Known by the military as the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee, it burst onto the scene in 1989 during the invasion of Panama. It rose to prominence in the Persian Gulf War. Its popularity soared as 24-hour news broadcast endless images of the vehicle steamrolling through the sand.
Yet even though the Humvee smashed through mud, sand, rocks, and snow and hauled trailers down the highway, it was beginning to show its age. If you want a Humvee, Click the Military Humvee For Sale to learn more.
The military High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle—or HMMWV, as it’s commonly known—is the US Army’s light, four-wheel-drive truck. It’s a very versatile truck that has largely replaced jeeps, the 2-ton M274 Mule, the 1-ton M561 Gamma Goat, and other similar vehicles.
These trucks are designed to withstand the roughest battlefield conditions and can be equipped with many different systems and equipment to serve a variety of purposes. These include communications, surveillance, search and rescue, medical, engineering, and armed forces transportation. They can also carry weapons and supplies, perform front-line reconnaissance patrols, and function as mobile command posts.
They can even be equipped with armor to protect against the heaviest of direct fire and explosive blasts. The newest models have up to 12 pounds of blast protection, thanks to thick steel armor and energy-absorbing coatings and mountings. This added protection can make a big difference on the battlefield, where even minor injuries could turn out to be fatal.
Another important Humvee fact is that all of them use disk brakes rather than rim brakes. This gives them superior braking power and more stopping control than conventional vehicles. The rotors on these trucks are also made of forged aluminum, which reduces weight and provides better strength. In addition to their superior braking, a military Humvee’s aluminum body panels are also resistant to rust.
While it might not look like it on first glance, the Humvee is a very agile vehicle. Despite its boxy, ungainly appearance, it can maneuver with ease through hostile territory and can travel at speeds up to 70mph. It can even climb a 60% slope and ford water. These are some of the reasons why the Humvee is so popular among the armed forces.
History
For two decades, the Humvee dominated military battlefields and captured civilian imagination. It rolled into prominence during the Gulf War, when rolling 24-hour news coverage nearly always included images of these strange-looking trucks tearing across desert landscapes and evading roadside bombs.
The original Humvee was a hot-rodded Jeep that could carry equipment, weapons and crew, replacing two jeeps and a trailer, while also navigating rough terrain better than either of the 2-ton M274 Mule or 6-ton M561 Gama Goat. AM General began initial design work in 1979 and invited competing proposals from Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental. In 1983, the Army deemed its prototype the best and awarded AM General a $1.2 billion contract to produce Humvees.
Its unique proportions and muscular — almost steroidal — appearance make it instantly recognizable to most people. It rides with a much higher undercarriage than most trucks without becoming the tallest vehicle, and it has loops around its frame that can be hooked up to other vehicles for transport and dropped from planes for airborne deployments.
In its many incarnations, the Humvee has served in multiple roles for the US military, including as troop transport, ambulances, command and control vehicles and even pseudo-tanks with a 105mm howitzer and roof-mounted Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wireless-Guided (TOW) antitank missile. Today, the US military is still using Humvees in frontline combat, though it has moved away from the unarmored version and has opted for the stronger and more nimble Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) made by Wisconsin-based Oshkosh.
The JLTV is heavier than a Humvee but is faster, and is safer with an improved armored hull, a larger suspension with more travel and locking differentials, and a 400-horsepower diesel engine. The Pentagon has a plan to replace all the Humvees with the JLTV by 2025.
Design
The Humvee is designed to be a jack-of-all-trades vehicle that can handle all sorts of terrain and missions. It’s also extremely durable and has 44 interchangeable parts so mechanics can work on them quickly. This is why it’s used worldwide and has inspired many civilian vehicles like the Hummer.
The US Army wanted a light vehicle that could replace the old jeeps and other trucks it was using for various purposes. They also wanted a vehicle that was easy to air drop and deploy. They tried a few different conversions of civilian trucks, but none of them were as successful as the Humvee.
