Crossword Genius

Americans’ military vehicles’ temperature turning to variable (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yanks

'americans'' is the definition.
(Yank can informally mean an American)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for yanks that I've seen before include "Americans; pulls" , "Pulls sharply" , "Physical jerks" , "Tugs" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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