Abstract

A high speed tracked vehicle has a sprocket extending from each side thereof coupled to an engine through which driving power is supplied to each of a pair of driving tracks. The driving tracks are supported on either side of the vehicle hull by an idler wheel and the driving sprocket. A plurality of ground wheels distributes the vehicle weight over that portion of the tracks in contact with the surface underlying the vehicle. The tracks include a plurality of interconnected shoes each of which includes an inner elastomeric insert disposed to contact the idler wheel at the rim. Idler wheel rim and track shoe contact being a source of mechanical vibrations causing internal hull noise, one or more continuous peripheral ridges or crowns are formed on the rims so that the area of contact between the rims and the elastomeric inserts is reduced and the compliance of the system is increased. When multiple crowns are present, the crown on a larger radius makes initial contact with the elastomeric inserts absorbing most of the momentum of the shoe directed in a direction normal to the rim, and the crown on a lesser radius subsequently makes contact with the inserts to reduce compliance and thereby prevent rim contact with the metal portions of the shoes.