Cadillac Gage Ranger

The Cadillac Gage Ranger is a four-wheeled armored personnel carrier produced by Cadillac Gage, built on a Dodge truck chassis. The largest customer was the United States Air Force, which the Ranger was marketed to in order to meet needed requirements as a security/patrol vehicle.[2]

Cadillac Gage Ranger
A USAF CG Ranger inside Spangdahlem Air Base during a CBRN drill in 1985.
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In serviceApril 1980 - Late 90s
Used bySee Operators
WarsImplementation Force
Production history
DesignerCadillac Gage
ManufacturerTextron Marine & Land Systems
Unit cost$230,720[1]
Produced1979 - ?
Specifications
Mass4,903 kg (10,809 lb) (Loaded)
Length5,030 mm (198 in)
Height2,030 mm (80 in)
Crew2
Passengers6
Main
armament
1x General-purpose machine gun (Usually a M60 machine gun)
TransmissionAutomatic
Ground clearance203 mm (8.0 in)
Operational
range
483 km (300 miles)
Maximum speed 113 km/hr (70 mph)

The vehicle is no longer offered by Textron with trademarks cancelled.[3]

As of 2020, the Ranger's per unit replacement cost is at $230,720.[1]

History

The Ranger was first produced in 1979 to meet a USAF requirement for its security forces, which was known as Peacekeeper.[2] The first Rangers made were delivered in April 1980[4] with 571 vehicles under a contract of $30,532 each.[1] In 1981, another order of 560 Rangers were made for the USAF and the US Navy.[4] In 1994, around 708 were made and in service with the US military.[4] In the same year, 20 Rangers were sold to Indonesia.[4]

In 1996, any Rangers left in US military service were pressed into IFOR peacekeeping operations in the Balkans.[4] Later on, they were sold to police forces throughout the US for SWAT use.[4] The Humvee replaced them in the same role after the Rangers were phased out of service.[5]

In 2000, the Cobb County Police Department acquired a Ranger thanks to the 1033 program.[6]

In August 2004, Scott Ferguson was found guilty of stealing a Peacekeeper on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which started from August 1 to 10, 1998 when the vehicle was driven across state lines with the Peackeeper sold on the black market on July 11, 1999.[7] The incident started on July 1996 when Scott convinced superiors at the museum that the Peacekeeper vehicle had been requested by another military facility.[7] The Peacekeeper was sighted in military conventions in Tennessee and Pennsylvania in 1997 and 1998 and was sold in 1999 for $18,000.[7] The vehicle was resold to its current owner, the sheriff's office in Cherokee County, N.C., in May 2000 for $38,000.[7]

In 2010, Federal Defense Industries announced that they entered into an agreement with Textron Marine & Land Systems in order to provide authorized aftermarket parts, support and other types of assistance for the Ranger since FDI maintains a technical library for spare parts.[8]

In 2012, the South Pasadena Police Department has announced the delivery of a Ranger.[9] It was acquired from Burbank Police as surplus from the USAF before they sold it to the SPPD for a dollar.[9]

In 2014, the Chapel Hill Police Department reported a used Ranger was in operational service as an armored transport vehicle.[10]

In 2016, the Salisbury Police Department acquired a used Ranger under the DOD's 1033 program.[11]

In 2017, the Benton County Sheriff's Office acquired a used Ranger with the gun shield removed and the top port closed as it's meant to be used for armored transport purposes.[12]

On February 4, 2020, the City Council of Anaheim approved a request to purchase a new armored vehicle to replace the 31-year old Ranger in service with the Anaheim Police Department.[13]

Design
A USAF SF airman aiming the M60 GPMG.

