The Military Humvee is a 4WD car/light truck hybrid that can fulfill a multitude of military needs. It can be used as a weapons carrier, utility vehicle, or field ambulance. Click https://www.streetlegalexports.com/ to learn more.
Designed to replace the jeeps that had defined half a dozen US interventions, its drawbacks became apparent in Somalia and the ensuing urban combat that would characterize many future deployments. It did not have the protection that would allow it to survive those challenges.
During the Cold War, the Humvee was the hot-rodded Jeep that military leaders needed to get troops across long stretches of desert. After the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, however, it became clear that the vehicle needed to change. With service members patrolling the world’s most dangerous cities, they needed a vehicle that could protect them against small arms fire and roadside improvised explosive devices. Bolting on additional armor helped, but added weight also reduced fuel efficiency and accelerated wear on the engine, transmission and drivetrain.
The HMMWV’s low profile and wide stance make it more maneuverable than traditional jeeps. Its unique design enables it to climb a 60-percent incline and traverse a 40-percent slope, while also fording up to five feet of water. Its high-sitting cabin keeps the driver and passengers safe from harm, and the Humvee can be slung from a helicopter or dropped from a cargo aircraft without the need for ramps.
Over the years, AM General has developed several variants of the Humvee to meet changing military needs. Known as the Expanded Capacity Vehicle, the latest model has an upgraded engine and suspension and can carry up to nine soldiers. There’s even a Humvee that can be fitted with weapons systems and ring-mounted ammunition storage, providing the vehicle with 360o of firepower.
The Humvee’s biggest weakness, though, has always been roadside bombs. These explosive devices can rip through the chassis and kill or injure everyone inside. As a result, the vehicle has required extensive upgrades and is not immune to this threat today.
While the Humvee has evolved, it remains a vital tool for military operations. The army is in the process of replacing older models with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, from Oshkosh Defense. This newer vehicle has better protection, a stronger frame and an advanced 400-horsepower turbo diesel engine that leaves the Humvee’s in its dust.
Despite the army’s decision to replace its fleet with more modern vehicles, it will still keep a few Humvees in reserve as backups. They can be used to scout or transport people and equipment, or they can be adapted into a drone that can be sent into the field without risking human lives.
It’s a Weapons Carrier
The Humvee is one of the most versatile vehicles in the world. This light military vehicle has been everything from a hot-rodded off-roader in the desert to an armored taxi in some of the most dangerous cities on Earth. But it’s also the workhorse that carries ammunition, food and supplies to soldiers on the front lines.
The military Humvee was originally a replacement for the old jeeps in the Army’s fleet, but it quickly grew to dominate many other roles as well. Its wide stance and low-profile size allow it to hug the ground and maneuver more easily over difficult terrain. It’s also easy to slingload onto and offload from helicopters and can carry up to 15 people in the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy airlifter or three in the larger C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Despite its enormous versatility, the Humvee had one major flaw that would prove deadly: Its flat bottom design, which allowed it to ride low to the ground and absorb the force of roadside bombs, rendered it almost useless when it came to insurgent attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. The military hastily up-armored many of its fleet with a bolt-on armor kit to address the problem, but this added a huge amount of weight that made the Humvee slow and prone to rolling over. The added strain also accelerated wear on the engine, drivetrain and chassis, leading to a rash of mechanical failures.
Today, the Humvee is a mainstay in armies all around the world. It’s used as a utility vehicle to transport equipment, a troop carrier for soldiers and even an ambulance for injured service members. It’s also a great way for militaries to demonstrate their power and prowess by crushing the enemy on the battlefield.
If you’re thinking of buying a military Humvee to add to your collection, it’s important to check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles first. Not all states have the same laws on military surplus vehicles, so you may have to install safety equipment and pass a state inspection in order for your Humvee to be street legal.
It’s a Utility Vehicle
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), or Humvee, as it is affectionately known, is the world standard in light military tactical vehicles. It has been in use around the globe for decades, and – Iraq War controversies aside – remains a trusted workhorse.
The HMMWV’s origins date back to the 1970s, when the Army recognized that its trucks and armored cars were becoming obsolete. They needed a new vehicle that could handle on- and off-road terrains, carry a large payload, and withstand indirect fire. The army contracted with AM General to design a prototype that would meet these needs.
Originally named the M151 1/4-short-ton MUTT, it largely supplanted older Military light utility vehicles like the original Jeep, and its M561 “Gama Goat” and M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, as well as the Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle and other light trucks. Its rugged design and off-road capabilities made it the ideal Military vehicle, and its modular design allowed it to be configured for a variety of different mission requirements.
Its rugged appearance and lumbering build lent it to the nickname ‘Hummy’, and it quickly became a favorite of macho men, inspiring an automotive brand that was once advertised with the slogan “reclaim your masculinity”. But while the Humvee was versatile, durable, and dependable, it did have one major flaw that proved fatal many times in combat zones. The Humvee’s flat underbelly, which rides low to the ground, allows for the force of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to directly impact the vehicle’s occupants, often resulting in severe injuries and fatalities.
After a few upgrades and a redesign, the Humvee was able to withstand the threat of roadside bombs, and it continued its long career in frontline service. It will soon be replaced by the JLTV, a new vehicle with improved protection and a number of other important upgrades.
It’s a Field Ambulance
The Military Humvee has a long history of service. Its versatility has been put to the test in numerous wars around the world, including the Gulf War of 1991 and the Iraq War of 2003. Despite the many controversies surrounding it, this light military tactical vehicle has proven itself as one of the most versatile vehicles in existence. The HMMWV has also been used for homeland defense and natural disaster relief operations.
Military Humvees are designed to carry a payload of up to 5,000 pounds, and they have 16 inches of ground clearance. They also feature portal axles, which raise the drivetrain above the wheel hubs to allow for maximum off-road mobility. This design allows soldiers to add things like machine gun turrets, low-altitude air defense systems, and larger ambulance cabs.
These features have made the HMMWV the most versatile workhorse in the world of military vehicles. The vehicle has a long legacy, with over 70 countries incorporating it into their arsenals. The HMMWV has even become an icon of American culture, thanks to Hollywood’s ultimate tough guy, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Inspired by a military convoy he saw while filming Kindergarten Cop, the action movie star was smitten with the Humvee and contacted the manufacturer to get his own.
Though the Humvee was incredibly useful, there were some drawbacks to its armor. Small arms fire could penetrate the aluminum body, and roadside improvised explosive devices (IEDs) turned them into little more than rolling coffins. Fortunately, the Army soon realized that a more state-of-the-art vehicle was needed.
The new model was called the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), and it took the lessons learned from the original Humvee into account. This version of the vehicle is still intimidating to see rolling into battle, but it can go places that the Humvee never dreamed of.
The JLTV is also more fuel efficient, with a diesel hybrid electric system that saves power from the batteries and uses it to operate the engine and two 10-hp electric motors. It also burns 70 percent less fuel than the non-hybrid versions of the vehicle.