Military

Commercial Utility, Cargo Vehicle (CUCV)

The Commercial Utility, Cargo Vehicle (CUCV) reached its service life and was phased out of the Marine Corps' inventory by FY 1997. CUCV vehicles are used primarily as cargo carriers. They were used for equipment and soldier transportation. The CUCV was basically a beefed up commercial truck made from 1984 to 1987 and used up until the late 90's. It was more economical to modify an existing civilian vehicle for limited tactical and non-tactical missions than to design a new system from the ground up.

The M1008 CUCV is designed to provide standard tactical mobility and to carry cargo or passengers. An M1008 can be equipped with a troop seat kit for the transportation of eight soldiers in the cargo area. The M1009 CUCV is designed to provide a mobile command and control vehicle for tactical purposes. It has an enclosed body and is otherwise similar to the M1008. The M1010 ambulance was part of the CUCV family of vehicles. The ambulance version could carry 4 stretcher patients or 8 walking wounded. It was air-conditioned and equipped with an air filtration system which would protect patients from chemical or biological weapons.

Built by Chevrolet, it is equipped with a 150 hp 379 cu. in.. engine and an automatic transmission. The engine of the CUCV trucks is similar to a V-8 gasoline engine. A combination of low pressure and high pressure fuel pumping systems move the fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. All CUCV trucks have an automatic transmission. The CUCV trucks are equipped with a model 208 transfer case. The transfer case transmits engine power to the front axle for four-wheel drive operation. The CUCV braking system uses hydraulically activated, power assisted front disk and rear drum service brakes. Fluid for the service brakes is contained in the master cylinder. The master cylinder operates through energy supplied by the power steering pump and the power brake booster.