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| Piece Manufacturing has a contract to build 60 HEWATT apparatus for the U.S. Army over the next two years. (Pierce Photo) |
Pierce Manufacturing celebrated the first production build of its HEWATT apparatus – the first military-grade, multi-purpose water distribution and tactical support vehicle – during a June ceremony at Pierce’s facility in Bradenton, Fla.
The vehicle is one of 60 scheduled to be built for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), and it was presented to TACOM representatives at the ceremony.
The HEWATT is an Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) platform-based water tender. Its primary function is to be used with the Pierce Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT) to protect life and property endangered as a result of accidental and incendiary-type fires and provide airfield crash-rescue operations.
“With the HEWATT’s water-carrying capabilities, and the TFFT’s firefighting capabilities, both built on the Oshkosh HEMTT chassis, we are providing soldiers the very best in firefighting technology coupled with severe duty mobility,” said Pierce Manufacturing President Wilson Jones.
The HEWATT is capable of traveling 62 miles per hour, climbing vertical and sideways inclines and withstanding extreme environmental conditions that military firefighting units typically encounter.
The body is constructed of high-impact galvanneal steel and corrosion-resistant, stainless-steel plumbing. It features a 2,500-gallon water tank, a 500-gpm single-stage pump, a 445 horsepower engine, a 210-inch wheelbase, all-wheel drive and LED lighting. Its cruising range is 400 miles and fording clearance is 36 inches.
The Pierce HEWATT contract with the Army is valued at $28 million and is scheduled to be completed by March 2010.
For more information go to www.piercemfg.com.
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