Today in WW II: 21 May 1942 Sinking of the Mexican tanker Faja de Oro by German submarine U-160, off Key West, precipitates Mexican declaration of war against Nazi Germany.

M-1000 HET Trailer

The U.S. Army Heavy Equipment Transport System (HETS) consists of the Oshkosh Truck M-1070 Truck Tractor and the M-1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter Semi-trailer manufactured by Systems & Electronics, Inc., St Louis, MO. The HETS transports payloads up to 70 tons – primarily M1 Abrams tanks.

HETS operates worldwide on highways, secondary roads, and cross-country. The HETS has a number of features that significantly improve the mobility and overall performance of the system in a tactical environment. The M1070 tractor has front- and rear-axle steering, a central tire-inflation system, and cab space for six personnel to accommodate the two HETS operators and four tank crewmen. The M1000 semi-trailer has automatically steerable axels and a load-leveling hydraulic suspension.

The M-1000 Trailer is 622 inches long (51.8 feet) and 144.8 inches wide at the rear bumper (12.1 feet). The trailer has a curb weight of 50,000 pounds and can carry a payload of 140,000 pounds.

U.S. Army Heavy Equipment Transport System (HETS) M-1000 Semi-trailer and M-1070 Truck Tractor carrying M1 Abrams MBT.

M-1000 Semi-trailer.

U.S. Army Heavy Equipment Transport System (HETS) at 180th Transportation Battalion Motor Pool.

M-1000 Semi-trailer dataplate. Photo: Courtesy Bob Pettit.