Artifact of the Month
In 1956, the Continental Army Board Number 2, called for increasing the mobility of trucks designed for areas where roads were few or nonexistent. The trucks were to be amphibious and able to keep up with armored formations in the field. In 1957 a project called “Trucks, Logistical, High-Mobility (GOERS type)” was established. Two classes, an 8-ton and 15-ton, were to be tested, each with Troop/Cargo, Wrecker, and Tanker versions.
The prototype XM437 (15-ton) was sent to Fort Knox for evaluation. It was deemed superior to most Army trucks except in the areas of driver comfort and performance on improved roads. Changes were made and in 1960 production began on the improved XM437E1 (16-ton) Troop/Cargo version. Testing on the vehicle continued to occur with additional changes being made each time.
The 16-ton version did not see active service, but the M520 8-ton GOER would see limited service in Vietnam and with armor units in West Germany. The vehicle proved to be unpopular with the troops. Some soldiers, because of its tendency to bounce when driven empty, considered it dangerous. The GOER was phased out in favor of the HEMMT family of vehicles in the 1980s.