Regan Brown
Military trucks are known for their fuel inefficiency. The US Department of Defense is the world's largest fuel consumer, burning through 4 billion gallons of fuel annually. While there is no precise information on how much fuel military trucks can hold, the M970 model, which is a stand-alone fuel tanker, has a fuel tank capacity of 5,000 US gallons (19,000 litres) and 3.2 US gallons for the M970A1 model. The M970 series is designed to deliver fuel to aircraft and vehicles at Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel efficiency of military vehicles | Least fuel-efficient vehicles on the planet |
| Fuel usage in World War II | 1 gallon of fuel per soldier every day |
| Fuel usage in Desert Storm | 4 gallons |
| Fuel usage in 2007 with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan | 16 gallons, or $3 million worth of fuel a day |
| Fuel usage by the Army | An armored division of the Army can use up to 600,000 gallons of fuel a day |
| M1 Abrams tank mileage | 0.6 mpg |
| M-1070 semi-trailer mileage | 1.2 mpg |
| Army Humvee mileage | 10-14 mpg |
| Jet fuel consumption by the Air Force | Accounts for 71% of the entire military's petroleum consumption |
| U.S. Department of Defense fuel consumption | 4 billion gallons of fuel each year |
| M970 fuel tanker capacity | 5,000 US gallons (19,000 L) |
| M970 engine | Cummins Onan four-cylinder inline diesel engine with air-cooled compression ignition, producing 27.5 hp (20.5 kW) |
| M970 fuel tank capacity | 3.2 US gallons |
| M970 features | Filter Separator System, emergency cut-off valve, shear pins, spring valve, Purple-K fire extinguishers |
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What You'll Learn
The US military's fuel usage
The US military is the world's single largest consumer of oil and one of the world's top greenhouse gas emitters. In 2016, the Defense Department consumed about 86 million barrels of fuel for operational purposes. The Department of Defense uses 4,600,000,000 US gallons (1.7 x 10^10 litres) of fuel annually, which equates to an average of 12,600,000 US gallons (48,000,000 litres) of fuel per day. If the DoD were a country, it would rank 34th in the world in average daily oil use, just behind Iraq and just ahead of Sweden.
The US military has some of the least fuel-efficient vehicles on the planet. For example, some military hovercraft use 20 gallons of gas to go one mile. The B-2 stealth bomber, which holds more than 25,600 gallons of jet fuel, burns 4.28 gallons per mile. The KC-135R aerial refuelling tanker consumes about 4.9 gallons per mile.
The Marine Corps established the Expeditionary Energy Office to increase combat effectiveness by reducing the need for liquid fossil fuel by 50% by 2025, using liquid fuel only for mobility. The Defense Department invested $9 billion to improve energy use in military operations through 2017. The SolarStrong program saw 300MW of PV installations on 120,000 roofs of base housing across the US. Fort Irwin was awarded the construction of a 15MW solar farm, and Fort Drum converted a coal power plant to a 28MW biomass plant.
The DoD's Energy Conservation Investment Program (ECIP) improves the energy and water efficiency of existing Military Services' facilities. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $120 million for the ECIP. The US Army has also prioritised renewable energy strategies in Iraq, including the Tactical Garbage to Energy Refinery Program, which converts 1 short ton (0.91 tonnes) of waste into 11 US gallons (42 litres) of JP-8 fuel.
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Fuel efficiency of military vehicles
The US military consumes a significant amount of fuel, with a daily gasoline usage of over 10.6 million gallons. The US Department of Defense is the world's largest fuel consumer, burning through nearly 4 billion gallons of fuel annually. This high fuel consumption is partly due to the fuel inefficiency of military vehicles, which include planes, helicopters, tanks, trucks, and hovercraft.
Military hovercrafts, for instance, are known for their high fuel consumption, using up to 20 gallons of gas to travel one mile. The M1 Abrams tank, weighing between 60 and 70 tons, has a fuel efficiency of approximately 0.6 mpg. The M-1070 semi-trailer, designed to haul tanks, has a slightly better fuel economy, achieving around 1.2 mpg. The Army's Humvee vehicles demonstrate relatively higher fuel efficiency, delivering between 10 and 14 mpg, comparable to the commercially available Hummer.
The Navy is considered the most fuel-efficient branch among the large military branches. The use of marine engine technology allows for more fuel-efficient transportation of equipment compared to air transport. The Navy's Seawolf submarine, for example, is a fast and well-armed vessel with exceptional quietness, contributing to its fuel efficiency.
While the fuel efficiency of military vehicles has been a concern, there have been efforts to improve it. The Stryker truck, introduced in 2002, offers better protection than other trucks and improved maneuverability compared to a tank. With a 330-horsepower engine, it can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Additionally, the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a fully amphibious landing craft capable of carrying a 60-ton payload at high speeds. Its turbine engines provide 16,000 horsepower, and its hovercraft design allows it to access more than 70% of the world's coastline, making it a versatile and efficient option for landing operations.