HMMWVs are made by AM General, and more than 50 countries and military organizations use them. They’re often armed with everything from a wire command-guided anti-tank missile launcher to mounted machine guns.
Some HMMWVs are even up-armored to provide extra protection from IED attacks. AM General offers a variety of upgrades for the Humvee, including the fragmentation kit five and objective gunner’s protection kits. These provide increased protection against IEDs and small arms fire.
Despite the fact that the Humvee has been around since 1984, it continues to be an important military vehicle in many different countries and missions all over the world. There are many reasons for this, but one of the main ones is its versatility and how well it can perform in a lot of different conditions.
As the US Army embarks on a modernization effort to replace their Humvees with the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), they are testing up-armored Humvees from Oshkosh, Lockheed Martin and AM General. During tests, they found that the Oshkosh JLTV was the most reliable of the bunch. Their platoons averaged 7,051 miles between operational mission failures.
Functions
Known as Humvees (a nickname for the military vehicles’ full name, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), these light tactical vehicles are used by all branches of the United States Armed Forces. While originally designed for non-combat roles, the vehicles have since proven their effectiveness in combat as well, making them one of the most important components of America’s military arsenal. There are many different kinds of Humvees, ranging from ambulances to troop carriers. However, they all share a common chassis and engine that allows for quick and easy maintenance.
The Army began looking for better military vehicles in the 1970s after realizing that its fleet of M151 Jeeps and M561 Gama Goats weren’t performing at peak capacity. It wanted a new “jack-of-all-trades” light military vehicle that could perform the roles of several existing trucks. The resulting vehicle, now known as the Humvee, has become a fixture in military operations all over the world.
The latest Humvees can provide protection from a variety of threats, including improvised explosive devices, which have caused so many American casualties. They’re also quite durable and can withstand significant amounts of fire, blasts and shrapnel. However, this increased durability comes at a price. The armour is heavy, reducing the vehicle’s speed and manoeuvrability. It also increases the weight of the vehicle, which limits its cargo carrying abilities.
As a result, some soldiers prefer to make their Humvees as light as possible by removing armour and even doors, to improve their performance in combat. The US military is now in the process of replacing the Humvee with a new vehicle called the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV. The JLTV is supposed to be more combat-ready than its predecessor and has a diesel engine instead of a gasoline engine.
Variations
The Humvee has various models and variants that are designed to meet specific military needs. These variations showcase the versatility and adaptability of this iconic vehicle. From rugged military variants like the M998 HMMWV and M1097 Avenger to civilian models such as the H1 Alpha and H2 SUT, each configuration meets specific needs and environments.
Medical and Ambulance Variants prioritize efficiency and safety in critical mission areas. These vehicles feature a wide range of medical and medical equipment to support the treatment of wounded soldiers. These variants are also equipped with specialized armor to improve maneuverability and off-road performance.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance Models are equipped with advanced technology to conduct covert missions and intelligence-gathering operations. They have a number of specialized features that enhance their capabilities, including state-of-the-art surveillance systems and thermal imaging capabilities.
Advanced Armor Variants are equipped with cutting-edge armor technology to protect soldiers from improvised explosive devices and other threats. They have a number of specialized attachments that further enhance their defensive capabilities, including weapon mounts for the Mk 19 grenade launcher and M220 TOW missile carriers.
With its combination of mobility and firepower, the M1097 Avenger variant is a vital asset for military operations. It is capable of neutralizing enemy aircraft and helicopters with ease, ensuring battlefield superiority.
Due to their unique design and robust construction, Humvees can withstand the most difficult terrain. They are air transportable and can be slung-loaded by helicopters, with a C-130 Hercules aircraft capable of carrying three HMMWVs while a C-5A Galaxy can carry 15. Unlike traditional four-wheel drives, the Humvee can navigate rugged terrain without requiring the use of dedicated recovery vehicles. This is largely because of its independent suspension system and steep approach and departure angles.