Ranger Defenders

[msggunny]

Hi, do any of you out there have any good pics or info on US Army Ranger Defender 110?

Yes they used to have them, worked with them at Ft Knox.

I have only found 1 so far, but curious about more.

[KingSlug]

Email the guys at expeditionexchange.com I believe they have a big stock of UK MOD and US Ranger pics.

[msggunny]

Found it:
http://shadowspear.com/rsov.htm

[JSalyer]

RSOV was Ranger RGT replacement for old M151 Jeep, which where way overdue for replacement. While I have been out of the community for a while, the RSOV is due for replacement in a few years when the next generation guntrucks come online. They get life cycle upgrades/ to keep them fresh(new motors/trannies/suspension). The big factor was that it could be loaded in the cargo bay of a MH-47/CH-47 Helo(watch the Spec. Ops video link below) it is the Army heavy lift bird(the big 2 rotor one in the videos). Humvee wont fit, too wide. RSOV was aquired after the Spec ops community saw it used in Desert Storm by Brit SF units in early 1990's, Plus Rovers are used in most of world and field repairs could conceivably be carried out with spares available in most of the world. Here is the meat of the article,
Jack Salyer


Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV)
Another USSOCOM element that was eager to replace its M151 series “Jeeps” was the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. Ranger elements utilized overloaded M151 “Gun Jeeps” in combat as late as Operation Just Cause (December 1989).
In 1992, the Rangers began replacing their M151s with a new family of vehicles based on the Land Rover “Defender” Model 110. Known as the Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV) family, the platforms are now utilized by USSOCOM’s largest single direct action element in at least four different configurations: the “basic” RSOV; a medical evacuation variant (MEDSOV); a mortar towing/fire support variant (MORTSOV) and a command and control variant (C2SOV).
One dozen “basic” RSOVs are fielded to the “Alpha Company” of each of the three Ranger battalions (1/75th Rangers at Hunter Army Airfield, GA; 2/75th Rangers at Fort Lewis, WA; and 3/75th Rangers at Fort Benning, GA). Utilized primarily to move crew-served weapons and combat power quickly around a small battlefield area, the RSOV chassis measures 173.8 inches long, 70.5 inches wide, 76 inches high (without gun mount) and possesses a ground clearance of 10 inches. When fully loaded, the vehicle weighs 7,734 pounds. The physical envelope allows the RSOV to be transported by all USAF tactical cargo aircraft and internally transported in both MH-47 and MH-53 helicopters.

A four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine provides the RSOV with a fully loaded range of 200 miles (plus 50 miles per extra 5-gallon can).
Stowage and configuration features include a Mk 19 or .50-caliber main weapon, M-60/M-240G mount, Stinger missile stowage rack, multiple storage compartments and straps, concertina mounts, vehicle lashing points, and a 7,000 pound capacity winch. Anti-tank/anti-armor capabilities can come from the M-3 84 mm Carl Gustav anti-armor weapon, Javelin anti-tank missile, AT-4 anti-armor missile, or light anti-armor weapon (LAW).
Each of the three Ranger battalions also has two MEDSOV variants. Instead of the weapon mounts found on the standard RSOVs, the MEDSOV variant has fold-down racks capable of carrying six litter patients. Along with its transported casualties, a typical MEDSOV crew would include a driver, a TC and two or three medics to treat the wounded.
The MORTSOV is used by the Ranger battalion mortar platoon. The platoon’s two “Defenders” (the platoons also have three HMMWVs) replace the top gun configuration with storage boxes and guide wires that allow the vehicle to carry 30 120 mm mortar rounds along with the extra equipment required by the platoon. In addition to its onboard carrying capacity, the MORTSOV can be used to tow the platoon’s 120 mm mortars.
Finally, the C2SOV is equipped with a command and control upgrade package. The C2SOV variant is designed to provide the Ranger unit with an air-transportable and/or air-droppable command and control platform used to establish both short and long range communications links during airborne or helicopter assault forced-entry operations. Two of the C2SOVs are located in each of the Army’s three Ranger battalions with two additional vehicles assigned to the 75th Regimental Headquarters element.
Ranger fleet planners have indicated that the RSOVs were fielded with a projected 20-year life cycle and that the battalions plan to keep the vehicles in their inventories throughout that period. To insure continued tactical viability, the systems will likely undergo a near term upgrade that will improve the vehicle suspension, equip the platforms with a new wider tire (for a more stable ride) and reposition the spare tire on the front as opposed to the rear of the vehicle.


http://www.special-operations-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=122