Storm Vehicles of the Massachusetts State Police

A huge Nor’easter storm is about give those of us in the northeast a brutal pounding. It’s probably well-deserved too, as New England hasn’t got a good pounding in about two years, or at least since Super Bowl XLVI. The media is, of course, off their rockers, proclaiming the end of the world. Schools, transportation, and government buildings are being shutdown and everyone is urged to stay off the roads.

The police are preparing for the worst – the idiocies of the general public. Despite typical snow storms here in the Boston area, there are surprisingly many idiots who are caught completely off-guard each time it snows.

In their preparations, the Massachusetts State Police took to twitter to show off some of their storm vehicles. Where one would expect Tahoes or Explorers, they showed off Humvees, a 5-ton truck, and a go-anywhere SUSV. All of a sudden I want to be a state trooper.

[Source: Mass State Police Twitter]

I am not certain from the pictures, but it does not look like the vehicles are stored at the same driver training facility where where I encountered all the retired Crown Vics.

This is “State Police Fleet mechanic Jim Aitken” who is apparently in charge of reading all the special vehicles, including this SUSV. The Small Unit Support Vehicle, according to GlobalSecurity.org (cool site if you’re into that sort of thing) is:

“a full tracked, articulated vehicle designed to support infantry platoons and similar sized units during the conduct of operations in arctic and alpine conditions. The SUSV can be used in all types of terrain, such as trackless terrain, rock, boulders, bog, marsh and water and from arctic cold to tropical heat. The SUSV is a military vehicle designed for use as an all-terrain, amphibious, multi-role transport vehicle.”

Technically, the SUSV:

“consists of two track-driven cars that are coupled together by a central, articulated steering assembly. Steering is accomplished using hydraulic cylinders that turn the cars relative to each other. The front and rear units are connected by a unique hydraulic steering linkage, which gives great flexibility in all axles and extremely good maneuverability. This device provides the steering control between the two cars at the same time as it allows necessary freedom for the two cars to individually follow uneven terrain. The vehicle is powered by commercially available turbo-charged diesel engine. Automatic transmission, also commercially available, ensures smooth gear changes, and requires a minimum of driver training”

“With all four tracks driven at all times, the M973’s large track area allows the vehicle to travel over deep snow and soft ground which would be impassable to almost all other tracked and wheeled vehicles. It is also amphibious, being propelled in the water by its four tracks. The M973 can negotiate such obstacles like soft snow, drifting sand and marshlands and can climb considerable gradients, swim without preparation and work in arctic cold or in tropical heat.”

Very cool. Obviously I must own this. It will be parked next to my Unimog… when/if I ever get that.

The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or what is commonly known as the Humvee, or in civilian version, Hummer H1. With so many versions of these super-capable vehicles, it is difficult to tell which models these specifically are. From the pictures we can judge that these are probably military-spec (see: steering wheel), and by the oddly-shaped side windows, possibly with light armor? Surprisingly, these are not equipped with the central tire inflation system.

This looks like a military M923 (feel free to correct me) 5-ton truck. Typical, non-dump-bed, 6×6 monster. I am not sure what specific uses MSP has for this, perhaps transport of equipment, or emergency evaluations in cases of floods?

Side note: I’ve seen the previous generation Ford Explorer, equipped with push-bars, do an excellent job of pushing a stranded C-class Benz up a snowy hill. I wonder how the new unibody Explorers will handle that task.

In other times, when things get really out of hand, such as when the Patriots don’t lose a key game in the play-offs, The Bear is called into action. The Bear does not come out of its cage often, but when it does… You don’t fuck with The Bear.

Again, I do not know much about police or military equipment, so feel free to correct me on anything. If anyone from any northeast Police departments is reading this – I would love to check out some of your equipment one day. Just shoot an email to the tips line.