Ok, guys and gals,

I've just recently read "Masters of Chaos" and the author discusses the War Pigs (2.5 ton trucks, IIRC) that were used in the western Desert of Iraq during OIF. Does anybody know where I can find pics of these lovely behemoths? I just wonder what the heck they looked like.

Scott

They were also called "Mother Ships". They are 2.5 ton LMTV trucks with open cabs and usually had guns mounted on the bed. They were full of gear to support the SF troopers on extended missions.

Here are a few pics:

Forget buying a civilian Hummer. I want one of those!!

What is LMTV?

In the last pic the jerry cans don't appear to be strapped down to anything. Just imagine..."No Jimmy, I said left at that big rock. Jimmy watch out for that...!" (SCREECH! followed by BFF!, BFF!, BFF!, BFF!) "...camel." Headlining the next day's paper... "Infidels Bludgeon Sacred Camel with Fuel Cans" :-)
Kyle (rolling on floor)
PS oops, just noticed the strap. I will definitely sleep better tonight knowing that those helpless camels are safe from SpecOp drivers with poor navgational skills. (still rolling on floor)

Chuck, its the Army's new Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (light medium... talk about an oxymoron) and is a part of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. More info about these vehicles can be seen here: FMTV
Kyle

Nice! No model of that?

the only LMTV model I know of is 1/87 (HO) scale.

Wow certainly more room than a Humvee. The first photo reminded me of this guntruck from Somalia here is the link.

http://pro.corbis.com/search/searchFrame.aspx

Picture is 11964 Notice the ZSU23-2 in the cargo bed.

Sincerely,
Brian

The photo does actually show that it is strapped down. The straps are just alittle hard to spot on the right and left side.

Mind you those gerry cans when filled with water arent the lightest things either....i remember when we had to prepare for deployment, loading the water supply was something i dreaded the most but you get a damn good work out.

The LMTV is a licence-built truck based on the austrian Steyr 12M18 2.5 ton truck. A 1/35 vacform kit of the 12M18 has been released by HSV :

This one looks like a good starting point for a US variant....

HTH
Frenchy

Now that's what I call fully loaded :-) :-) :-)

Niiice truck!

Sort of reminds me those heavily laden LRDG chevy's from wwII

Cheers
Pedro

Dear Frenchy

Do you have any web site for HSV ?

thank in advance

seb

Dear All
HSV stand for heeres spezial vacu

you will find the vacu kit on the following website
http://www.scaleshop.at/

all some resin kit to detailled the kit
cheers
seb

That is one cool truck I remember see the SAS vehicles used by our aussie troops but these really have the look of LRDG and I absolutely love the LRDG style vehicle

Wow, some scope for scratchbuilding there.
In the third pic down, to the side of the vehicle o the ground, looks like a pile of spend .50 cartridges??

I was thinking that too henk, someone must have got through a good thousand rounds of .50 cal there.

I'm sure all the manufacturers would rub their hands together with joy if anyone brought out a bare kit for that vehicle. Think of the increased sales in jerry can and stowage sprues!!!

Now that would be one cool project. I'll file that away for a later date...

It'd also be a reason to take a stab at casting my own copies of jerry cans, ammo crates/cans and personal gear. I think you'd drop a lot of cash buying accessory sets for one of these.

yeah, just need to change the door windows to more squared, Change the foot strap by the doors, turn the air tanks 90 degrees, put the International company (US manufacturer) emblem on the front, probably have to scrath the air intake on the passenger side (I cant see it the way they have the model)

That would be a great model to start with I agree

Oh, that's a great looking truck. I agree with the LRDG comparison - it would be great if someone would put a bug in the ear of Dragon or Trumpeter to do one of these, and some of the other OIF vehicles (other'n Bradleys and Humvees and Abrams tanks).

British SAS has similar vehicles in Iraq using stripped down Mercedes Unimog trucks as well. Can't find any pics though.

I think the Australians win the "Ugliest Vehicle in Iraq" award with their six wheeled Mad Max machine.

AEF Designs makes a conversion for the Revell kit. They have a photo or two on their website www.aefdesigns.com as well as with the conversion.
Not much to the conversion. Mostly a bunch of plastic rod and angle iron. I would not spend the money ($40). Unfortunately I already bought mine.

Mike,
Looked at AEF's web site.
Can't find anything like a Warpig.
Tom