What's On Your Tanker #69? - A HEMTT as Tender 3463 Ohio Twp, Kansas

Last October, during our seminar in Franklin County, Kansas, a repurposed HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) was featured as a water-hauling tender for the Ohio Township Fire Department. Tender 3463 is an M978 2,500-gallon fuel tanker that has been converted for use in transporting water to support fire suppression operations in the Ohio Township area.

Although not exceptionally fast, the 8x8 tender is capable of navigating rugged grasslands and can reach locations that are inaccessible to traditional tenders. During the seminar, the tender’s 300-gallon-per-minute transfer pump was used to supply water directly to a dump tank. This method is considered the most effective for supporting water shuttle operations with the HEMTT.

Photos have shown similar HEMTTs in use throughout the Midwest. The event provided us an important opportunity to see the capabilities of this vehicle firsthand.