Special Report
The Fastest Tanks, Trucks, and Armored Carriers in the US Military
Published:
Speed is important in combat, but so is keeping American soldiers protected, and for many of the U.S. military’s tanks, trucks, jeeps, and other personnel carriers, some of the ability to cover distance quickly is sacrificed in exchange for heavy armor and armament. Many of the American military’s vehicles, which include bulldozers, trucks, and tractors, have speeds that top out at less than 40 mph, and most cannot exceed 65 mph, the speed limit on most U.S. highways. But this is not always the case, and there are reconnaissance vehicles and infantry transports designed for quick entry and egress, including some very recent additions to the American arsenal that are capable of speeds in excess of 90 mph.
To determine the fastest US Military vehicles, 24/7 Wall St. looked at data on military ground vehicles from Military Factory, an online database of vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries across the world both past and present. We ranked the vehicles according to the top speed of each vehicle. For each vehicle we also included horsepower, crew size, when the vehicle entered service, and what role it plays within the military, all from Military Factory.
Several infantry fighting vehicles are among the fastest on our list, including standbys like the M2 Bradley, which came into service in 1981. The Infantry Squad Vehicle is the most recent addition, coming into service in 2021.
Three of the 10 fastest vehicles used by the U.S. military are classified as mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) wheeled armored vehicles. MRAPs are built with a V-shaped hull designed to deflect explosions away from the troop compartment. All three vehicles – M-ATV, the Buffalo H, and the MaxxPro – came into service earlier in the 21st century and were available to participate against the insurgents in Iraq. They have crews of two to five people, and all three vehicles have a top speed of more than 65 mph. (Here are 34 combat vehicles used by the U.S. military.)
Click here to see the fastest vehicles in the US military.
32. M88 Hercules
> Top speed: 24.9 mph
> Horsepower: 1,050 — #04 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Armored recovery vehicle (ARV)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1961
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31. M9 ACE (Armored Combat Earthmover)
> Top speed: 30.0 mph
> Horsepower: 295 — #21 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Military bulldozer
> Crew size: 1
> First entered service: 1986
30. M60 AVLB
> Top speed: 30.0 mph
> Horsepower: 750 — #05 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 1967
29. M113 APC
> Top speed: 37.9 mph
> Horsepower: 212 — #27 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Armored personnel carrier
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 1960
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28. M2 Bradley
> Top speed: 37.9 mph
> Horsepower: 600 — #07 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1981
27. AAV-7 (LVTP-7)
> Top speed: 39.8 mph
> Horsepower: 400 — #12 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1972
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26. M270
> Top speed: 39.8 mph
> Horsepower: 600 — #07 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1983
25. M109 (Paladin)
> Top speed: 40.0 mph
> Horsepower: 450 — #10 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Self-propelled artillery
> Crew size: 4
> First entered service: 1963
24. M1 Abrams
> Top speed: 41.6 mph
> Horsepower: 1,500 — #01 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Main battle tank
> Crew size: 4
> First entered service: 1980
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23. M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle
> Top speed: 43.5 mph
> Horsepower: 1,500 — #01 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Battlefield engineering vehicle
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2008
22. M104 Wolverine
> Top speed: 44.7 mph
> Horsepower: 1,500 — #01 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2003
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21. MIM-104 Patriot
> Top speed: 49.7 mph
> Horsepower: 355 — #16 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Surface-to-air missile (SAM)
> Crew size: 12
> First entered service: 1981
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20. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
> Top speed: 52.8 mph
> Horsepower: 290 — #22 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 2005
19. Cougar
> Top speed: 54.7 mph
> Horsepower: 330 — #18 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Troop transport
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2002
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18. Scorpion DPV (Desert Patrol Vehicle)
> Top speed: 56.3 mph
> Horsepower: 200 — #28 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Lightweight all-terrain
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1987
17. FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles)
> Top speed: 59.0 mph
> Horsepower: 330 — #18 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Military truck
> Crew size: 1
> First entered service: 1996
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16. M939 Truck
> Top speed: 62.1 mph
> Horsepower: 240 — #26 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Military truck
> Crew size: 1
> First entered service: 1982
15. M1117 Guardian ASV
> Top speed: 62.1 mph
> Horsepower: 260 — #25 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Armored security vehicle
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1999
14. LAV-25
> Top speed: 62.1 mph
> Horsepower: 275 — #23 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Light armored vehicle (LAV)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1983
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13. RG-31 Nyala
> Top speed: 62.1 mph
> Horsepower: 275 — #23 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
> Crew size: 8
> First entered service: 2006
12. Stryker
> Top speed: 62.1 mph
> Horsepower: 350 — #17 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Armored fighting vehicle (AFV)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 2002
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11. M93 Fox
> Top speed: 64.6 mph
> Horsepower: 320 — #20 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Reconnaissance vehicle
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 1990
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10. M915A5
> Top speed: 64.6 mph
> Horsepower: 500 — #09 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Military tractor
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2000
9. HMMWV (Humvee)
> Top speed: 65.2 mph
> Horsepower: 150 — #31 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Multi-purpose wheeled vehicle
> Crew size: 1
> First entered service: 1985
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8. M-ATV
> Top speed: 65.2 mph
> Horsepower: 370 — #15 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
> Crew size: 5
> First entered service: 2009
7. Buffalo H
> Top speed: 65.2 mph
> Horsepower: 450 — #10 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2004
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6. Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
> Top speed: 65.2 mph
> Horsepower: 690 — #06 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 2019
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5. RG-33
> Top speed: 67.7 mph
> Horsepower: 400 — #12 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
> Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2007
4. MaxxPro
> Top speed: 69.2 mph
> Horsepower: 375 — #14 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2007
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3. M1161 Growler
> Top speed: 85.1 mph
> Horsepower: 132 — #32 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Fast attack vehicle
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 2009
2. Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)
> Top speed: 90.1 mph
> Horsepower: 186 — #30 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Light utility vehicle
> Crew size: 2
> First entered service: 2021
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1. Flyer-72 ALSV (Advanced Light Strike Vehicle)
> Top speed: 99.4 mph
> Horsepower: 195 — #29 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
> Role: Special operations vehicle
> Crew size: 3
> First entered service: 2014
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