I guess what I should have asked was- why do we have the vehicle as an arty prime mover in that OOB when it's not used for that purpose in RL ? At best it could be used as a heavy tank transport but that's not it's RL use either according to this so the question wasn't why do we need that Icon it's why do we need that unit.......maybe as a barge carrier....maybe. I can see why it's an important vehicle to USMC but not the game
MK14 Flatbed is 20 feet (6.1 m) long and features locks for
ISO containers. The MK14 can hold a single
twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) sized container, or three SIXCON units (pump or tank modules). There are also accommodations for tie-down hooks and ratchet straps for securing cargo. When equipped with a tow bar, two MK14's can be joined and towed by a single MK48 power unit. This is referred to as a 'Tandem Tow' or 'TT'.
MK15 Recovery Vehicle is capable of recovering LVSs,
MTVRs and
Humvees.
MK16 Fifth-wheel is designed to tow the M870 family of semi-trailers. It is the shortest of the FPU/RBU combinations, creating a smaller turning radius. This is useful, as when towing an M870 trailer, it becomes the Marine Corps longest tactical vehicle.
MK17 Material Handling Crane (MHC), features a slightly shorter flatbed (8 by 16 feet (2.4 by 4.9 m)) than the MK14. This is to accommodate the MHC at the rear of the unit. The boom is rated at a maximum lifting capacity of 15,000 pounds (6,800 kg). The MK17 can also be fitted with benches to carry 20 combat-loaded Marines. This is rare however, as personnel transport is now mainly handled by
MTVRs and
HMMWVs.
MK18/18A1 Self-Loader is capable of loading
ribbon bridges, small boats, containers, and SIXCON modules with no external heavy-equipment support. The 18A1 features improvements to the loading and offloading process. The 18A1 features a prominent 'stick-figure'-shaped Front Lift Adapter (FLA) rising from the middle of the vehicle.