One of the most important aspects of combat is to keep American soldiers protected. Although speed is important, many of the vehicles used by the United States military sacrifice some of their abilities to cover distance quickly in exchange for heavy armor and armament necessary for their safety. A large portion of the American military’s vehicles have speeds that top out at less than 40 miles per hour. These include bulldozers, trucks, tractors, tanks, jeeps, and other personnel carriers.
Many of these vehicles cannot exceed 65 mph, the speed limit on most U.S. highways. However, this is not always the case for all means of transport. There are reconnaissance vehicles and infantry transports designed for quick entry and egress, including some very recent additions to the American arsenal that are capable of speeds more than 90 mph.
24/7 Wall St. looked at data on military ground vehicles from Military Factory, an online database of vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more used by militaries across the world both past and present to determine the fastest US Military vehicles. These vehicles were ranked by us according to the top speed of each vehicle. For each vehicle, we also included horsepower, crew size, when the vehicle entered service, and what role it plays within the military, all from Military Factory.
Among the fastest on our list are several infantry fighting vehicles, including standbys like the M2 Bradley, which came into service in 1981. The Infantry Squad Vehicle is the most recent addition, coming into service in 2021.
Three of the 10 fastest vehicles used by the U.S. military are classified as mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) wheeled armored vehicles. MRAPs are built with a V-shaped hull designed to deflect explosions away from the troop compartment. All three vehicles – M-ATV, the Buffalo H, and the MaxxPro – came into service earlier in the 21st century and were available to participate against the insurgents in Iraq. They have crews of two to five people, and all three vehicles have a top speed of more than 65 mph. (Here is every gun currently used by the US Military.)
Here are the slowest and fastest vehicles in the US Army.
32. M88 Hercules
- Top speed: 24.9 mph
- Horsepower: 1,050 — #04 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Armored recovery vehicle (ARV)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1961
31. M9 ACE (Armored Combat Earthmover)
- Top speed: 30.0 mph
- Horsepower: 295 — #21 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Military bulldozer
- Crew size: 1
- First entered service: 1986
30. M60 AVLB
- Top speed: 30.0 mph
- Horsepower: 750 — #05 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 1967
29. M113 APC
- Top speed: 37.9 mph
- Horsepower: 212 — #27 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Armored personnel carrier
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 1960
28. M2 Bradley
- Top speed: 37.9 mph
- Horsepower: 600 — #07 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1981
27. AAV-7 (LVTP-7)
- Top speed: 39.8 mph
- Horsepower: 400 — #12 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1972
26. M270
- Top speed: 39.8 mph
- Horsepower: 600 — #07 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1983
25. M109 (Paladin)
- Top speed: 40.0 mph
- Horsepower: 450 — #10 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Self-propelled artillery
- Crew size: 4
- First entered service: 1963
24. M1 Abrams
- Top speed: 41.6 mph
- Horsepower: 1,500 — #01 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Main battle tank
- Crew size: 4
- First entered service: 1980
23. M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle
- Top speed: 43.5 mph
- Horsepower: 1,500 — #01 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Battlefield engineering vehicle
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2008
22. M104 Wolverine
- Top speed: 44.7 mph
- Horsepower: 1,500 — #01 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2003
21. MIM-104 Patriot
- Top speed: 49.7 mph
- Horsepower: 355 — #16 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Surface-to-air missile (SAM)
- Crew size: 12
- First entered service: 1981
20. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
- Top speed: 52.8 mph
- Horsepower: 290 — #22 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 2005
19. Cougar
- Top speed: 54.7 mph
- Horsepower: 330 — #18 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Troop transport
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2002
18. Scorpion DPV (Desert Patrol Vehicle)
- Top speed: 56.3 mph
- Horsepower: 200 — #28 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Lightweight all-terrain
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1987
17. FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles)
- Top speed: 59.0 mph
- Horsepower: 330 — #18 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Military truck
- Crew size: 1
- First entered service: 1996
16. M939 Truck
- Top speed: 62.1 mph
- Horsepower: 240 — #26 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Military truck
- Crew size: 1
- First entered service: 1982
15. M1117 Guardian ASV
- Top speed: 62.1 mph
- Horsepower: 260 — #25 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Armored security vehicle
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1999
14. LAV-25
- Top speed: 62.1 mph
- Horsepower: 275 — #23 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Light armored vehicle (LAV)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1983
13. RG-31 Nyala
- Top speed: 62.1 mph
- Horsepower: 275 — #23 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
- Crew size: 8
- First entered service: 2006
12. Stryker
- Top speed: 62.1 mph
- Horsepower: 350 — #17 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Armored fighting vehicle (AFV)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 2002
11. M93 Fox
- Top speed: 64.6 mph
- Horsepower: 320 — #20 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Reconnaissance vehicle
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 1990
10. M915A5
- Top speed: 64.6 mph
- Horsepower: 500 — #09 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Military tractor
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2000
9. HMMWV (Humvee)
- Top speed: 65.2 mph
- Horsepower: 150 — #31 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Multi-purpose wheeled vehicle
- Crew size: 1
- First entered service: 1985
8. M-ATV
- Top speed: 65.2 mph
- Horsepower: 370 — #15 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
- Crew size: 5
- First entered service: 2009
7. Buffalo H
- Top speed: 65.2 mph
- Horsepower: 450 — #10 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2004
6. Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
- Top speed: 65.2 mph
- Horsepower: 690 — #06 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 2019
5. RG-33
- Top speed: 67.7 mph
- Horsepower: 400 — #12 most powerful out of 32 vehicles (tied)
- Role: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2007
4. MaxxPro
- Top speed: 69.2 mph
- Horsepower: 375 — #14 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2007
3. M1161 Growler
- Top speed: 85.1 mph
- Horsepower: 132 — #32 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Fast attack vehicle
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 2009
2. Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)
- Top speed: 90.1 mph
- Horsepower: 186 — #30 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Light utility vehicle
- Crew size: 2
- First entered service: 2021
1. Flyer-72 ALSV (Advanced Light Strike Vehicle)
- Top speed: 99.4 mph
- Horsepower: 195 — #29 most powerful out of 32 vehicles
- Role: Special operations vehicle
- Crew size: 3
- First entered service: 2014
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