The Humvee (officially known as the HMMWV) has conquered deserts and rough terrain. It has hauled troops, cargo and equipment. It has evaded detection and sat inside the belly of transport aircraft.
But at the height of the Iraq War in 2006, 67 US soldiers in Humvees died in bomb attacks. Bolting on armour made them ungainly and easy targets for buried bombs. Click the Humvee For Sale to learn more.
The Humvee (or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) began life in the late 1970s as an Army-led effort to create a jack-of-all-trades light tactical vehicle. The military wanted something that could replace the 2-ton M274 Mule and 1-ton M561 Gama Goat, both of which were approaching their retirement age. The result was a chassis that could be modified to serve in several different roles, giving the military greater flexibility and lower maintenance costs.
The new trucks were a hit, with the Army purchasing 280,000 of them by 1992. They quickly dominated the military’s land operations, becoming the face of power projection for the Army and Marines. They also spawned a civilian version called the Hummer, and both vehicles shared many parts. Brakes, axles and even the frame came from the same factory, with the only differences being cosmetic. The Humvee also spawned several variants, from ambulances and cargo/troop transports to “pseudo-tank” carriers capable of carrying a roof-mounted 105mm howitzer or Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wireless-Guided missile.
During the first Gulf War, the military-branded Humvee received a lot of positive press, with its versatility and off-road capability proving essential in the desert conditions of Iraq and Kuwait. However, the guerrilla-dominated environments of Iraq and Afghanistan soon revealed its vulnerability to roadside bombs and improvised weapons. Soldiers would frequently modify their vehicles, stripping away unnecessary armor to make them lighter and more manoeuvrable, but these changes did little to improve the vehicles’ safety.
In fact, in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of deaths caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) often outpaced those caused by enemy fire or snipers. While the Humvee is still in use, the military has begun replacing them with JLTVs, which are more robust and better suited to guerrilla fighting.
The future of the Humvee, then, is uncertain. But with a few tweaks, it might see a second life as a low-cost unmanned ground vehicle. With thousands of them in inventory, and cost pressures affecting several programmes including the JLTV, converting some of them into autonomous vehicles might keep this workhorse on the battlefield for years to come.
Missions
The Humvee is a versatile vehicle whose multiple configurations allow it to perform as an armored fighting vehicle, a utility vehicle, or a field ambulance. Some versions, like the up-armored M1114, are even capable of transporting four to eight litter patients and functioning as a mobile command post. The basic chassis is also capable of carrying a variety of communications, detection and weapons systems.
In addition to its many uses, the Humvee is air transportable and can be dropped from helicopters. Its low profile and wide stance make it extremely stable in rough terrain and difficult to roll over, unlike the old jeeps that were considered unstable.
Because of its versatility, the Humvee has replaced a number of other military vehicles in the Army and Marine Corps. Its replacement, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), is intended to take on the role of several different vehicles, allowing for standardization and lower maintenance costs. The JLTV is also expected to have improved defenses and capabilities that the Humvee does not currently have.
While the JLTV is being brought online, the Humvee will continue to serve as a critical component of the Army’s ground combat force. It will be used to support combat operations and provide resupply, surveillance, and intelligence functions as well as conduct base security patrols. The JLTV has been designed to be more survivable and able to carry heavier loads than the current Humvees.
The basic Humvee chassis can be configured into three types of vehicles with interchangeable body kits, including a weapon carrier, a combat support vehicle and a field ambulance. A fourth version, the general utility vehicle, is also available with more specialized equipment for a specific mission. The various configurations of the Humvee are available from a number of manufacturers, including AMC’s AM General Div., which formerly made the Army’s jeeps; Teledyne Continental Motors, which makes the engine for the Humvee; and General Dynamics, which recently bought Chrysler’s prestigious Chrysler Defense Div.
In its combat support role, the Humvee is armed with a heavy machine gun for protection. This is particularly important during frontline patrols, where they are most likely to be attacked by enemy forces. To ensure the Humvee is able to survive in these situations, it has been upgraded with more powerful and more advanced weapons systems.
Variations
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee, is a light military truck that has been used by all branches of the United States Armed Forces. It has supplanted many roles once performed by World War II jeeps and other vehicles. It is a four-wheel drive vehicle with independent suspension on all four wheels and controlled by a variable-rate torsion-bar system. This provides a soft ride when carrying light loads and a stiffer, more stable ride when carrying heavier ones.
The Humvee is a bit longer than a Jeep, at six feet tall and seven feet wide with a wheelbase that’s 15 feet long. Its stance and proportions make it road-hugging, easy to maneuver, and resistant to attack from behind. It’s a tough and durable vehicle that can be air-dropped or sling-loaded by helicopters. It can carry three or more of the M119 howitzer engines or up to four M220 tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missile carriers.
It’s also equipped with a variety of weapons mounts for the Mk 19 grenade launcher, M2 Browning heavy machine gun and M240B or G and M249 mortars. Its hull has a V-shaped armor-plated design that deflects explosions upward and away from the vehicle. This gives it an advantage over vehicles with a flat top that may explode upon impact or be penetrated by enemy fire.
Although the Humvee has been criticized for its vulnerability in frontline combat situations, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, it remains a staple of military operations around the globe. The Army has replaced it with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) for some missions, but the Humvee continues to play a key role in many others.
The civilian version of the Humvee is known as the Hummer, and it’s available for sale to individuals and businesses. The JLTV is a stronger, faster vehicle than the Humvee and is capable of navigating more difficult terrain. However, it requires more maintenance and replacement parts than the Humvee, which has been a trusted workhorse for decades. If you are looking for a way to protect your Humvee or upgrade it for off-roading, Miles Fiberglass has a number of composite panel reinforcement kits that are easy to install. They can help reduce damage caused by rocks and other debris, as well as the wear and tear of harsh weather conditions.
Armor
The Humvee, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) as it is also known, is a light four-wheel drive military truck and utility vehicle built by AM General. During its early years, the vehicle was primarily operated by the Army and sometimes by the Marine Corps; however, it is now a joint service vehicle used by all branches of the military. It is a very versatile vehicle, capable of meeting many different battlefield requirements.
While the HMMWV is a powerful and durable vehicle, it does have some weaknesses. The soft, alloy skin of the vehicle can be easily penetrated by small arms fire and roadside bombs. These attacks have resulted in numerous deaths among the crews manning the vehicles. To counter this threat, the Army began by bolting steel plates to the Humvees; this improved protection but was a temporary solution at best.
The next step was to build an up-armored Humvee, which would provide better protection from enemy ground fire. The resulting vehicles were heavier, which reduced their deployment flexibility, and they were prone to mechanical failures because of the extra strain placed on the engine, transmission and drivetrain. In addition, the heaviness of the vehicles increased their susceptibility to attack from the air.
Eventually, the heaviness of the up-armored Humvees was solved by developing lighter armor. This new armor was designed to absorb the energy of a blast without adding too much weight to the vehicle. It was also abrasion resistant, making it more durable than the older plates. The new armor was also designed to protect the vehicle’s doors from explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), which had previously been responsible for many of the deaths among Humvee crews.
Today, on factory floors stretching the length of several football fields, three-eighth inch thick armor steel is shaped into the bodies of the Humvees. Workers like Marty Bollman, who works at the plant and has been working there for a month, say they take pride in their work. They are also proud that the Humvees they make will be protecting the lives of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.