Cost-Effectiveness Considerations in the Design and Employment of Army Off-Road Vehicles

This paper discusses the design and employment of off-road transport vehicles for forward-area support of Army ground forces in combat. Following the Bekker-Butterworth approach in broad outline, consideration is given to suitable operational requirements, specific vehicle configurations meeting these requirements, and appropriate measures of system cost and system effectiveness. The requirements emphasize survivability under fire, airliftability, swimming capability, large-obstacle and soft-soil capability, and design for high-density cargo. Large-wheel articulated vehicles, multi-wheel vehicles, and tracked vehicles are considered. No attempt is made to estimate or compare vehicle performance or to identify preferred systems, but some problems encountered in these areas are noted. It is suggested that improved off-road vehicles may be worth large expenditures for vehicle development and procurement, as a means of increasing system effectiveness relative to system cost.