Humvee Interior, or HMMWV as it is known in military terms, has become a staple of modern warfare globally. It is also a popular choice for heavy equipment mechanics to work on.
AM General designed the vehicle to be easily deployed. It can be dropped from low-flying aircraft, or airlifted to frontline soldiers.
The military’s Humvees are so recognizable that they’re practically pop culture icons. These tough little trucks are the perfect mix of no-nonsense practicality and combat expertise. They have conquered mud, rocks, sand, and snow and are a stalwart of the Army’s wheeled fleet. From hauling cargo to evacuating wounded troops, they can do it all.
The Army began looking for a new light tactical vehicle to replace its old Jeeps in 1979. They wanted a truck with a lot of capabilities that could do whatever the troops needed in the field. They awarded AM General, Chrysler Defense, and Teledyne Continental prototype contracts to design a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV, which would later become known as the Humvee. AM General won the contract and they began working on their first prototypes in 1981 with development and testing continuing throughout 1982.
As the first generation of Humvees rolled out, they proved extremely popular with soldiers. They were like Jeeps on steroids, with more room and capabilities for both people and equipment. They were used as cargo and troop carriers; ambulances; towing vehicles for tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missiles; and even a mobile command center. They became an icon during the Gulf War and a symbol of America’s might.
Despite their popularity with troops, Humvees did have some problems. The most prominent problem was that they were easy targets for roadside bombs. Over 67 US service members who traveled in Humvees were killed in the first four months of 2006, when the Iraqi insurgency was at its height. The military responded by ordering thousands of armour kits that would add more protection to the existing Humvees. These upgrades were not enough to fend off the bombs, though.
The other big issue was power. The original HMMWVs were powered by a 6.2L Detroit diesel engine, which was slow on top-end speed and underpowered overall for such a large truck. It’s no surprise then that many modifications have added armor, guns, turrets, and other additions to the Humvee. They’ve also had their engines upgraded to make them more powerful and faster.
Design
In the early 1980s, the US military was in need of a new fleet of light vehicles to replace older Jeeps and other trucks. They also needed a vehicle to carry infantry into battle in support of armor, so the design competition for what became the Humvee began.
The Humvee is a very capable vehicle for its size, able to drive over rocky terrain and cross water with ease. The chassis is constructed of a combination of aluminum and steel, with four-wheel drive and independent suspension. It is built to withstand a lot of punishment and can travel up to 70mph on the highway.
HMMWVs are very versatile and can be equipped with a variety of different accessories. They can be outfitted with turrets, guns and missiles to suit the mission at hand. They can also be fitted with cargo containers or other storage systems.
In addition, HMMWVs are very air transportable. They can be sling-loaded from helicopters or transported in large numbers by C-130 Hercules and C-5A Galaxy transport aircraft. In fact, three HMMWVs can fit in a Hercules and 15 in a Galaxy.
The original Humvees were designed to be jack-of-all-trades, so they have a wide stance and are fairly tall for their class. This makes them difficult to roll over and provides great stability. They also have a lot of ground clearance, so they can go over rough terrain with ease.
Originally, the Humvees were powered by a 6.2L Detroit diesel engine. This is not the most powerful engine in the world, but it does the job and doesn’t need to be upgraded too often.
Over the years, improvements have been made to the HMMWV’s design. The current model is called the HMMWV Saber and features technology that allows it to protect its occupants from blast threats as well as kinetic energy attacks. It can be adapted for many different missions and is extremely reliable. It also saves on fuel and maintenance costs. The HMMWV Saber is also more agile than previous models, making it the perfect modern military vehicle.
Modifications
The Humvee, or HMMWV, is the main vehicle for U.S. troops deployed in overseas operations, but it also has a wide following of foreign military units. More than 60 countries operate a total of 250,000 of the armored vehicles, with the Army operating more than 100,000 and the Marines operating about 24,000. The company that manufactures the Humvee, AM General, is busy working on a wide variety of variants. In a contract modification to an original award, Ricardo Defense has been awarded a $385.6 million contract to supply anti-lock braking and electronic stability control retrofit kits for the vehicle.
The original 1983 Humvee was designed to be easily reconfigured into three different types of vehicles: a weapons carrier, utility vehicle and field ambulance. Within each of these are many variations that will haul people, gear and cargo; carry out front-line reconnaissance patrols; or function as a modular command-and-control center.
This modular design, with its interchangeable body kits, allows the basic vehicle to be quickly converted into any of these configurations by adding or removing components. In addition, the fully enclosed vehicle interior provided a secure environment to mount a wide range of light to heavy weaponry, including machine guns and grenade launchers as well as a deadly TOW antitank missile.
In response to the violence spawned by the initial insurgency in Iraq, the HMMWV underwent an upgrade to become an ECV or Expanded Capacity Vehicle. Known as the M1114 for Army and Marine vehicles, the modified Humvee is equipped with extra armor for increased protection from mines and IEDs. It features a 6.5-liter turbo diesel engine, up-armored panels and extra rigidity.
The new HMMWV also has a plethora of options for the user to customize it according to his or her specific needs, such as integrating communications equipment and installing a computer system that can act as a mobile command-and-control center. The vehicle is even used in extreme racing competitions, with the most famous example being the Baja 1000 race won by Gale Banks in a custom-built Humvee. For those who want to make their own HMMWV more nimble, there are companies such as Banks Motorsports that offer a variety of engine and suspension modifications.
Production
The Humvee is the most recognizable military vehicle in the world. It has 15 configurations, including cargo/troop carriers, weapons carriers, ambulances, and shelter carriers. Each uses a common chassis, engine, and transmission with 44 interchangeable parts. The vehicle is capable of mounting a gun turret equipped with a.50-cal machine gun or a Mark-19 automatic grenade launcher. The vehicle can also be fitted with an armored hull that protects the crew from small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades, and mines.
During the Persian Gulf War, the Humvee became popular among soldiers and the general public, thanks to the fact that the war was broadcast nearly nonstop on television. Although the Humvee is an incredibly versatile vehicle, its original design was not intended to carry people. The Army needed a way to transport soldiers in support of armored units, and the Humvee was an ideal solution.
In addition to the 15 basic models, the Humvee has been adapted for use by law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and special forces. These vehicles are often outfitted with advanced equipment, including surveillance systems and night vision devices. Some have even been fitted with mini-rockets, which can be launched from the vehicle to provide cover during air strikes or bomb attacks.
The Humvee has been used in numerous combat missions, but it is now beginning to be phased out. The military is pursuing several initiatives to replace it, including using commercial off-the-shelf vehicles in the interim (MRAPs), and designing its own long-term replacement, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).
While the JLTV will likely not be as powerful or rugged as the Humvee, it will still offer more flexibility than the older vehicle. For example, it will be capable of carrying heavier loads than the Humvee, which can make a significant difference in an engagement when hauling ammunition or supplies.
As the JLTV comes into production, AM General will continue to manufacture the Humvee at its facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. The company will partner with a number of component and subsystem vendors, including Oshkosh, to ensure the JLTV is available in a variety of options for the military. AM General will also be exploring a range of powertrain options, including lithium batteries.