MARSOC ATV
U.S.M. C. photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally
Marines with MARSOC prepare to load Polaris Sportsman MV850 ATV / Quad bikes onto a flight of U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters, Feb 2012.
The Marines were embarking on a two-day joint operation alongside Afghan commandos in Afghanistan's Farah province.
Note the amount of gear carried by the ATVs, including an AT-4 84mm rocket launcher strapped to the rear of the vehicle.
ATVs offer no ballistic protection, nor do they protect against mines or IEDS.
Despite these flaws, the ATV's ability to be readily deployed and recovered by helicopter, and to operate away from well-travelled routes, makes them more suitable for some special operations than the heavier MRAP class of vehicles.
