Cadillac Gage delivered their Ranger 4x4 light armored vehicle beginning in the early 1980s. The system was built atop the existing chassis of the Dodge 200 and RAM civilian truck family with a specially-designed armored superstructure replacing the traditional commercial body. This provided the vehicle with some battlefield survivability and housing for four of its standard operating personnel. The Ranger (also known as the "Peacekeeper") went on to see use by both American military and police forces (SWAT) where it was used as a base security vehicle (for the former) and as a stand-off hostage scenario vehicle (for the latter). The United States was eventually joined by Indonesia, Luxembourg and the Philippines as operators of the type (the US by far the largest user). The series is still in active service. The Ranger could be optionally armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun along its hull roof (with gun shield). Armor protection was light in a military sense which relegated the type from direct combat roles. Additionally, despite its 4x4 design, the vehicle proved a poor offroad performer, limiting its tactical usefulness.
Internally, the vehicle retained the conventional seating arrangement of the Dodge truck series with the engine at front, the driver at front left and passenger seating to his right. The machine gunner was situated at his position at the rear left with the remaining member at rear right. Firing ports allowed for the occupants to engage outside threats with their personal weapons, aiming via the provided vision ports. Power was provided by a gasoline-fueled MOPAR series engine. Later versions were outfitted with an uprated breed and some even completed with diesel-fueled powerplants. Tires were of the run-flat variety on early models allowing them to be pierced and still provide travel. However, issues with their design led the series to adopt a more conventional tubeless pressured design.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Armored Car
Design, of typically lightweight nature, providing onroad/offroad capabilities for the scouting or general security roles.
✓Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.
Powerplant:
1 x MOPAR 6-cylinder gasoline-fueled engine developing 95 horsepower (some fitted with diesel types).
1 x 7.62mm M60 General Purpose Machine Gun OR 1 x 12.7mm Browning M2HB heavy machine gun on roof turret (optional).
Personal crew weapons as well fired through available ports.
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
1,000 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated)
Ranger - Base Series Designation
Peacekeeper I - Ranger based on Dodge 200 or RAM truck chassis.
Peacekeeper II - Proposed Ranger based on Ford F-350 truck chassis; never produced.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.
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Indonesia; Luxembourg; Philippines; United States
