The USMC purhased 147 of these ITV's....purpose built to fit into the Osprey. (Only Pushbikes, Mopeds, or ATV's could fit otherwise!)
The ITV comes in two versions. One is a Light Attack Vehicle configuration that the Marines are buying, jointly with Special Operations Command, for its reconnaissance and special operations units. The second is designed to haul around a 120mm rifled mortar and accompanying ammunition to provide rapid on-call fire support to Marine rifle companies. The ITV and mortar combination pack up small enough to fit inside the Osprey.
The Marines say the ITV in its different variants figures into its “distributed operations” war fighting concept where small, highly mobile, yet hard-hitting, units operate independently over large areas. But the small jeeps don’t come cheap, they cost around $273,000 a copy. That’s a lot of money for a modern version of the “Rat Patrol” Willy’s Jeep.
Future plans are for a total purchase of 647 of the things!!!
Anyone remember the Mini-mite....the $5000 Helicopter portable "Jeep" the USMC had during Vietnam days that proved to be useless!
