Dominant Logistics
A Tactical Pallet System
One of the hottest topics in logistics today is the concept of palletization. Palletization offers a huge variety of advantages to a military force on a number of different levels. The cornerstone of this concept is the Pallet Loading System, or PLS. PLS is a hydraulic system mounted on a truck or track that can load or unload pallets in a very short period of time simply by pushing buttons or moving levers. The driver doesn't even have to get out of the vehicle to load or unload the pallet.
Unfortunately, U.S. military logisticians have become so divorced from tactical reality that they refuse to develop it properly. Instead of building a PLS on a true tactical platform, the American version of PLS is on one of the largest and heaviest trucks ever fielded. This is fine for moving large quantities of bulk materials on a strategic level, but this leaves out many of the benefits that PLS makes possible.
For example, specialized pallets can be designed to perform such functions as fuel delivery, water delivery, water purification, vehicle recovery, and various engineering roles. Many of these pallets can be used independently or with the carrying vehicle. And the real beauty of this approach is that any "type" of PLS vehicle could be changed over to a different "type" literally in a matter of minutes. If you need more engineer vehicles, simply load up the engineering pallets. Need more fuel, load up fuel pallets. Another obvious benefit is that with this approach, the pallets that can operate without the vehicle (like the fuel pallet) can be slingloaded or even air-dropped to where they are needed without using a truck at all. To a degree, this is possible with the current PLS but this system is too large and heavy to function well as a true tactical platform.
To maximize the potential of PLS in military logistics, we need to develop a mid-sized PLS that can be used on a true tactical platform. Ideally, this pallet size will be capable of handling loads in the 7.5 to 8 ton range with a dimension of around 8' wide by 12' long. A version in 7.5 tons used to be available from Boughton Trailers in the U.K. but apparently this company has gone out of business. It should still be possible to obtain the information and tooling necessary to recreate this system without having to reinvent the wheel.
For cargo carriage, a pallet of this size should be more than adequate to supply the full needs for a typical military unit for a period of two days. This would include log packs as well as additional ammunition, ordered parts, ordered gear, mail, and other day-to-day items. In most cases, even fully loaded this pallet would still be light enough to be carried by a UH-60 Blackhawk. Even at its maximum payload, it could still be carried by CH-47 Chinook while a CH-53E could carry two pallets. It could also be carried by existing PLS-equipped HEMTTs including the proposed amphibious HEMTT. It would also be air-droppable by C-130 and C-17. But where things really get interesting is in handling fuel and ammunition.
Our military units, especially the armored ones, go through massive quantities of fuel. The Abrams tank can burn up over 500 gallons of fuel in only a few hours. The proposed pallet design could easily hold enough to completely refuel an Abrams platoon and four pallets would refuel an entire company. This same quantity of pallets would also be more than sufficient to reload all of the ammunition for that same platoon and even carry some extra specialty rounds if the unit wants them. The same advantages apply to supporting artillery. With these pallets, establishing a Forward Area Arming and Refueling Point would involve nothing more than air-dropping pallets from a C-130 and it's ready to go. Or you could do it with trucks, tracks, or helicopters.
This system would also dramatically increase our abilities for Operations Other Than War. In OOTW, many of our current systems are of little to no use (like tankers) while other systems are needed in much greater quantity (like engineering systems and water systems). With this pallet system, we can rapidly convert the force to suit the needs of the operation we are engaging in. We can set the fuel tanks and ammunition pallets aside and load up dump bodies, back hoes, and water tanks to significantly boost our OOTW capabilities without increasing the total size of the force.
This weight range is the ideal for providing materials at the tactical level. Existing PLS is excellent for some applications, but we need this smaller system for the majority of tactical support missions. It substantially reduces the need for material handling equipment in forward areas and it can be fielded on a true tactical platform. It is the heaviest we can go and still provide support through land, sea, and air to achieve Dominant Logistics.
Suggested Pallet Systems
Cargo Pallets
Flatbed Pallet - A flatbed pallet is just that, a flat bed with no sides or rear. This is the prefered pallet for air delivery operations due to its ease of loading and unloading by personnel and material handling equipment.
Halfside Pallet - A halfside pallet is similar to the cargo areas of existing military trucks. It would include a tailgate in the rear and could include troop seats on the sides or down the centerline of the pallet. The halfside pallet is the standard pallet for PLS vehicles assigned to hauling of unit's permanent materials (tentage, camoflauge, specialty gear, etc.).
