M1161 Growler

mortar, and M1161 ITV-LSV Growler variants Development for the Growler began in 1999 by American Growler when the Marine Corps sought a vehicle that could be transported in a Osprey. Though the initial design used elements and parts from the drive train of the M151 which it was intended to replace, the final design featured entirely new parts and systems to allow it to fulfill its mission. This included allowing it to fit within the confines of a 's cargo bay. No major components from the M151 design are used in the manufacture of the M1161 or M1163 variant. Initial engineering of the M1161 is most closely related to American Growler's commercial UV 100 DB off-road vehicle. Manufacture of the Growler variants was later transferred to General Dynamics facilities, but are otherwise identical. ==Development==

Two different versions of the Growler were developed; the M1161 light strike vehicle (LSV), and the M1163 prime mover variant as part of the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) towed heavy 120 mm mortar. A number of the separate 36-round ammunition trailers, the M1162, were ordered, but further design was dropped and its duties to carry the 35 lb mortar shells were incorporated into the M1163 Prime Mover. The M1161 LSV variant is armed with either an M2HB .50cal BMG machine gun, M240G 7.62mm MG or Mk19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The 120 mm mortar towed by the M1163 Prime Mover is the French RT-120, deployed by United States forces as the M327 Dragon Fire. The Growler's central role of cross-country scout and aerially-deployed forward unit has led to further modifications, including use of the rifled precision extended range munition (PERM) system. towed 120mm heavy mortar and M1163 Growler back into an Osprey on board . On November 10, 2004, the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract M67854-05-D-6014 with firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-award-fee contract line-item numbers for a base year and up to six option years to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) for $12,057,159 for procurement of 66 EFSSs and up to 650 ITVs. The MCSC selected GDOTS over two other offerors. On September 20, 2007, Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services filed a protest on behalf of a constituent, Rae-Beck Automotive, LLC, a subcontractor to one of the losing offerors. The DOD inspector general's audit did not substantiate most of the constituent’s concerns, but did note concerns with the MCSC program management and contract award for the EFSS and ITV programs. ’s Force Reconnaissance Detachment in Djibouti, 2015. By 2008, unit cost had risen by 120%, leaving each Growler scout variant with a cost of $209,000 per unit. The prime mover mortar contract price rose by 86%, to $1,078,000 cost per unit. Problems with M1161 and M1163's throttle system were identified in May 2012 following an accident at MCB Camp Pendleton, California. The entire vehicle fleet was grounded, pending repair. During RIMPAC 2014, the Marines fitted a Growler ITV with Torc Robotics' Ground Unmanned Support Surrogate (GUSS) system, turning it into an unmanned ground vehicle. The GUSS system's aim is to lighten troops' loads by carrying up to of equipment; it can also serve as an unmanned medical evacuation vehicle. A GUSS-equipped ITV can autonomously follow a person wearing a beacon at a predetermined distance while cruising at up to . A Marine can take direct control of the vehicle through a robotic controller or switch it to manual operation and drive it themselves if needed. The unmanned ITV may be fielded within five years. ==Replacement==

In June 2012, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) expressed interest in procuring Non Developmental Item (NDI) vehicles that would be highly mobile, transportable platforms. The Marines are seeking a replacement for the Growler ITV, running parallel with SOCOM's efforts to develop a new Osprey-transportable vehicle. The conclusion was that the ITV vehicles were ineffective as a strike vehicle, but worked well as a logistics vehicle by removing a lot of weight from Marines' backs. ==Civilian Sales==

In February 2019, GovPlanet announced that it will be selling the ITV Growlers to the public for the first time. Growlers will be sold by public auction in March 2019. == Gallery ==

File:EFSS_teams_conduct_amphibious_assaults,_aerial_raid_training_140730-M-AM089-0527.jpg|Aerial Raid Training with M1161 Growler File:M1161 Growler ITV with Force Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.jpg|M1161 Growler ITV with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion File:M1161 Growler ITV with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.jpg|M1161 Growler ITV with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit File:M1161 Growler ITV with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.jpg|M1161 Growler ITV with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment File:U.S._Marines_Prepare_to_board_an_MV-22_Osprey_160509-M-AF202-093.jpg|M1161 Growler prepared to board an MV-22 Osprey File:USMC-110830-M-KA277-027.jpg File:USMC-111203-M-KU932-044.jpg ==Operators==

Current operators • United States Marine Corps: 600 Plus "approximately 1,000 vehicles to foreign militaries around the world." ==See also==