The Ranger was made by Cadillac Gage based on a Dodge truck chassis with a shorter wheelbase.[2] The armored body was meant to protect the occupants from being injured or killed by shrapnel and small arms fire.[2] The engine is located at the front, which is coupled to an automatic transmission system with three forward and one reverse gear.[2][4] It was made from Cadloy armor plating that encompasses the entire vehicle, including the floor.[1] It has a weight of 4,903 kgs (10,809 lb) when loaded with a length of 5,030 mm (198 in) and height of 2,030 mm (80 in).[14] The Ranger has a ground clearance of 203 mm (8.0 in) and a speed of 113 km/hr (70 mph) and operational range of 483 km (300 miles).[14]

The Ranger allows for 4 people inside, consisting of two in the front and two at the back, who can enter and leave through the rear doors.[2] Anyone seated inside can return fire through firing ports.[2]

The vehicle can accommodate a turret equipped with dual 7.62mm NATO machine guns or a turret with a 7.62mm machine gun with a gun shield.[2]

Defenseshield is contracted to provide replacement windows for Rangers used by various police departments in the US.[15]

Variants

Peacekeeper II
Main article: Cadillac Gage Peacekeeper II

Operators
Map of Gage Ranger operators in blue

Current operators
  •  United States
    • As of 2020, two Rangers are in active USAF service.[1]
    • Anaheim Police Department, in the process of being replaced.[13]
    • Sacramento Police Department, Still present but used very infrequently.[16]
    • Benton County Sheriff's Office[12]
    • Chapel Hill Police Department[10]
    • Cherokee County Sheriff's Office[7]
    • Cobb County Police Department[6][17]
    • Montclair Police Department[1]
    • Neenah Police Department[18]
    • Prince George County Sheriff's Office[19]
    • Salisbury Police Department[11]
    • South Pasadena Police Department[9]
    • Modesto Police Department

Former operators

References
  1. "Specialized Equipment | Montclair, CA". www.cityofmontclair.org. Archived from the original on 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  2. Army Recognition Alain Servaes (2007-03-20). "Cadillac Gage Commando Ranger Description identification pictures picture photo image US Army light wheeled armoured armored vehicle véhicule blindé léger à roues américain". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  3. "PEACEKEEPER Trademark - Registration Number 2844668 - Serial Number 78151905 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  4. "Cadillac Gage Textron Commando Ranger / Peacekeeper". April 20, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-20.
  5. "Tactical Vehicles | US Air Force Security Forces | Virtual Museum | Memorial | Military Police | USAF | SP | AP | SF". USAF Police Alumni Association.
  6. "Department History". Cobb County Georgia.
  7. "Former AF museum collections chief convicted". U.S. Air Force.
  8. "Federal Defense Industries : Cadillac Gage". June 15, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-06-15.
  9. "Burbank sells armored Peacekeeper vehicle for $1". January 30, 2012.
  10. "CHPD: One Armored Truck, No Weapons From Military Surplus Program". Chapelboro.com. August 21, 2014.
  11. Holland, Liz. "Salisbury, Fruitland acquire light armored vehicles". Delmarva Daily Times.
  12. Gazette-Times, NATHAN BRUTTELL Corvallis. "Benton County Sheriff's Office acquires armored vehicle". Corvallis Gazette Times.
  13. "Orange County is getting 2 armored vehicles that can rescue the wounded, even while under gunfire". February 4, 2020.
  14. "Cadillac Gage Textron Commando Ranger / Peacekeeper". March 14, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-03-14.
  15. "Defenshield, Inc.|Our Company History". Defenshield, Inc. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  16. "SPD Peacekeeper using in parade".
  17. Franceschi-Bicchierai, Lorenzo (June 26, 2012). "Small-Town Cops Pile Up on Useless Military Gear" – via www.wired.com.
  18. https://journaltimes.com/news/state-and-regional/neenah-police-to-get-armored-vehicle/article_5feed258-c936-5411-ba1c-8561497599d3.html
  19. "From WWII Rifles to BearCats: The Evolution of SWAT Team Equipment".
  20. "Kendaraan Tempur TNI Pakai Mesin Mobil Mewah". Otosia.com. 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  21. Benna, Steven. "Columbia Police Department unveils new armored vehicle". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  22. [email protected], Jeremy Arias. "Frederick police defend proposal for new armored vehicle". The Frederick News-Post.
  23. Anderson, Jason. "S.J. County SWAT toughens up". recordnet.com. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
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