Today in WW II: 8 Jul 1940 Tea rationing begins in Britain.  More ↓
8 Jul 1941 Jews living under German occupation in Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ordered to wear a Jewish Star.
8 Jul 1942 US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Chester Nimitz orders invasion of Guadalcanal, Solomon islands, to seize a strategic Japanese airfield.
8 Jul 1944 US forces on Saipan mop up after surviving a 15-hour banzai charge, one of the largest ever, defesting over 3000 Japanese soldiers plus wounded and civilians who participated.
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Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV)

The Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) produced by GM Defense (Detroit, MI) is the continuation of the CUCV II line of militarized commercial vehicles. Production of the CUCV II ended in 2000. Initially, further military development and sales efforts for this class of vehicles was known as CUCV III, then changed to LSSV for the 2001 model year. In April 2005 the sales and marketing program was contracted to AM General LLC, a unit of MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings. About 2,000 LSSV units were sold to U.S. and international military and law enforcement organizations. LSSV is known in the Canadian MOD as the Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW).

The Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) was offered in these models:

  • Cargo/Troop Carrier Pickup (Base, Extended Cab or Crew Cab)
  • Cargo/Troop Carrier/Command Tahoe
  • Cargo/Troop Carrier/Command Suburban
  • Ambulance

The LSSV utilizes the 1500 Tahoe and 2500 Suburban while the LSSV pickup models are based on the Chevrolet 2500HD 1-ton chassis, also used for the ambulance.

From the GM Defense LSSV manual:

All LSSV vehicles have rugged designs intended for all types of roads or infrequent off-road travel. They can ford water obstacles for three minutes without stalling at depths of 51 cm (20 in) at 8 kph (5 mph).

The pickup vehicles are equipped with a 6.6L Turbo diesel engine with a 5-speed Allison automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case. The vehicles have pintle hooks with a max trailer weight (on highway) of 12,000 lbs (5443 kg). Payload capacity is 3,200 lbs (1454 kg) for the pickup vehicle.

The Tahoe vehicle is equipped with a 5.3L gasoline engine with a 4-speed 4L60-E automatic transmission and a 2-speed transfer case. The vehicles have a pintle hook with a max trailer weight (on highway) of 8,700 lbs (3946 kg). Payload capacity is 1,532 lbs (696 kg), varies with equipment.

The Suburban vehicle is equipped with a 6.0L gasoline engine with a 4-speed 4L80-E automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case. The vehicles have a pintle hook with a max trailer weight (on highway) of 10,000 lbs (4536 kg). Payload capacity is 2,840 lbs (1291kg), varies with equipment.

Each vehicle is equipped with heavy duty shocks front and rear, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, a locking differential, on-off road tires, front and rear clevis/tie-downs and blackout lighting.

A slave receptacle is mounted on the front of the vehicles, protected by a radiator brush guard.

The pickup has a cargo cover and troop seating for up to eight or a hard cap with opening windows, all pickup vehicles have cargo hooks mounted on the bed floor. A specially upgraded electrical system can handle 24V communications equipment and charging of the 24V batteries.

Militarization of standard GM trucks to produce the LSSV included exterior changes such as CARC paint (Forest Green, Desert Sand, or 3-color Camouflage), blackout lights, military bumpers, brush guard, NATO slave receptacle, NATO trailer receptacle, pintle hook and shackles. The electrical system was changed to the 24/12 volt military standard. The dashboard had additional controls and dataplates. The truck also could be equipped with weapon supports in the cab, cargo tie down hooks, folding troop seats, pioneer tools, winch, and other military accessories.

The Enhanced Mobility Package (EMP) option adds enhanced suspension, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, a locking differential, on/off road beadlock tires, a tire pressure monitoring system and other upgrades.

No National Stock Number (NSN) has been identified for the LSSV trucks. Manuals are GM Defense supplied supplements to the standard vehicle Owners Manuals.

Find additional photos and hi-res versions of the Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) at the Olive-Drab Military Mashup.

Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) Photo Gallery

Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) base model pickup with cargo cover and troop seats. Photo: GM Defense
Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) base model pickup with cargo cover and troop seats. Photo: GM Defense.

Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) with Crew Cab (GSA Item #57.1), cargo cover, and options Enhanced Mobility Package (EMP), Military Package (MCTL), and Troop Seats (ELFS). Photo: GM Defense
Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) with Crew Cab (GSA Item #57.1), cargo cover, and options Enhanced Mobility Package (EMP), Military Package (MCTL), and Troop Seats (ELFS). Photo: GM Defense.

Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) Crew Cab (GSA Item #57.1) with Enhanced Mobility Package (EMP), Military Package (MCTL), and Troop Seats (ELFS). Photo: GM Defense
Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV) with Crew Cab (GSA Item #57.1) and options Enhanced Mobility Package (EMP), Military Package (MCTL), and Troop Seats (ELFS). Photo: GM Defense.