(2) Requests made to State authorities for occasional movement over highways of Military Establishment vehicles, designed for off-road operation in a combat zone, have been refused because of their excessive axle and gross weight. The fact that there are no Federal funds currently available for repair of the possible damage if the highway engineer does not give proper allowance for deterioration of surface or structures, is believed in large part responsible.
(3) In at least one case there is need for movement of a few combat vehicles, for test. purposes, over a city street and rural road, approximately 4 miles to the test area. The cost of improving facilities to accommodate these occasional loads or the purchase of new areas for testing does not at this time appear to be economically justified. However, the occasional but continued use of the same road causes damage in excess of the normal use for which the pavement was designed. It is therefore believed more fitting to pay part of the cost of repair of such city streets or rural roads until the condition can be otherwise corrected than to build new facilities.
(4) Provision for immediate repair of such damaged portions of highways is necessary to help obtain permission to use them occasionally during peacetime, or if for defense, so they can be repaired without delay.
(5) Federal funds were available for reimbursement for such damage to highways during World War II, and it is understood that the State highway departments’ claims were not unreasonable.
C. Recommendations
(1) The Commissioner of Public Roads be authorized to reimburse the State or other local highway departments for excessive and visible damage to public highways caused by the movement of Military Establishment vehicles or units when such movements in wartime are for the direct defense of the United States or in peacetime have been authorized by the responsible State or local highway authorities and the excessive damage claim has been verified by the Military Establishment as appearing to be a fair and just claim. Final decision as to the amount of such claim should rest with the Commissioner of Public Roads.
8.—SIZE AND WEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND MOVEMENT OF MILITARY VEHICLES
A. Definition
(1) “General purpose vehicles” are motor vehicles of the Military Establishment designed to be used interchangeably for movement of personnel, supplics, ammunition, or equipment, or for towing artillery carriages, trailers, or semitrailers, and used without modification to body or chassis to satisfy general automotive transport and administrative needs.
(2) “Combat vehicles” are tracked vehicles of the Military Establishment with or without armor and/or armament, which are designed for specific fighting functions, or wheeled vehicles which develop similar critical loads.
B. Discussion
(1) Subject to the improvement of highway systems, the development of additional factual information on the economics of motor-
