Armor isn’t reliant solely on speed, but getting to the battlefield in a hurry certainly doesn’t hurt. When it comes to raw armor capabilities, few nations are stacking up next to the United States. So, let’s take a look at the fastest American armored vehicles in service.
27. M113 APC
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com.
