The Humvee, officially the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, has been used by military forces since 1984. It’s been adapted for a range of missions and, in addition to the basic model, can be up-armored with bolt-on armor to protect against IED attacks.
Its portal axles lift the drivetrain for maximum ground clearance. It can outrun infantry but has trouble with tanks, which can rip them apart with their main cannons. Contact Street Legal Exports now!
The mighty Humvee first came to public attention during the Gulf War, when rolling 24-hour news coverage almost always included one of these four-wheeled snarling beasts to illustrate the military’s brash decision-making that pushed it into a war it was unprepared for. Since then, the vehicle has risen to legendary status on foreign battlefields and suburban soccer fields alike, serving as a symbol of US military might and technological superiority.
The Army’s search for a replacement for the jeeps it had relied on in every conflict from World War II through Vietnam began with a request for proposal in 1979. Three prominent manufacturers, AMC’s AM General division (which also built jeeps), Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental, were given contracts to create prototypes of a new high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) that would perform in a variety of environments. Each of these vehicles was a formidable four-wheeled warrior that thrived off-road and could haul cargo, equipment, and crew — replacing two jeeps and an antitank missile trailer all by itself.
When the Humvees rolled off the assembly line in 1984, they were immediately hailed as a huge improvement over the old Jeeps they replaced. The low-profile size allows it to hug the road, and it can be slung loaded into a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter and inserted directly into a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy transport aircraft without the need for an airfield. A maximum of 15 can be fitted in a single sortie.
Over the years, various upgrades have been added to ensure the Humvee can continue performing in even the harshest of conditions. A more rugged suspension and brakes make it possible to travel over bumps and rough terrain at speed, and add-on armor kits can protect drivers and their cargo from a range of threats, including land mines, rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs.
The military also recognized the need for the Humvee to be able to operate far from bases, and over the years, the vehicle has evolved into an impressively capable off-roader that can run on a wide range of fuels, making it a useful and versatile tool in many combat zones around the globe. There are more than 15 different Humvee configurations, from ambulances and shelter carriers to armament carriers and troop transports. They all share a common chassis, engine and transmission, and each has 44 interchangeable parts to facilitate rapid repairs on the fly.
The Global War on Terror
In the years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United States has led a global campaign against terror. With the help of allied nations, we have targeted and destroyed al-Qaida and Taliban forces inside Afghanistan and disrupted terrorist networks that transport people, money, weapons and information across borders. We have captured hundreds of extremists, including senior leaders like Khalid Sheikh Muhammad and Usama Bin Laden’s second in command, Ramzi Bin al-Shibh, as well as terrorism facilitators who enable extremists to attack innocent civilians around the world.
The military’s Humvee has been a key component of this effort. It is a tough, rugged vehicle that can go where no other truck can. It hugs the road, can climb up to a 60 percent slope and is capable of fording rivers. It is also extremely versatile. It can be outfitted with a variety of weaponry, from mounted machine guns to wire command-guided anti-tank missile launchers. It can be sling-loaded by helicopter and dropped from the air, and up to three Humvees can fit into a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft or 15 into a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy.
However, a lesson from the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu taught the Army that its original unarmored design was not sufficient for modern battlefields. During that fight, the Humvees were repeatedly targeted with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. The vehicles’ soft aluminum skins were often punctured by IEDs. As a result, many service members were killed or injured.
As a result, the Army began retrofitting Humvees with bolt-on armor kits. But this was a stopgap measure. The added weight of the armor made the vehicles slow and clumsy, and it put undue strain on the engine, transmission and drivetrain. Moreover, the armored doors were prone to jamming, which left crews vulnerable to enemy fire and IEDs.
The military was determined to find a better solution. By 2015, the Humvee had been supplanted by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) in frontline U.S. military service, although it remains in use as a support vehicle for some units. The JLTV is lighter than the Humvee, and it can be fitted with various armor kits. It is also more fuel efficient and can be driven off-road in more situations.
The Next Generation
The Humvee has been a staple of the military for 30 years. Its ruggedness and no-nonsense practicality have made it a stalwart of the wheeled fleet, with an unrivalled record of service across a range of conflicts. However, the soft-skinned vehicle is vulnerable to roadside bombs and small arms fire. In 2007, the US Army replaced most of its HMMWVs in Iraq and Afghanistan with trucks from the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP, program.
The MRAP’s V-shaped hull deflects vertical energy from explosions, sparing occupants of the vehicle from the brunt of an attack. It has also been equipped with a range of new technologies, such as an operator-selectable low-collateral effect feature and automated waypoint navigation. The vehicle is designed to be able to quickly return to combat after being struck by indirect fire or an improvised explosive device (IED).
A new generation of light tactical vehicles will replace the aging MRAPs, with the Army deciding on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV. The vehicle is expected to provide more mobility and protection than the old Humvee, with a high-speed engine capable of driving over rough terrain at up to 40mph. Its modular design will allow it to be easily reconfigured for different missions, and its fuel efficiency will save on operating costs.
AM General, the original manufacturer of the Humvee, has developed a new concept that will take advantage of the latest technology. The HUMVEE Charge is a hybrid electric vehicle that will combine the power of the diesel internal combustion engine with an electric motor. It will be able to switch between three driving modes to suit a variety of missions, from disaster relief to special operations requiring silent movement.
The company has also created the HUMVEE Saber Blade Edition, which is designed to boost lethality and protect against kinetic energy threats. It will be able to deploy a wide range of munitions, including AeroVironment’s Switchblade loitering munitions and the Hornet Air Guard remote-controlled weapon system. The vehicle will have a proprietary cabin that enhances protection against kinetic energy threats, as well as under-vehicle blast threat protection and transparent armor. It will also have a more efficient ICE, providing better fuel economy and acceleration.
The End of Humvees
It’s hard to believe, but the Humvee is getting old. The US military is currently in the process of replacing it with a new truck known as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV. A winner for the $31bn contract should be announced in 2015, and around 50,000 of them will be bought. But the JLTV won’t be a like-for-like replacement, and the Army will keep using the tens of thousands of Humvees it already has in its fleet.
The JLTV will be designed to meet a range of battlefield requirements, including off-road capabilities and protection against mines and IEDs. Three companies are competing to build it: Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh Defense and the original Humvee manufacturer AM General. But the Army is quick to stress that the JLTV will not be a Humvee replacement on a one-for-one basis.
Instead, the Army will likely continue to use many Humvees as vehicles for rear-echelon units and as vehicles that it sends to allies around the world. Those older trucks still have a lot to offer, and they can be modified into all sorts of other vehicles for different missions, from ambulances to rocket launchers.
Even though a Humvee is not a traditional troop carrier, it can carry up to eight soldiers in various seating configurations. It also has a low centre of gravity and extra stability, making it an excellent platform for mounting all manner of equipment, including weapons, communications and sensors. It’s also capable of traversing a range of rough terrain, from deserts to cities, and can operate in harsh environments.
During the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Task Force Ranger’s fleet of Humvees were caught up in machine-gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades in the streets of Somalia’s capital city. They also suffered heavy losses from roadside bombs and other landmines, because they were not designed for urban combat.
While the military is preparing for a future without the Humvee, there are still plenty of people who want to buy a civilian version for themselves. And that’s fine. After all, who knows? Maybe someday you’ll be cruising down the highway with your kids in the back, heading for that family vacation at Disney World.