May 10,2008: The U.S. Department of Defense continues to buy civilian vehicles that have military use. The latest one is the Ranger, a militarized all terrain vehicle (ATV). The nine foot long, five foot wide vehicle weighs three-quarters of a ton, and can carry nearly as much. There are two seats and a rear deck that can hold up to half a ton of cargo. The top speed of 67 kilometers an hour and the ability to ford 30 inches of water contributes to excellent cross country performance. A 13 gallon (49 liter) fuel tank gives the Ranger a range of 500 kilometers or more, depending on how much time is spent off-roads. The Ranger engine burns military JP8 fuel and generates 40 horsepower. The Ranger began arriving in Afghanistan and Iraq last year, for use by light infantry and commandos. Troops reaction has been positive. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has long been a user of various ATVs.