Troop Pallets
Dropside Pallet - The dropside pallet features a fixed roof and 6' height sides that can be dropped to form a larger floor (total floor of 12' by 20' with sides lowered). Tentage or netting can be applied with the pallet forming a floor and a hard roof for improved weather resistance. This pallet is a semi-permanent billeting pallet for long-term and OOTW missions. Pallet should include power, communication, and water connections. Pallet can be raised for use in flood regions.
Bunker Pallet - The bunker pallet is built with ballistic resistant panels on all aspects. It also includes structural bracing to support additional sandbagging or burial. Sides can be expanded to form a 12' by 16' room complete with independent power and NBC overpressure systems. Pallet can be used collapsed or expanded and is the standard pallet for command and control operations. Can also remain on the PLS vehicle for mobile operations.
Urban Pallet - A pallet designed for supporting troops in urban warfare. Uses ballistic resistant construction and sits on a scissors lift that can lift the box up to 10' above the bed of the PLS vehicle. Includes firing ports on all sides and two ring mounts on the top. Rear doors are held on slides and allow access to an extra wide, multisection ladder than can be used to climb higher or lower than box height or can be covered to serve as a ramp.
Shower/Decon Pallet - A pallet that can serve as a shower point in normal operations or as a decontamination system when required. Includes water piping and drainage systems with filtration options depending on the circumstances.
Toilet Pallet - A "porta-john" pallet for controlling disposal of human waste in field environments. Includes a holding tank and 8 stalls that can be used on or off the PLS vehicle to meet situational requirements. Includes a companion pump pallet for emptying the toilet pallet when needed or the toilet pallet can also be drained via gravity if required.
Engineering Pallets
Dump Pallet - A pallet that converts the standard PLS vehicle to a dump truck complete with bed vibrator and top-hinged tailgate for road building and material movement operations.
Backhoe Pallet - A full sized backhoe for major engineering work including digging and demolition operations.
Dozer/Bucketloader Pallet - a pallet including an elevating boom that can be configured as either a dozer or as a bucketloader.
Floating Bridge Pallet - A pallet for building a floating bridge. Includes two sections attached with a hinge. When deployed, the pallet forms a 12' by 16' floating bridge section. Can also be deployed from amphibious PLS vehicles.
Bridge Pallet - The bridge would sit on a turntable on the pallet with two fold-out sections and attachable legs. It could be deployed from the vehicle or the TSV could simply dismount the pallet for a semi-permanent install. A single pallet could form an 8' by 20' bridge with additional pallets added for longer or wider arrangements.
Road Pallet - A road mat section could be developed like those floor mats you see made from strips of cut-up old tires. These mats are durable but also flexible, allowing for a considerable length of the mat to be rolled up. Make the roll slightly narrower than 12' and it could be placed on a bar on the back of a TSV. When you're ready to lay the mat, turn the bar 90 degrees and unroll the mat into place.
Support Pallets
Recovery Pallet - This pallet converts the standard PLS vehicle into a recovery vehicle. Includes a heavy recovery winch suitable for all systems lighter than Abrams and a hoist for lifting vehicles for towing operations.
Boom Pallet - A pallet for those situations where an extendable crane is required.
Fuel Pallet - Converts the PLS vehicle into a fuel tanker. Pallet includes an independent power source for off-vehicle operations. Holds 1500 gallons of fuel and includes storage boxes sufficient for carrying ammunition (including Abrams rounds) or common repair parts like spare track sections. Air droppable for FAARP operations.
Ammunition Pallet - A pallet for servicing artillery systems. Ballistic resistant and compartmented to keep rounds and charges separate. Includes conveyors to move rounds and charges either to a self-propelled howitzer or to a towed howitzer. Includes an independent power source for dismounted operations and can be airdropped for rapidly constructing a FAARP.
Water Pallet - Includes a large water tank for storage and a ROWPU unit for cleaning the water.
Fifth Wheel Pallet - A fifth wheel is the attachment on a vehicle that allows it to pull and manuever a very large trailer. If you've ever seen a tractor/trailer combination on the road, the fifth wheel is the device that connects the two. A fifth wheel pallet would enable any PLS vehicle to pull a large trailer.
Weapon Pallets
EFOGM Pallet - The EFOGM pallet would hold a total of six standard EFOGM missile racks in a vertical position. Can be used dismounted or on a vehicle with a total capacity of 48 missiles per pallet.
Howitzer Pallet - Carries a 105mm howitzer for either mounted or dismounted operations. Can carry a modest quantity of ammunition in addition to the howitzer.
MLRS Pallet - A convertible pallet that can carry and fire either a 6-pack of standard MLRS rockets or a quantity of Hellfire/Brimstone missiles.