Monday Special by EGL: LAF Utility Vehicles (3): Dodge

A rarely seen Lebanese Army M886 Ambulance of the Moujawkal Regiment.

Another courtesy from Elite Group Lebanon.

Fortress Downtown

Some Photos of Lebanese Army vehicles in Beirut downtown during a political crisis in early 2007.

 

Commandos Regiment M113A2s and M35 trucks parked next to Beirut Serail, 2007.

A Maghaweer (commandos) Regiment M113A2 behind razor wire.

Airborne (Moujawkal) Regiment M113A2s And M35 trucks at a crossroad.

A Lebanese Army M113A2 of an Intervention Regiment in downtown Beirut, 2007.

A rare Commandos Regiment M880 in Beirut downtown, 2007. Note the covered MG.

Photo of the Day

Lebanese Commando (Maghaweer) Regiment vehicles. Among the vehicles are M35A2s, M800 series, M886 Ambulance and various M113 versions. Note the different types of camouflage scheme found in this regiment.

CUCVs in Lebanon (Cluster 1)

In the beginning of the seventies the U.S. military became interested in commercial vehicles for certain roles. This sudden interest for such vehicles was related to economics more than a certain reliance on strict tactical design. The concept of the CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle) was born although the first series of vehicle weren’t yet known under that denomination. The M880 series which appeared in 1973, was aimed to replace the M715 Kaiser-Jeep. The Chevrolet CUCV family of vehicles replaced in turn the Dodge M880 series beginning from 1984. The militarization of the Chevrolets was a bit more extensive than it had been with the earlier Dodges. Modifications included the addition of a brush guard and towing shackles on the front bumper and a dual 12-and 28-volt 100-amp charging system. The power plant was GM’s 6.2-liter diesel coupled to a TurboHydramatic transmission. Most models used the Process NP208 Process two-speed chain-driven transfer case. All models were equipped with non-slip rear differentials.

The Lebanese Army was supplied with CUCVs throughout the nineties. A wide range of M880 series and CUCVs can be found in Lebanon even the rarest variants. The M880 and M1008 are usually used for patrolling while the M1009 is used as officers vehicle. The non-exhaustive list of such vehicles in Lebanese Army use can be resumed as follow:

• M880 : The Basic Dodge 4×4 Pickup truck Model.
• M886 : The Ambulance model based on the M880.
• M1008 : The base vehicle of the series, diesel-powered version of the Chevrolet K2500 with the front axle of  the K3500.
• M1008A1 : Same as M1008 but with radio racks installed in the bed, and antenna mounts installed.
• M1009 : Military version of the Chevrolet Blazer.
• M1010 : The ambulance version of the CUCV series. The only member of the series air-conditioned.
• M1028 : The shelter carrier version of  the M1008 with a communications kit and an S-250 shelter installed.
• M1028A2/A3 : The basic M1008 with dual rear wheels.
• A number of M1008s were locally modified into prisoner transport and field maintenance vehicles.

A blurry picture of a now rare Lebanese Army M880

A Lebanese Army M886 Ambulance

A Lebanese Army M1008 of the 12th Brigade

Another M1008 of the same 12th Brigade

An M1008 of the 9th Brigade MPs

An M1008 of the Lebanese Army Navy Seals during victory day after Nahr El Bared battle in 2007. This Vehicle is one of the first to bear the new digital pattern camouflage applied to most vehicles nowadays

A Lebanese Army MP M1008 locally converted into a prisoner transport vehicle

A Lebanese Army 5th Brigade M1008 converted into a Maintenance/Repair vehicle

A very rare Lebanese Army 9th Brigade M1008 with a USAF crew cab variant

A Lebanese Army M1009 of the 10th Brigade

A Lebanese Army M1010 Ambulance

A Lebanese Army M1028 of the Transmission unit next to a Land Rover Series III

A blurry picture of a rare Lebanese Army M1028A2/A3 with dual rear wheels