Photo courtesy of JCB

The United States Marine Corps has chosen JCB’s 3TS-8T teleskid, with its unique telescoping boom and side entry door, over conventional skid steer designs for its multi-terrain loader replacement program. The Marine’s teleskid is shown at right, the commercial version on which it is based is at left.

JCB has been awarded a contract to supply up to 206 of its industry-exclusive telescopic compact track loaders, the 3TS-8T teleskid, to the United States Marine Corps.

Competing against other top OEMs, JCB secured the bid for the Marine Corp's multi-terrain loader (MTL) replacement program. The JCB teleskid will become the future MTL for the USMC. The initial delivery order is for $19 million, and JCB projects first delivery to the Marine Corps prior to the end of the year.

"We are thrilled to win this contract from the Marine Corps for the JCB teleskid, the world's only skid steer and compact track loader with a telescopic boom," said Richard Fox-Marrs, president and CEO of JCB North America.

"This machine is designed, engineered and manufactured by our talented team in Savannah, Georgia, who also produce the commercial teleskid that we sell globally. The military and commercial versions of the JCB teleskid are almost identical.

"It's fantastic that the Marines have made the switch and chosen the unique benefits of the JCB telescopic compact track loader over conventional skid steer designs, and that they have the confidence to deploy this machine on missions throughout the world," said Fox-Marrs. "We are honored to again have the opportunity to support the U.S. military with JCB equipment, and we look forward to furthering our long-standing relationship."

This contract also includes a selection of attachments, allowing the USMC to complete a variety of mission requirements with the teleskid.

"This is a great achievement for JCB and a testament to the dedication and skill of our team," said Viengkeo Johnson, senior manager — Government & Defense for JCB North America. "A special thanks to the entire JCB team for their hard work, commitment and perseverance. Together, we will be delivering a world-class product that will make a difference to those who help protect our nation."

The teleskid features a telescoping boom with a hinge pin height of 13 ft. 3 in., more than 2 ft. higher than most conventional skid steers. The loader has a rated operating capacity of up to 3,700 lb. and a travel speed of 7.8 mph. Compared to a conventional skid steer or compact track loader, the teleskid offers side-door entry which increases visibility and enhances safety by providing a quick and obstacle-free exit rather than forcing the operator to enter and exit over the front of the machine and attachment, the manufacturer said.

"We are immensely proud to provide yet another product to the U.S. military, which has been a valued customer for over three decades," said Chris Giorgianni, vice president of product for JCB North America.

"This contract demonstrates the quality and versatility of our machines, which are designed to meet the most demanding and challenging environments, whether it's supporting the military mission or allowing our commercial customer to just get the job done. We are honored to support the Marine Corps and all branches of the U.S. military in their vital work of protecting and serving our country and its allies."

For more information, visit www.jcb.com.

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