The US Army sought a jack-of-all-trades light tactical vehicle to replace its fleet of jeeps. They ended up with a versatile workhorse that can serve as a troop transport, cargo hauler, or weapon carrier. Contact Street Legal Exports now!
Today, Humvees are heavily up-armored – but their defenses cannot protect against all kinds of explosive devices. This is why the Army has launched a replacement program, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).
The Humvee, or HMMWV as the military calls it, is one of the most versatile vehicles in the world. It has a wide variety of uses, including transporting cargo and troops and serving as a command and control vehicle. The Humvee is designed to withstand harsh terrain and hostile attacks and can be fitted with armor and weapons.
Initially, the Military wanted to replace its aging jeep fleet with a vehicle that could provide mobility and protection. The problem was that the Ford M151s, which were built in the 1960s, were no longer adequate. With a maximum payload of just 800 pounds, the open-air 4×4 vehicle could not carry the equipment and weapons required for modern warfare.
To meet the Army’s needs, the HMMWV was created with independent front and rear suspension, advanced shock absorbers and locking differentials to give it traction on terrain that would stop other four-wheel-drive vehicles in their tracks. An aluminum body reduced the weight of the vehicle, allowing it to be air dropped from a C17 aircraft into combat zones. The HMMWV’s unique design also allows it to be stacked on top of one another for transportation by sea or rail.
Three prominent manufacturers submitted prototypes to the Army for review, including AMC’s AM General division (which makes jeeps for the military); Teledyne Continental Motors; and General Dynamics. Despite the unpronounceable name, AM General’s entry, dubbed the Hummer, proved more popular than its official designation, which the company coined as HUMVEE or HMMWV. The Army eventually opted for the latter, which is less likely to inspire irreverent GIs to make up their own nicknames. The Humvee’s successor, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle or JLTV, offers better protection against IEDs than its predecessor and includes a V-shaped hull that deflects vertical energy sideways, sparing occupants from the brunt of explosions.
Development
In the late 1970s, the US Army realised it needed better performing vehicles to replace its aging fleet of M561 Gama Goats and M151 Jeeps. It drafted specifications for a new light tactical vehicle that would act as a jack-of-all-trades by using a common chassis that could be modified into different variants.
The new vehicle would be able to transport troops and equipment in a variety of environments, from deserts to forests. It would also be able to drive over a range of terrain conditions, including rough roads and shallow streams. The US Army gave three contractors – AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental – contracts to design and develop 11 prototypes of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). This was the vehicle that became known as the Humvee.
In its first decade in service, the Humvee was used during the invasion of Panama and the Persian Gulf War. It has become one of the most recognizable military vehicles in the world.
It’s not easy to find a more versatile vehicle than the Humvee. It can be transformed into a weapons carrier, utility vehicle or field ambulance. It can also carry supplies, communications gear and front-line reconnaissance patrols or function as a mobile command post.
The latest variant, called HMMWV Saber, is packed with leap-ahead technology in an agile light tactical vehicle that offers advanced levels of protection and superior performance. It includes a redesigned cabin that provides 360-degree kinetic energy threat protection and blast protection, plus improved vehicle agility and streamlined maintenance and sustainment.
QinetiQ has worked with GM to develop a hybrid-electric light tactical vehicle concept that demonstrates how electrification can enhance the competitive advantage of military land vehicles. This innovative electric drive system uses commercial-off-the-shelf technology to provide fuel economy, extended range capability, increased acceleration and operational stealth – all while remaining compatible with existing HUMVEE platforms.
Production
The military vehicle commonly known as the Humvee – or HMMWV, for its full name, High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle – is an extremely versatile and rugged workhorse. It has largely replaced other, older Military light utility vehicles like the jeep and the Vietnam-era M151 1/4-short-ton MUTT, and is used by the United States Army as well as by many international governments. The Humvee’s high profile use during the Gulf War helped it become very popular, and its use as a civilian automobile led to the creation of the Hummer automotive brand.
