Yahoo Autos The Marauder Is An Amazing Military Vehicle You Can Own
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Back in 2012, Top Gear viewers were amazed when Clarkson and company put a new kind of military vehicle, the Marauder made by Paramount, through its paces. While the thing looks appropriately aggressive, like BearCats and JLTVs, what really blew people away was when the TV show tested out its ability to take land mine blasts and sustain minimal to zero damage.
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That led the hosts to declare the Marauder “the world’s most unstoppable vehicle.” Everyone can debate whether that’s an accurate statement or not, but what isn’t up for debate is that the Marauder is one tough cookie.
Even better, the Marauder is available to the public, although most either can’t afford the approximately $500,000 price tag or wouldn’t want the liabilities of ownership. But for those who crave the thrill of driving a modern armored military vehicle, the allure overcomes all.
What really wowed people when the Marauder was first rolled out by Paramount was its ability to protect troops against land mines. While Humvees and other military transports have struggled against traditional and improvised explosives, this truck can take up to an 8kg TNT blast from below or 14kg TNT blast under any of the wheels.
The hull itself contains a double-skinned spaced armor to guard against kinetic attacks penetrating and reaching soldiers inside. That can be further enhanced, with the only drawback other than cost being additional weight added to the truck.
Further protection from blasts comes via seats designed to prevent injury from acceleration forces placed below or to the side of the vehicle.
Crewed by just two operators, the Marauder can be airlifted by a Chinook or C130 with minimal prep, making it an even more versatile piece of military equipment. It can sustain bursts of speed up to 68 mph, thanks to the six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.
Like many modern war machines, the Marauder is built with some modularity, allowing it to be upfitted in a number of unique configurations. Among the options is the standard or stretched body, several armor ratings, and different drivelines.
Some use the Marauder to transport small groups of soldiers to the frontline or even into enemy territory. Configured properly, it can transport up to eight fully laden soldiers in the rear, two more than the Bradley. Others choose to add any number of weapons systems to make it better suited for direct combat, including helping to fight enemy armor.
Marauders have also been used as battlefield ambulances and command vehicles.
Not only can the Marauder traverse rugged landscapes and is incredibly tough, it’s quite utilitarian. It can handle a payload of up to 9,900 lbs. That means it can be loaded with heavy supplies, including extra fuel or water, and not struggle to carry the load. This capability makes the Marauder capable of long-range patrols in addition to its obvious quick strike abilities.
Images via Paramount
