A3 trucks due to externally similar cab. The US military was able to refurbish and upgrade its older M915 trucks at about half of the cost of a completely new truck.

   M915A5 tractor truck produced by Daimler Trucks North America. It has a 6x4 configuration and is powered by 500 hp engine. Vehicle was specially designed to operate in warzones such as Afghanistan and Iraq. The cab on some trucks has an integrated armor. Furthermore protection can be increased by add-on armor kit. This truck entered service in 2010 and replaces the older M915A1, A2 and A3 trucks.

   M916 Light Equipment Transporter (LET). It has a 6x6 configuration and is intended for both road and cross-country use. Basically it can be seen as a more capable version of the M915.

   M917 dump truck with 8x6 configuration. It is intended for both road and cross-country use. It is fitted with a 10.7 m³ capacity dump body. These trucks were developed for earthmoving and construction work.

   M918 bituminous distributor with 6x6 configuration. This truck is intended for road and airfield construction. It uses the same engine, transmission, transfer box and suspension as the M916.

   M919 concrete mixer with 8x6 configuration. It is intended for construction work, where large amounts of concrete are required. It uses the same engine, transmission, transfer box and suspension as the M916. The second axle is of the pusher type. It is raised when not required.

   M920 Medium Equipment Transporter (MET). It has 8x6 configuration. This truck can operate off-road. It was used in conjunction with M172A1 or M870 semi-trailers. It uses the same engine, transmission, transfer box and suspension as the M916. The second axle is of the pusher type.