Ranger Special Operations Vehicle
The Ranger Special Operations Vehicle or RSOV[1] is a light military vehicle of the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, based on the Land Rover Defender. The RSOV is not meant to be an assault vehicle, but rather a rapid defensive platform.[2]
Ranger Special Operations Vehicle | |
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![]() A Land Rover modified to RSOV configuration at the War and Peace Show 2010 convention. | |
Type | Light utility vehicle |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1992 - Present |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Manufacturer |
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Produced | 1992 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 7,734 lb (3,508 kg) |
Length | 173.8 inches (4,415 mm) |
Width | 70.5 inches (1,791 mm) |
Height | 76-inch (1,930 mm) (without gun mount) |
Engine | Four-cylinder turbocharged diesel |
Transmission | Automatic |
History
In 1992, the U.S. Army Rangers decided to adopt the RSOV in order to replace their M151 light gun trucks.[3][4] The decision to adopt the vehicle was inspired by American troops seeing the Land Rover deployed by the British in the Gulf War.[5] They noted on how the vehicle was easy to use in desert terrain compared to the Humvee.[5] 60 RSOVs were initially purchased to fulfill a requirement for 12 RSOVs per battalion.[6]
The RSOV was secretly deployed to support potential anti-terrorist efforts to ensure the safety of people visiting the 1992 Summer Olympics in Spain, but they were kept out of the public eye.[5]
Design
The RSOV's design is based on the Land Rover Defender Model 110, having different specifications from the British Weapons Mount Installation Kit.[3][5] The RSOV was built by the Land Rover Special Operations Vehicle Department. [7] It was also meant to be airlifted by helicopter or transport aircraft if needed.[7][8]
Initial prototypes used 3.5 liter V8 engines, but final models used four cylinder turbo diesel engines[7] with a manual transmission.[8] The diesel engine does not make loud noises when deployed, allowing Ranger teams to be stealthy when tasked with seizing places of interest.[8]
The Rangers have three main types of RSOV, the weapons carrier, medical vehicle, or communications vehicle. As a weapons carrier it can carry up to 8,000 lbs, including six to seven fully armed Rangers.[2] Designed with a crew of three in mind, the ranger is manned by a truck commander (TC), seated front-left, a driver, and a top gunner, in the rear.[1] Additional seating arrangements can be made for an antitank operator, radiotelephone operator or a dismount team typically consisting of an M249 squad automatic weapon gunner, M203 gunner and rifleman.[1]
According to Bob Morrison, the development of the RSOV had an influence for the eventual development of the WMIK.[5]
Weapons
For a typical operation, both vehicles in an RSOV section would be equipped with various machine guns at the forward truck commander's station, with a Mk 19 grenade launcher at the top gunner position in one vehicle, and a Browning .50 cal M2 machine gun mounted on that top position in the other vehicle.[2][9]
A M249 light machine gun can be mounted in front of the TC seat for the front passenger to use in case of an enemy encounter.[1]
![](../I/MRCV_at_the_National_War_College_April_19%252C_2001.JPEG.webp)
Variants
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).[10] Instead of the weapon mounts found on standard RSOVs, the MEDSOV variant has fold-down racks capable of carrying six litter patients.[10] Along with its transported casualties, a typical MEDSOV crew would include a driver, a TC and two or three medics to treat the wounded.[10]
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.[9] In addition to its on-board carrying capacity, the MORTSOVs can be used to tow the platoon's 120 mm (4.7 in) mortars.[1]
A RSOV communications variant is also used.[2]
Users
Czech Republic: Formally known as LAND ROVER DEFENDER – MILITARY ARMOURED 4 with the nickname of Kajman, it entered service in 2009 with modifications done by AMT Defense based on the Defender 130 chassis in a RSOV configuration.[5]
North Cyprus: Known to be supplied by Turkey to the Security Forces Command with Land Rover-type RSOVs made by Otokar.[5]
Portugal: 13 units used by the Portuguese Army Commandos, it is equipped with a shield at the bottom for protection against improvised explosives, and equipped with a M2 Browning, three Heckler & Koch MG4, one Carl Gustaf and one 60mm Mortar.[11]
United States: Used by the 75th Ranger Regiment.[1][6]
See also
References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100708023212/http://www3.ausa.org/webint/DeptArmyMagazine.nsf/byid/CCRN-6CCRY7
- "Ranger Special Operations Vehicle". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- "Land Rover Defender Ranger Special Operations Vehicle". War Wheels. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- https://www.tactical-life.com/lifestyle/military-and-police/vehicles-special-operations-forces/
- Morrison, Bob (11 April 2020). "MLR 33 ~ Czech KAJMAN D130 RDV". Joint Forces. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- Bryant & Bryant 2005, p. 99.
- https://silodrome.com/land-rover-defender-military-sov/
- https://sofrep.com/gear/ranger-special-operations-vehicle-rsov/
- "Ranger SOV – Special Operations Vehicles". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- "Ranger Medical Special Operations Vehicle – Special Ops Photos". Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- VMSB (20 June 2012). "DEFESA Global". DEFESA Global. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
Bibliography
- Bryant, Russ; Bryant, Susan (2005). Weapons of the U.S. Army Rangers. St. Paul, Minnesota: Zenith Press. ISBN 0760321124.
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