American Growler
American Growler Inc is a manufacturing firm originally based in Ocala, Florida, now in Robbins, North Carolina. For over ten years, it has built a line of Light Utility Vehicles partly derived from drivetrains from M151 MUTT Jeeps.[1] 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.
Light Strike Vehicle
Growler's most expensive model at over $100,000 each, is the Growler Light Strike vehicle.[2] 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.[3]
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.
Notes
- ↑ American Growler home page
- ↑ Corps pays $100K for retooled jeep USA Today, 29 December 2005
- ↑ Mobile mortar system for Osprey delayed, North County Times 4 January 2008
