Humvees have conquered mud, sand, rocks, snow and even air. The funny-looking 4x4s have been air dropped off from C-17s and hauled around the world on Marine Expeditionary Units.
But as the military gears up for a future of forever wars, it may be time to replace them with something more modern. Luckily, the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is getting close. Contact Street Legal Exports now!
The Humvee is a military vehicle that serves over 40 nations. Known by its full name as the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), it was designed to supplant older military light utility vehicles like jeeps and M151 Gama Goats. The military’s original goal was to design a vehicle that could do the job of several different types of trucks and was easily adapted for specific missions.
The result is an incredibly rugged off-road vehicle that can climb a 60 percent slope and ford up to 5 feet of water. It also has a top speed of 70mph and can be modified in a variety of ways for different military purposes. The vehicle’s design has been praised for its reliability, maintainability and survivability.
In addition to its impressive off-road capabilities, the military Humvee has a unique feature that allows it to be carried on cargo planes and dropped from them by parachute. This is possible because the vehicle has loops around its frame that can be hooked up to and hold the vehicle’s weight.
Unlike civilian SUVs, which are often equipped with features that distract the driver from the task at hand, military Humvees are stripped down and built to get the job done. This includes not having an air conditioning system or stereo. It is not uncommon for a Humvee to be equipped with 2,000-4,000 pounds of armour. This extra protection offers defence against high-volume offensive fire, some air-burst artillery and up to 12 pounds of blasts.
The Humvee is in the final stages of its life cycle, and will be replaced by an up-armoured version known as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Currently, three companies are vying for the JLTV contract to design a replacement for the vehicle. They include Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh Defense and AM General, the original maker of the Humvee.
Technology
The Humvee has travelled the globe, from the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq to the snow-covered mountains of Norway. During that time, it has been subject to a multitude of threats. As a result, the Army and Marines have tried to protect it with different kinds of armor. This includes adding heavy doors, armored seats and weapon shields. They have also added a wide range of kits, which can turn the vehicle into an ambulance or cargo transporter. These modifications can help save lives, and they also make it possible to transport more troops or equipment.
Regardless of the environment, the Humvee is a reliable vehicle that delivers high Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Durability (RAM-D) scores. As a result, it has been able to stay in service for 35 years. However, the military is now moving to a new generation of vehicles called the Joint Light Tactical Truck. This will replace the HMMWVs, which are reaching the end of their lifespan.
To develop this vehicle, the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command selected three manufacturers to design prototypes. They were AMC’s AM General division, a maker of Army jeeps; Teledyne Continental Motors, which was the manufacturer of commercial Jeeps; and Chrysler Defense. All three companies designed and produced 11 HMMWVs for the Army to test.
The resulting vehicle is designed to be more maneuverable and less noisy. It is built with an advanced powertrain that enables future hybridization and offers higher fuel efficiency. It also provides more protection against improvised explosive devices and other roadside bombs. In addition, it can travel through shallow water and mud. It also has a simpler electrical architecture and improved corrosion protection.
Armor
The HMMWV was designed for personnel and light cargo transport behind the lines. It was never intended to serve as a frontline fighting vehicle, but it has proved remarkably effective in the roles that it has been assigned, protecting soldiers from small arms fire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. It does not, however, offer protection against chemical, biological or radiological threats, and its armor provides little protection against mines or other explosive devices.
In Iraq, the threat from roadside bombs is one of the biggest challenges facing troops. The simple act of adding armor plates to the Humvee can make a huge difference in troop safety. But bolting on plates also adds weight that slows the vehicles and makes them clumsy and prone to rollovers. In addition, the extra strain on the engine, transmission and drivetrain can cause mechanical failures.
As a result, the military began adding improvised armor to the vehicle using scrap materials. The troops called this “haji armour”, but it was not enough to protect the crews from the deadly attacks that have killed thousands of service members in Iraq.
A few months ago, Congressman Ted Strickland sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld asking him to order more armored Humvees and to get them to Iraq faster. In response, O’Gara-Hess increased production and is currently producing up-armored Humvees at a rate of 2,500 a month.
O’Gara-Hess produces a variety of protection enhancements that can be added to the M-1114 Humvee, including Level II up-armor kits, which provide windshield and door protection for the troop carrier and armament carrier variants of the vehicle. Level I up-armor kits are factory-produced and installed on soft-skinned Humvees, providing glass and armament protection on the front, rear, sides and top.
Performance
The Military Humvee, or HMMWV as it is commonly known, is the military’s modern version of the iconic World War II jeep. They are used to carry troops, evacuate the wounded and launch surface-to-air missiles. They have also been made popular by civilians who want to get off-roading in style. They can be fitted with armor, heavy doors, weapon shields and more to make them as combat-ready as possible.
These vehicles are air transportable, droppable and can be sling-loaded by helicopters. They can carry a crew of three or more and are capable of driving over rugged terrain at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Their portal axles raise the entire drivetrain off of the ground, which provides excellent ground clearance. They are a formidable off-road vehicle, and can climb over obstacles that would challenge many four-wheel drive vehicles.
One thing that sets the HMMWV apart from other off-road vehicles is its lack of noise and vibration. This is in part because the vehicle is designed to be heavily-armored and heavily-loaded, so it needs to be quieter than most vehicles. The Army has begun a process of replacing the Humvee with a new model that will be more effective in front-line battle zones.
The new trucks will be called JLTVs (Joint Light Tactical Vehicles) and will use Oshkosh Defense’s Joint Tactical Light Vehicle platform. The JLTV is powered by the tried-and-true Duramax 6.6-liter engine, and features performance and fuel economy improvements from Banks Power. The company’s modifications include a larger, more powerful radiator, a new exhaust system and upgraded cooling system. In addition, they will have a more robust suspension that can handle heavier loads.
Price
The price of a military Humvee depends on its condition and the type. Generally, the more expensive ones are newer and in good condition. Older models may have issues with missing and broken parts, which can add up to the overall cost. If you’re planning to make modifications to the vehicle, you should take these costs into account as well.
Purchasing a Humvee for civilian use is fairly easy, but you should know what to expect before making the purchase. You’ll likely have to pay a fee to the auction company, as well as sales and shipping tax. In some cases, you’ll also need to fill out an End-User Certificate. You should keep in mind that these steps can add 20-60 days to the purchase process.
A Humvee is a military-designed vehicle that can be used by the US Armed Forces and some international forces. Its name comes from the term “High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.” When it was introduced in 1985, it replaced older jeep-style vehicles. The HMMWV can be driven on a wide range of terrain and is designed to be easily slung-loaded by helicopter or delivered using the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System.
While the Humvee is an impressive vehicle, it’s not without its shortcomings. It’s heavy and slow, and its performance off-road is not ideal. The vehicle’s bulky mass can soak up bullets, but its top speed is sluggish and its acceleration is poor. Despite these limitations, the Humvee has become one of the most famous vehicles in history, and it’s worth the investment if you can afford it. Moreover, it is far cheaper than the next generation of military vehicles, the MRAPs, which are built to counter hidden explosive devices.