The Humvee has a number of unique features that set it apart from similar vehicles. Its body is constructed of welded aluminum, which provides premium strength and durability while reducing its overall weight. Its aluminum construction also makes it rust-resistant, which is critical for the off-road performance of the Humvee. The HMMWV has 16 inches of ground clearance and can climb hills or ford rivers up to 60 inches deep. Its off-road capabilities are further enhanced by its double A-arm front and rear independent suspension, coil springs, and hydraulic double-acting shock absorbers.
Each HMMWV contains around 44 interchangeable parts, making it relatively easy for mechanics to repair them. In addition, the vehicle is designed for long periods of operation with little maintenance.
The HMMWV has become a workhorse of the US military, and it is widely considered to be one of the best-engineered vehicles of its kind. Although the newer JLTV is being developed to replace it, the Humvee will remain in service for years to come. The Army is determining how to prioritize its tactical wheeled vehicle fleet in order to find the right balance between prioritizing the new platforms and maintaining and enhancing the existing vehicles.
Uses
The Humvee, or HMMWV for short, is one of the most versatile and important vehicles in the US military. Manufactured by AM General, the four-wheel drive, diesel tactical vehicle is at the core of the Army’s wheeled vehicle fleet. It has a variety of different configurations that can be used for everything from transporting supplies to armed patrols. The HMMWV is also very modular, with all variations sharing a common chassis, engine and transmission. This makes it possible for a single MOS 91B, or Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, to work on any of the different versions without needing additional specialization. The Humvee is also highly portable, with the ability to be sling-loaded or air dropped from aircraft and can fit up to three in a C-130 Hercules and 15 in a C-5A Galaxy.
The vehicle was originally designed for non-combat duties, but it has taken a beating in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a result, the Pentagon has gone on an armoring spree, hoping to make the vehicle more suitable for combat in urban environments. Some experts believe this will be necessary to keep the Humvee viable, as modern warfare takes place in more urban settings and less rugged terrain.
The newest Humvee, the HMMWV Charge, is an example of how the military is adapting the vehicle to fit its changing needs. The hybrid-electric light tactical vehicle uses Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) components to achieve a high level of operational stealth and energy efficiency. When stationary, the HMMWV Charge can operate completely off of electric power. When accelerating, it utilizes the internal combustion engine, electric motor and battery to achieve its acceleration requirements.
Future
The JLTV will eventually replace many Humvees, but it won’t do so on a one-for-one basis. That’s because the new trucks are heavier, and therefore less agile. Plus, they’re designed for a different kind of threat than the improvised explosive device that drove the military to switch to Humvees in the 1980s.
The Marine Corps is still planning to keep thousands of Humvees in service through 2050. Some will be in rear-echelon roles; others will continue to serve on the front lines. A quick search on DVIDS will turn up a host of photos and videos showing the Humvee in action all over the world.
But if Congress keeps slashing the Corps’ vehicle budget with temporary funding measures, those Humvees could be at serious risk, according to senior Marine officials. Unless they get some major upgrades, the Marines won’t be able to protect their Humvees from powerful roadside bombs.
That’s where the Northrop Grumman refits come in. They’d cost $145,000 apiece and add more armor, plus updates to the vehicle’s power train, suspension, dashboard, hydraulics and central tire inflation system. It’s a “bumper-to-bumper modernization” that the company hopes can help keep some of its older Humvees in service through 2040 or even beyond, an official tells Task & Purpose.
It’s going to be tough for the Army to find a way to make the JLTV both light and survivable. It’s already nearly double the weight of a Humvee and carries twice as much payload. That’s why the military will need to cut down on the amount of fuel it uses, too. The Army alone consumes about 622.5 trillion Btu of diesel per year, a figure that’s 13 times more than the U.S. Postal Service — the second-highest-consuming government agency.