UPDATE 1-Pentagon chief lauds Oshkosh's Afghan truck out

* Gates tours Oshkosh MRAP truck production line

* Says Pentagon may buy more Oshkosh trucks

* Hails Oshkosh performance (Changes dateline, updates throughout)

By Jim Wolf

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin, Nov 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates heaped praise Thursday on Oshkosh Corp (OSK.N), a Wisconsin truck maker, for speeding potentially lifesaving all-terrain trucks to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"What is taking place here is an amazing display of industry and dedication to the war effort," he said after touring the main production plant for a new class of sand-colored, armored, off-road vehicles.

Rushing the trucks to the field is a high priority because more than 80 percent of U.S. casualties in Afghanistan are caused by roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, Gates said.

The company aims to build 1,000 of the vehicles per month by the end of this year, up from 46 it built in July after receiving the initial contract on June 30.

Overall, Oshkosh is due to produce about 6,600 of the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle, or M-ATV. Gates, speaking to reporters on his flight here, said the Pentagon might buy more if President Barack Obama decides to add troops as part of a review of Afghanistan options expected to wind up soon.