American Growler
Encyclopedia
American Growler Inc is a firm originally based in Ocala, Florida
, now in Robbins, North Carolina
. For over ten years, it has built a line of Light Utility Vehicle
s partly derived from drivetrains
from M151 MUTT Jeeps. Versions range from $7,000 in price kit form, a $15,500 tactical dune buggy
, and a $33,000 version sold to the Dominican Republic
's military.
. It was specially designed to be transported in the small cargo hold of the V-22 Osprey
tilt-rotor aircraft along with the Expeditionary Fire Support System
towed mortar.
The V-22 cargo compartment is five feet wide, five feet tall and less than 17 feet in length. In 2005, the Marines planned to buy 400 of the vehicles in a contract that combined with the mortar system was expected to total $296 million.
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
, now in Robbins, North Carolina
Robbins, North Carolina
Robbins is a city in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,195 at the 2000 census.Robbins is the hometown of the late Charles E. Brady, NASA astronaut of STS-78 space shuttle mission in 1996...
. For over ten years, it has built a line of Light Utility Vehicle
Light Utility Vehicle
Light utility vehicle is a general term for small, jeep-like military trucks for tactical use. They are generally short, relatively light compared to other trucks and cars, unarmored with 4-wheel drive and short body overhangs for all-terrain mobility and at least 4 passenger capacity...
s partly derived from drivetrains
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
from M151 MUTT Jeeps. Versions range from $7,000 in price kit form, a $15,500 tactical dune buggy
Dune buggy
A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. The design is usually a modified vehicle and engine mounted on an open chassis. The modifications usually attempt to increase the power-to-weight ratio by either lightening the...
, and a $33,000 version sold to the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
's military.
Light Strike Vehicle
Growler's most expensive model at over $100,000 each, is the Growler Light Strike vehicleGrowler (vehicle)
A Growler is a Jeep-like United States Marine Corps internally transportable vehicle , smaller than typical military Light Utility Vehicles....
. It was specially designed to be transported in the small cargo hold of the V-22 Osprey
V-22 Osprey
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing , and short takeoff and landing capability...
tilt-rotor aircraft along with the Expeditionary Fire Support System
Dragon Fire (mortar)
The Dragon Fire 120 mm heavy mortar was a private venture by TDA Armaments that was picked up by the US Marine Corps for its EFSS requirement. It is a fully automated mortar capable of using rifled or smoothbore 120 mm ammunition. Like all mortars it is a high-angle-of-fire weapon used for...
towed mortar.
The V-22 cargo compartment is five feet wide, five feet tall and less than 17 feet in length. In 2005, the Marines planned to buy 400 of the vehicles in a contract that combined with the mortar system was expected to total $296 million.