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XR-311 Experimental High-Mobility Vehicle

2nd Series Production Vehicle

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	USA & Israel
First Produced/Service Dates:	1970 (1st Series)
Manufactured by:	Initial: Food Machinery Corporation (FMC); Subsequent: AM General, LLC.
Crew:	2+1?
Armament:	(1) 7.62mm Machine Gun, .50 Cal Heavy MG, 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher, 106mm Recoilless Rifle or TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missile System
Engine:	8-Cylinder Gasoline (Diesel Later in 4th Series Production?)
Miscellaneous Info:	The XR-311 Experimental High-Mobility Vehicle was initially a private venture by Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) and submitted to the U.S. Army for evaluation. Later in 1978, the vehicle was sold to AM General, LLC. The XR-311 was built in four (4) "production series", with FMC being involved with the first three and AM General, LLC, the fourth.  The first series was built in 1970 and modeled after the civilian "Baja Boat" Dune Buggy, although uprated for military use. First series vehicles can be identified by their square headlight clusters. Two (2) vehicles were built and tested by the U.S. Army. The vehicles' performance was very good and led to the second production series vehicles in 1971.  Ten (10) second series vehicles were then built and again tested by the military. This series was the first to include a weapons mount, and at least one example was fitted with armor protection.  Reportedly, of the ten built, four (4) were fitted with the TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missile System; four (4) mounted a 7.62mm Machine Gun; and three (3) were equipped with a .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun. Second series vehicles are identifiable by their round headlight clusters. Once again in 1974, FMC decided to change and improve their XR-311 vehicle design.  Besides the normal testing by the U.S. Army, it was also evaluated for the (cancelled) Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle (ARSV) Program.  Another new engine was fitted and the rear end was designed with the engine cooling vents moved to the sides (vs. the top), so that equipment could be stored in that location.  The third series vehicle are identifiable by new "free-standing" round headlights. Although a few third series vehicles were reportedly sold to Israel, a purchase by the U.S. Military was not forthcoming again. So, in 1978 the vehicle design was sold to AM General. The fourth design was created by AM General and was very similar to the previous series in specifications and appearance.  The one notable change was the front windscreen, which was now mounted vertically (vs. sloped). Although there were no sales of this latest version, AM General were able to use it as the basis for their entry into the XM-966 Combat Support Vehicle (CSV) program.  Unfortunately, the CSV program failed to come to any conclusion as it too was cancelled.  However, a new expanded program immediately replaced it: the XM-998 High-Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) project. Although the XR-311 was not entered into the HMMWV evaluation, the vehicle AM General did submit, was built upon the technology and AM General's experiences with the XR-311.
Data Sheet Available:	XR-311 Vehicle (1st Series) Line Drawings (U.S. Patent Office)   XR-311 Vehicle (3rd Series) Line Drawings (U.S. Patent Office)

Photos

Reference	Source/Provider
XR-311 (2nd Series) Experimental High-Mobility Vehicle Photos	Infantry Magazine via Wikimedia Commons
XR-311 (2nd Series) Experimental High-Mobility Vehicle Photos	Patrick Keenan- Editor
XR-311 (2nd Series) Experimental High-Mobility Vehicle Photos	Brent Sauer - Editor of HMMWV In Scale Facebook Page
XR-311 (4th Series) Experimental High-Mobility Vehicle Photo	Infantry Magazine via Wikimedia Commons

References Available

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Model Photos