Pierce Manufacturing awarded $23.5 HEWATT delivery order from U.S. Army

Pierce Manufacturing, North America’s largest fire and emergency apparatus manufacturer, received a second delivery order from theU.S. ArmyTank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for the production of an additional 50 Pierce HEWATT vehicles valued at $23.5 million. The HEWATT is an Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) platform‑based water tender. These 50 vehicles are scheduled for delivery beginning in November 2008 and continuing through March 2010.

The HEWATT is designed as a multi-purpose water distributor, capable of providing structural and airfield crash/rescue support alongside the Pierce Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT). The HEWATT is operable under extreme conditions and in a broad range of terrain, from paved roads to cross-country. The HEWATT water tender is built to support the TFFT while also providing supplementary fire suppression capabilities.

“The HEWATT’s performance and reliability has resulted in Pierce being awarded the contract to fulfill the Army’s need for powerful and reliable water tenders used to help protect our soldiers and equipment,” says Wilson Jones, president of Pierce Manufacturing.

The first order of 10 units, awarded in July 2007, is scheduled to begin delivery to the U.S. Army in May 2008.

Each HEWATT is equipped with a 2,500-gallon water tank, 500 gpm single-stage pump, a 50-gallon foam cell, 250-gpm front bumper mounted turret/monitor, a Detroit Diesel 8V92TA electronic engine, two-person seating, an 8-x-8 axle configuration, an Oshkosh two-speed transfer case and LED lighting.