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Today in WW II: 9 Mar 1945 279 B-29 Superfortress bombers ignite a firestorm in Tokyo, destroying 267,000 buildings, creating 1 million Japanese homeless [Mar 9-10].
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US Marine Corps Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) Mk-18 Rear Body Unit (RBU)
The MK18 RBU combines with the MK48 Front Power Unit to form the ribbon bridge transporter variant of the Logistics Vehicle System (LVS). The MK18 consists of a modified MK14 container hauler trailer with a
lifting gear assembly mounted at the rear and a winch assembly mounted on the front of a split/pivotal bed. The MK18 is capable of self-loading and unloading the Ribbon Bridge Set and ISO/ANSI cargo containers through the use of hydraulic cylinders, pulleys and winches. Prior preparation of the trailer is not required for loading and unloading of ISO/ANSI containers but for the Bridge Set, the MK18 must be reconfigured by adding additional attachments. The reconfiguration for bridge loading and unloading requires approximately 25 to 30 minutes preparation time.The MK18 can be operated by remote control from a distance either in the container or bridge mode.
The full nomenclature of the Mk18 Rear Body Unit is Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK14, MOD 0, NSN 2320-01-324-5915. Mk-18A1 is NSN 2320-01-393-0293.
Tabulated data for the LVS Mk-18 Rear Body Unit:
| Length |
304.5 in |
| Width |
96 in |
| Height |
74.76 in |
| Square |
160 sq ft |
| Cube |
800 cu ft |
| Curb weight |
21,800 lbs |
| GVW |
86,300 lbs |
| Wheel base |
MK48/18 260 in |
| Ground clearance |
12 in |
| Fording depth |
60 in w/o prep |
| Electrical |
24 v, neg gd, powered by FPU |
| Brakes |
Air, linked to FPU |
The Mk-18 RBU has a 238x96 inch deck (158.67 sq ft), with load capacity of 25,000 lbs cross-country, 40,000 lbs highway. The MK-18A1 has an improved loading and off-loading mechanism with a Front Lift Adapter (FLA) rising from the middle of the vehicle.
Source: Marine Corps publication TM 11240-15/4B, August 1994.
Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK18, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-6, Page 3-12.
Trailer, Powered, Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler, 4x4, MK18A1, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-7, Page 3-14.
USMC Bridge Company Alpha Mk48/18A1 LVS Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler on the riverbank after offloading a FBM Babcock Marine MKII Bridge Erection Boat (background), Memphis Floating Bridge site, near Al-Ubaydi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, 28 September 2004.
Mk48/18 LVS Ribbon Bridge/Container Haulers load ISO containers en-route to Estonia, at the Bjugn pre-positioned storage cave facility. Members of the Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade Off-load Preparation Party position equipment in support of Baltic Challenge '97, 2 July 1997.
USMC 9th Engineer Support Battalion uses a Mk48 LVS with Mk-18A1 Ribbon Bridge/Container Hauler trailer unit to load a 400-gallon Expeditionary Refueling System, Dogu Beach, Pohang, South Korea, 30 October 2000.