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Fuel capacity of military trucks
Military trucks are some of the least fuel-efficient vehicles on the planet. While there is a lack of information on the fuel capacity of military trucks, there are various examples of military vehicles and their fuel capacities and efficiencies.
The M970 is a military vehicle used for fuel delivery to aircraft on flight lines and to other vehicles at Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs). The M970 has a fuel capacity of 5,000 US gallons (19,000 L) and uses a Cummins Onan four-cylinder inline diesel engine with air-cooled compression ignition, producing 27.5 hp (20.5 kW). The M970A1 is a variant of the M970 with a relocated top access ladder from the front of the tank to the rear and has the same fuel capacity.
The M967 and M969 are similar to the M970 but are designed to carry vehicle fuels such as gasoline and diesel. The M967 is not equipped to dispense fuel to other vehicles, while the M969 is a self-loading and unloading tank semi-trailer designed for this purpose.
Other examples of fuel capacities and efficiencies in military vehicles include the M1 Abrams tank, which gets about 0.6 mpg, and the M-1070 semi-trailer cargo vehicle, which gets approximately 1.2 mpg. An Army Humvee gets between 10 and 14 mpg, similar to the commercially available Hummer. The fuel efficiency of these vehicles can vary depending on factors such as speed, cargo load, and fuel type. For example, military hovercraft can use 20 gallons of gas to travel one mile.
The high fuel consumption of military vehicles contributes to the U.S. Department of Defense being the single largest consumer of fuel in the world, with jet fuel accounting for 71% of its petroleum usage.
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Fuel delivery to aircraft
The US military's fuel is transported in various ways, including maritime tankers and barges, overland trucks, pipelines, and other systems. The M970 is a military truck that can be used as a stand-alone fuel tanker, delivering fuel directly to aircraft on a flight line. It has a fuel tank of 3.2 US gallons and uses a Cummins Onan four-cylinder inline diesel engine with air-cooled compression ignition, producing 27.5 hp. The M970 is equipped with a Filter Separator System that removes water and sediment from the fuel and has an emergency cut-off valve to prevent fuel spills. It is also equipped with Purple-K fire extinguishers as a safety measure.
The M970 can be used at Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs), delivering fuel to multiple nozzles for quick fuelling operations. This is typically used for helicopters but can also be used with AV-8B Harrier II or with an Expeditionary Airfield (EAF). The M970 was also used to assist in loading the bladders for the Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing Systems (TAFDS).
In addition to using trucks like the M970, the US military has explored using cargo planes to transport fuel. The Air Force's largest aircraft, the C-5M Super Galaxy, was used in an experiment to test its ability to act as a mobile fuel station. The plane kept half its engines running while fuel was pumped out of its wings into an R-11 refueller truck. This concept involves using a cargo aircraft to land in remote areas, offload fuel, and take off quickly without spending much time on the ground.
While the use of cargo planes for fuel transport is still being explored, aerial refuelling has been employed since World War II to extend the range of military aircraft. Aerial refuelling involves specially designed aircraft or the use of refuelling pods fitted to existing aircraft designs. The US Navy, Marine Corps, and some Army aircraft use the "hose-and-drogue" system for refuelling, which involves a hose with a drogue that is pushed forward by the receiver aircraft to initiate fuel flow.
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Fuel economy of military branches
The US military is the world's single-largest consumer of fuel. In 2007, the US Department of Defense (DoD) was responsible for 93% of all US government fuel consumption, burning through almost 4 billion gallons of fuel each year or over 10.6 million gallons of gasoline daily. The DoD's fuel consumption breaks down as follows: Air Force (52%), Navy (33%), Army (7%), and Other DoD (1%).
The Air Force is the largest user of fuel within the US military and the federal government, consuming over half of the DoD's fuel. This is due to the extensive fleet of aircraft they maintain and operate, including fighters, bombers, tankers, and cargo aircraft. Jet fuel accounts for 71% of the entire US military's petroleum consumption and 82% of the Air Force's fuel usage. The Air Force has also been a pioneer in renewable energy development and is working towards certifying its fleet on alternative fuels.
The Navy is the second-largest fuel consumer in the US military, with a large fleet of ships, submarines, and aircraft. The Navy has also been working towards improving its energy usage, testing biofuels in its ships and aircraft.
The Army and Marines use less fuel compared to the Air Force and Navy as their operations primarily involve ground transportation and their equipment generally requires less fuel.
The Space Force, being the newest branch of the military, is still developing its operations, so its fuel usage is difficult to determine. However, the DoD as a whole is making efforts to become more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.
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Frequently asked questions
The M970 military truck has a fuel tank capacity of 3.2 US gallons.
The M970 can be used as a stand-alone fuel tanker to deliver fuel directly to aircraft on a flight line.
An Army Humvee gets between 10 and 14 miles per gallon.
The US military is the largest consumer of fuel in the world. The Department of Defense burns through almost 4 billion gallons of fuel each year.
