Lejeune missing one of new 7-ton trucks

[Phantom Blooper]

January 16,2004
ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF

One of the Marine Corps' new 7-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement trucks is missing from a 2nd Marine Division unit on Camp Lejeune, officials said Thursday.

The vehicle was in the motor pool belonging to Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, on Monday morning when the unit went to train in the field. When troops returned on Wednesday, the truck was gone, said Camp Lejeune spokeswoman Capt. Teresa Ovalle.

"After an extensive search on the base," unit leaders reported the missing vehicle to the Criminal Investigative Division of the base Provost Marshal's Office, Ovalle said.

The vehicle has been entered into the National Crime Information Center system, a national data base law enforcement officers use to report and track stolen vehicles and property and missing or wanted people.

"There are no suspects, and there is an ongoing investigation," Ovalle said.

The military has been testing the new 7-ton truck for the past several years. The vehicle is intended to replace the Marine Corps' aging 5-ton truck fleet and would be used as a primary means of transporting ammunition, fuel, water and supplies, troops or engineering equipment.

The vehicle features a 425-horsepower, electronically controlled engine, a seven-speed continuous power automatic transmission; six-wheel independent suspension and antilock brakes.

The truck can carry a 7.1-ton load off-road and 15 tons on hard surface roads while towing a trailer or artillery piece weighing up to 11 tons.

The vehicle program began full-rate production in September 2001, and 1,486 trucks had been fielded by March 2003, many of which have been delivered to Camp Lejeune.


Contact Eric Steinkopff at estein kopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.

[Gary]

How the Hell do you lose a 7 ton truck??? :banana:

[VMGRMech]

I bet some other driver from another unit "borrowed" it

[ivalis]

A few years back, at Camp McCoy (army base in central Wisconsin) 3 individuals were arrested for stealing a number of vehicles. Trucks, tanks, apcs, humvees, etc.

Apparently all that was needed was a clip board and a low boy trailer. I can see how easy it would be to pull off. Look official and load em up. The more obvious, the easier. Takes a pair. Uf Da!

[TracGunny]

During Desert Shield/Storm, the topic of missing Army equipment; trucks, hummers, etc, was brought up during one of the nightly briefings in Riyadh. The Army spokesperson whose turn it was at the mic that night commented that there were several Marine units in the area and he doubted that the equipment was actually "missing.”

[ivalis]

in nam we used to steal army 6 bys, paint em MC Green, put on a made up TAC mark. when they broke down we abandoned them in the ville.

Lie, Cheat, Steal, the MC Mantra!

[firstsgtmike]

In the late 1950's a Marine Sgt. "Stobo" West was court martialed for operating a black market on the ISLAND of Okinawa.

One of the specifications included the theft of a Bay City Crane and a low boy trailer which was last sighted heading for the port city of Naha.

It was never found.

[greensideout]

On board the USS Princeton were a couple of squid poker sharks. They dealt the cards and cleaned our pockets. We didn't get mad, but we did leave the ship with a helo full of navy blankets. I hope they enjoyed the cool nights at sea. :)

We didn't steal them---we relocated them to a Marine camp.

[greybeard]

I know for a fact, that a Navy 10,000lb aircraft tow tractor was mysteriously externaled off the flight deck of Tripoli one night and 'somehow' found it's way to HMH-463 at MMAF. Had a fresh coat of MC green paint by 0900. It was a curse in disguise. Hydraulic nightmare that went thru diesel and 5606B in equal amts.

[Phantom Blooper]

January 18,2004
STAFF REPORTS
DAILY NEWS STAFF

CAMP LEJEUNE

Marines find

7-ton truck

A group of Combat Engineer School Marines Friday found a 7-ton truck reported missing Wednesday on Camp Lejeune.

The Marines found the truck on a trail near Courthouse Bay, part of a network of hundreds of miles of trails used for training, Camp Lejeune Public Affairs reported Saturday. The base Provost Marshal's Criminal Investigative Division is investigating the truck's disappearance and its discovery.

A base spokeswoman couldn't say whether investigators think the truck was stolen or simply misplaced.

She didn't have information on the truck's condition, either.

"It's under investigation," said Capt. Teresa Ovalle. "That's all I can tell you."

The 7-ton tactical vehicle belongs to the 10th Marine Regiment , 2nd Marine Division. Before its discovery Friday, it was last seen at the unit's motor pool on Monday.

[leroy8541]

Aww, they just took it out for a test run on the 4x4 trails and forgot to take it back. ha ha