Using ATVs for light motorised infantry

https://mca-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/0520-Light-Motorized-Infantry-Company.pdf

Really not a new idea.

This proposal to create mini-motorized infantry does not seem very practical.

For one thing, it would require a minimum of 8 vehicles to equip a 15-man rifle squad.

And that's with two men per vehicle, which would greatly limit the supplies that can be carried.

Not to mention the fact that the vehicle was designed to carry only one man, resulting in questionable seating for a second individual.

Also, the author's example of the Norwegian 2nd Battalion using 6x6 ATVs is quite misleading. 

The 6x6 ATVs were employed in small numbers as recon vehicles by the cavalry squadron, not in large numbers as troop transporters by the infantry companies.

The 2nd Battalion's infantry squads were transported like mechanized forces, in tracked APCs.

Makes sense for special applications and niche scenarios only, where literally no other vehicle would do.  If a regular vehicle can go there, a regular vehicle would almost always be better. 
 

I can see an application for airmobile mountain troops, recce, special forces, etc

Brief video of 2nd Battalion ATVs in Afghanistan

6:15-7:25  https://youtu.be/d4wGLWaLjMA?t=375

The side-by-side Polaris UTV would be better. Easier for 2 troops, but still plenty of cargo space and weight.

In a away whenever I think about this my brain goes 'hussars'. 

They need to develop explosive-tipped lances, Death Corps of Krieg now!

That's Ulans in my head :) but yes!

I just look at these 6 wheel atv's and think about how hard it would be to get it up on 3 wheels and then drive like you can do with a 4 wheeler.

That said though, side by side UTV's are basically close enough to the width of a car that they can't get a lot of the places 6 wheel atv's can.

Any and all of these things have their places in a military depending on what you're trying to do and your force composition.

Tbh though, the one company that essentially builds militarized snowmobiles with tires forward of the skis is probably closer to the mark on something useful in my book than the other things mentioned above. Take away the "pilot position" make it unmanned and give it essentially super size camel/mule panniers (and an RCWS gun on top) and you really have something.