Design and Evaluation of a Towed Snow Plow for the Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV)

Light Infantry Divisions must conduct semiautonomous operations and limited self-resupply in remote snow covered areas. Most wheeled vehicles become immobilized once the vehicle sink-age is greater than their ground clearance. Since many roads and trails will not have been kept open prior to deployment, truck-mounted plows will be ineffective for clearing snow. In most instances, heavy tracked vehicles, which may not be available, are required to plow snow. Therefore a snow removal method using vehicles readily available to light forces is needed.

The US Army's Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV) is a lightweight, low-ground-pressure tracked vehicle. A towed V-type plow assembly was proposed for this vehicle. A four-bar parallel linkage towing assembly was developed that bolts directly on to the SUSV's pintle hook mounting bracket. The plow was constructed primarily of aluminum, has three plowing widths, and can be towed over the road on integral wheels.

This paper presents a description of the design and operation of the plow along with the results of field tests conducted in Alaska. The SUSV successfully towed the plow through 85 cm of unbonded snow.