Military

US Army Vehicles With the Most Powerful Engines

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: February 28, 2024 1:50 pm

Seeing through on its promise, the United States recently delivered 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. This tank is a formidable weapon, known for its first-rate crew protection, and is said to be one of the best, if not the best, battle tanks ever deployed.  Despite its many advantages, and being one of the most powerful weapons in the American military arsenal, the Abrams tank is only third in terms of horsepower among the armored vehicles that the U.S. military employs. (Here are 20 Prototype Tanks Rejected by the US Army.)

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on active U.S. Army vehicles from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. All vehicles were ranked according to horsepower to determine the U.S. Army vehicles with the most powerful engines. Supplemental information on top speed, crew size, when the vehicle entered the service, and what role it plays within the military also came from Military Factory.

The majority of vehicles listed here first went into service in the 20th century and are still essential to the defense of the nation. Three of the four least powerful vehicles are also among the fastest: the M1161 Growler fast attack vehicle, the infantry squad vehicle, and the Flyer-72 ALSV (advanced light strike vehicle). All go at least 85 mph. (See The 15 Largest Tank Battles in History.)

Seventeen vehicles listed can be categorized in the group of built-to-last, having come into service in the 20th century, and four date from the 1960s. The oldest is the M113 APC-tracked armored personnel carrier that came into service in 1960. Among the five most powerful, two are from the ‘60s, one from the ‘80s, and two from the aughts. 

Here are the US military vehicles with the most powerful engines.

32. M1161 Growler

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 132
• Top speed: 85.1 mph — #3 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Fast attack vehicle
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 2009

31. HMMWV (Humvee)

Source: Rockfinder / E+ via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 150
• Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Multi-purpose wheeled vehicle
• Crew size: 1
• First entered service: 1985

30. Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 186
• Top speed: 90.1 mph — #2 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Light utility vehicle
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2021

29. Flyer-72 ALSV (Advanced Light Strike Vehicle)

Source: Courtesy of General Dynamics

• Horsepower: 195
• Top speed: 99.4 mph — #1 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Special operations vehicle
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 2014

28. Scorpion DPV (Desert Patrol Vehicle)

Source: Public Domain / The U.S. National Archives / Picryl.com

• Horsepower: 200
• Top speed: 56.3 mph — #18 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Lightweight all-terrain
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1987

27. M113 APC

Source: mtcurado / iStock via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 212
• Top speed: 37.9 mph — #28 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Armored personnel carrier
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 1960

26. M939 Truck

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 240
• Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Military truck
• Crew size: 1
• First entered service: 1982

25. M1117 Guardian ASV

Source: Rawf8 / iStock via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 260
• Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Armored security vehicle
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1999

24. LAV-25

Source: tfoxfoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 275
• Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Light armored vehicle (LAV)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1983

23. RG-31 Nyala

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 275
• Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
• Crew size: 8
• First entered service: 2006

22. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)

Source: tomasdelcoro / Flickr

• Horsepower: 290
• Top speed: 52.8 mph — #20 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 2005

21. M9 ACE (Armored Combat Earthmover)

Source: 39955793@N07 / Flickr

• Horsepower: 295
• Top speed: 30.0 mph — #30 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Military bulldozer
• Crew size: 1
• First entered service: 1986

20. M93 Fox

Source: Public Domain / The U.S. National Archives / Picryl

• Horsepower: 320
• Top speed: 64.6 mph — #10 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Reconnaissance vehicle
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1990

19. Cougar

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 330
• Top speed: 54.7 mph — #19 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Troop transport
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2002

18. FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles)

Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 330
• Top speed: 59.0 mph — #17 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Military truck
• Crew size: 1
• First entered service: 1996

17. Stryker

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 350
• Top speed: 62.1 mph — #12 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Armored fighting vehicle (AFV)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 2002

16. MIM-104 Patriot

Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 355
• Top speed: 49.7 mph — #21 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Surface-to-air missile (SAM)
• Crew size: 12
• First entered service: 1981

15. M-ATV

Source: mark6mauno / Flickr

• Horsepower: 370
• Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
• Crew size: 5
• First entered service: 2009

14. MaxxPro

Source: mark6mauno / Flickr

• Horsepower: 375
• Top speed: 69.2 mph — #4 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2007

13. AAV-7 (LVTP-7)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 400
• Top speed: 39.8 mph — #26 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1972

12. RG-33

Source: mark6mauno / Flickr

• Horsepower: 400
• Top speed: 67.7 mph — #5 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2007

11. M109 (Paladin)

Source: Jesse Stephens / iStock via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 450
• Top speed: 40.0 mph — #25 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Self-propelled artillery
• Crew size: 4
• First entered service: 1963

10. Buffalo H

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 450
• Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2004

9. M915A5

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 500
• Top speed: 64.6 mph — #10 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Military tractor
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2000

8. M2 Bradley

Source: upsidedowndog / iStock via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 600
• Top speed: 37.9 mph — #28 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1981

7. M270

Source: Maikel de Vaan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 600
• Top speed: 39.8 mph — #26 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1983

6. Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 690
• Top speed: 65.2 mph — #6 fastest out of 32 vehicles (tied)
• Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 2019

5. M60 AVLB

Source: mtcurado / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 750
• Top speed: 30.0 mph — #30 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 1967

4. M88 Hercules

Source: oregonmildep / Flickr

• Horsepower: 1,050
• Top speed: 24.9 mph — #32 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Armored recovery vehicle (ARV)
• Crew size: 3
• First entered service: 1961

3. M1 Abrams

Source: Rockfinder / iStock via Getty Images

• Horsepower: 1,500
• Top speed: 41.6 mph — #24 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Main battle tank
• Crew size: 4
• First entered service: 1980

2. M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

• Horsepower: 1,500
• Top speed: 43.5 mph — #23 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Battlefield engineering vehicle
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2008

1. M104 Wolverine

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Horsepower: 1,500
• Top speed: 44.7 mph — #22 fastest out of 32 vehicles
• Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
• Crew size: 2
• First entered service: 2003