The Humvee (HMMWV) is the workhorse of the US military. It has 15 variations, each of which can serve as a troop transport, weapons carrier or shelter carrier.
It has full-time four-wheel drive, can climb a 60% slope and is water-resistant. Civilians can own Humvees by purchasing them through government surplus auction sites like GovPlanet, provided they meet the titling requirements of their state. Contact Custom Humvee now!
In the 1970s, America’s Army began to realize it had a problem. Many of its vehicles were not up to the task in frontline combat, and they were aging rapidly. So the military drafted a new specification for a “jack-of-all-trades” light tactical vehicle that could replace several different types of trucks, from the M561 Gama Goats to the M151 Jeeps.
Three prominent manufacturers of military equipment-AMC’s AM General division, Chrysler Defense, and Teledyne Continental Motors-were given contracts to design and build 11 HMMWV prototypes. Each of the contenders had its own unique approach, but the winner would get a lucrative contract to produce 55,000 of them. All three designs were tough, but AM General’s rig was the clear winner. It got a catchier moniker than the bland HMMWV, and it was branded the Humvee.
From its inception, the Humvee was a hit with soldiers and civilians alike. In a world full of pickup trucks, the Humvee stood out as a rugged, go-anywhere workhorse that was built to serve as a platform for any number of specialized missions. Its stiff construction allowed it to mount a wide variety of weapons, including the tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided TOW antitank missile that would later make the humvee famous as “the jeep that can kill tanks.”
In a time of air power and missile technology, the humvee was also a symbol of American ingenuity. Soldiers like Scharre modified their humvees by removing unnecessary armour and doors to improve handling, and the vehicles gained huge popularity with the public as the news of the Persian Gulf War was broadcast non-stop on television.
By the end of the 1990s, the humvee was a symbol of America’s military dominance in the region, and it continued to dominate for decades to come. But now, with the arrival of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), it appears the Humvee’s days are numbered.
Designed specifically for multi-role missions, the JLTV is more versatile than the Humvee and is intended to replace it by 2025. But there are still some who think the venerable humvee is too vulnerable in today’s wars, where the most dangerous places are not rocky deserts or frozen mountain ranges but paved city streets lined with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It’s a matter of balance.
Design
The Humvee is one of the most recognizable U.S. military vehicles in the world, and its widespread use in the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan helped inspire a wide range of civilian adaptations. But the Humvee was designed to be more than a simple battle taxi – it was a multipurpose vehicle that could take on numerous missions.
The Humvee was first developed in the 1970s as AM General’s entry for a competition to design a new jack-of-all-trades military vehicle to replace the older Jeeps and other light trucks. The Humvee was designed to carry a variety of equipment configurations, from mounted machine guns to wire command-guided anti-tank missile launchers, and to perform in a wide range of terrain, from deserts to jungles, for long periods of time with minimal maintenance.
To maximize its versatility, the HMMWV was built on a common chassis and uses 44 interchangeable parts to ensure mechanics can repair or modify each truck quickly and efficiently. It also has a low profile and wide stance that allows it to hug the road, sling-load for transport by helicopter and fit up to 15 in a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
It was a success in the desert, where it could plow through the sand and mud with ease, but the Humvee suffered in counterinsurgency patrols, where its lack of armor made it vulnerable to roadside bombs. It was also too top heavy for the rocky hills and ice-covered roads of Afghanistan. As the threat of IEDs and car bombs rose, the army started to turn to other vehicles – like the mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP) – to keep their soldiers safe.
With several unmanned ground vehicle programmes advancing, the Humvee may be destined for a 21st century re-birth as a highly mobile autonomous platform. If so, it would still retain its legacy as a versatile workhorse, carrying troops and gear to their destinations without the need for soldiers to leave the vehicle. This would free up soldiers to scout ahead of the pack, or even lead the charge. But, for now, the humvee remains a symbol of the U.S. military’s zero casualty mindset.
Development
The Humvee has been in use for over forty years and is still serving as a primary tactical vehicle in the military. It is used by the Army and other armed services, and sold to other countries. Its reputation as a tough, reliable and highly manoeuvrable vehicle has made it an icon for both the Army and the civilian Hummer brand.
The US military has been slow to change anything, but after the Humvee’s first three decades it became clear that it needed a replacement. The military developed several initiatives to replace it, both in the short and long term. These projects were based on commercial off-the-shelf vehicles and also included research and development into next-generation technology.
However, in 2006, as the Iraqi insurgency reached its height, it became apparent that the Humvee was no longer enough to protect the troops riding in them. IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, shredded the minimally armoured vehicles, killing hundreds of soldiers. Up-armored Humvees were more effective, but still vulnerable to roadside bombs and rocket propelled grenades.
In a bid to address these issues, the military began militarising civilian trucks, but these conversions were often hit or miss. Then in 2007 the army began ordering a new vehicle called the Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) version of the Humvee, with an armored hull that could deflect explosions up and away from the vehicle. MRAPs were also designed to be more stable and safer in combat.
By 2012 the MRAP was in service with the Marine Corps, Army, and other armed services, and for Foreign Military Sales customers. Its design reduced maintenance time and simplified supply chains, making it a cost-effective solution for the military. It is available in 15 configurations, and has a total of 44 parts that are shared across the various models, reducing training hours for mechanics.
In 2017, a company called QinetiQ worked with AM General to develop an electric powertrain for the Humvee. This project aims to enable the military’s iconic vehicle to meet future defence requirements, including autonomous systems and enhanced situational awareness, through electrification.
Production
The Humvee was first introduced to the Military in the 1980’s and quickly became popular as a military tactical vehicle. It is capable of navigating rugged terrain and was heavily used in the Gulf War of 1991 and more recently the Iraq War of 2003. The Humvee is powered by a turbocharged 6.5-liter V8 diesel engine that is able to carry payloads of up to 5,100 pounds. It has a 4-wheel drive, electronic automatic transmission and is capable of being air dropped.
There are many different configurations of the Humvee that are designed for specific roles. Depending on the model, it can be configured as an ambulance, troop transport or an armored car. It can also be equipped with a range of weapon systems and command and control equipment. The HMMWV is also capable of operating in mine clearing duties as it has an onboard self-recovery winch system.
Despite being replaced by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), the Humvee remains a key piece of military equipment. The JLTV is superior to the Humvee in several ways, including being more maneuverable and having a more powerful engine. However, the JLTV is not designed for front line combat like the Humvee.
AM General is preparing for the future of the JLTV by acquiring technology and equipment to compete with the new vehicles. The company has partnered with several JLTV suppliers to bring onboard their components and subsystems. Additionally, AM General has begun working on reliability extended Humvees. These trucks have improved performance features that include a geared fan drive, cool pack and shroud, re-engineered geared hub assembly and parking brakes.
In addition to Humvee production, AM General has also developed a number of other vehicle models. These include the Bastion 12-ton armored personnel carrier and the HUMVEE 2-CT Hawkeye, a mobile howitzer. The HUMVEE 2-CT Hawkeye is able to fire the M109A3 105mm howitzer, which has the ability to shoot indefinitely as long as power is provided to the electrical and hydraulic systems.
Civilians are allowed to purchase and own a Humvee, although they must meet the military’s demilitarization process and state titling and registration requirements. They can be purchased at military surplus auction companies, such as GovPlanet. These vehicles may need to be rebuilt or refurbished, but are usually less expensive than new.