Hydraulics for Military Applications

When it deals with creating maximum force using minimum effort, hydraulics is the best choice. Also, handling complicated tasks in challenging conditions with excellent performance is the primary advantage of hydraulics. Military applications need to produce a large force for maximum efficiency. In this blog, we can discuss some of the hydraulic military applications along with different standards for military applications.

Military Hydraulics - Specifications

MIL-H-5606:

           Hydraulic fluids are of different types and they are classified according to various properties. MIL-H-5606 is the military specification for hydraulic fluid. Here MIL stands for Military, H stands for hydraulic fluid and 5606 denotes the performance properties of the oil. The military hydraulic oil needs an ISO viscosity level of 15 and these oils need to be thin compared to others. The military hydraulic fluids are highly-refined mineral-based oil derived from crude and are suitable for low temperatures up to -60°F.

MIL-DTL-8790:

          MIL-DTL-8790 is the hydraulic hose specification for military purposes. This nitrile tube with 2 braids of high-tensile steel wire reinforcement and black polychloroprene cover can withstand temperatures ranging -65°F to 160°F. Hoses with this specification are suitable for high-pressure hydraulic systems that require interoperability and compatibility.

Hydraulics in Military Applications

           Hydraulics is mostly used in military applications for delivering maximum performance and strength. Precision, durability, and reliability are key benefits of implementing hydraulic systems in military systems. The ability to handle the toughest work conditions is the most important goal of hydraulics in military types of equipment and vehicles.

Armored Combat Earthmovers:

          Earthmoving is one of the necessary tasks in the military industry to handle difficult environmental conditions. The duties of earthmovers in the military are to eliminate enemy obstacles, maintenance of roads and supply routes, and create fighting positions. The different hydraulic cylinders used in armored combat earthmover are blade angle, lift, and tilt cylinders; ejector cylinders; pry-out cylinders; apron cylinders; bump stop cylinders; and more.

Military Recovery Vehicles:

           Wheeled and tracked military recovery vehicles are used for recovering damaged heavy vehicles. These vehicles are designed to deliver excellent off-road performance and powerful pulling capacity. Hoist boom cylinders, level winder cylinders, adjusting link cylinders, spade cylinders, outrigger stabilizer jackleg cylinders, brake cylinders, and others are different hydraulic cylinders used in military recovery vehicles for lifting, holding, and moving heavy loads.

Weapon Loaders:

            Loading heavy weapons onto various equipment and vehicles is the most complicated process in the military industry that requires utmost accuracy and safety. Lift cylinders and longitudinal-bottom & top cylinders are hydraulic components used in this application.

Military Assault Bridge:

           A military assault bridge is a compact support vehicle used for rapidly deploying tanks and other armored fighting vehicles across various obstacles such as rivers. This assault bridge mounted to armored vehicles integrates hydraulic components like beam cylinders, locking arm cylinders, launch cylinders, outrigger stabilizer jackleg cylinders, swing rear stab jack cylinders, and more.

Medium Mine Protected Vehicles:

          A medium mine-protected vehicle is a blast-protected, wheeled armored vehicle that can operate in explosive hazardous environments. The rear ramp door cylinder is one of the hydraulic components used in this vehicle.