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The Best U.S. Combat Vehicle in Ukraine is Not What You Think
Sure, the F-16 Fighting Falcon makes a great headline and I’ll admit, it is a sexy fighter jet. But there is one vehicle that represents the backbone of U.S., and now Ukrainian, combat operations: The Oshkosh M1074A1 Palletized Load System (PLS).
For all the talk of HIMARS, drones, and mine-laying artillery shells, the humble PLS touches almost every unit in a combined arms fighting force.
And yet, without this single piece of equipment in its many configurations, ground combat grinds to a halt.
Full stop.
There are no more fuel deliveries.
No more food for hungry soldiers.
No replacement parts for broken vehicles.
No water for thirsty grunts to quench their grunty thirst.
No ammunition for artillery or HIMARS.
No combat vehicle recovery (Track excluded).
Nothing.
Nada.
It’s a beautiful machine. And so are the people who operate it.
As a young, brash, and idiotic infantryman, I used to make fun of Army truck drivers. “Wait, you joined the Army to drive a…
