The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General, a heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend-Indiana, USA . The vehicle has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151, M561, and other light trucks. Primarily used by the United States military, it is also used by a number of other countries and organizations and in civilian adaptations (Hummer).
The HMMWV was designed primarily for personnel and light cargo transport behind front lines. Like the previous Jeep, the basic HMMWV (M998) has no armor or protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Nevertheless, losses were relatively low in conventional operations. With the rise of asymmetric warfare and low intensity conflicts, the military recognized a need for a more protected HMMWV and AM General developed the M1113, an armoured HMMWV to withstand small arms fire that had been in limited production since 1996. Its design is superior to the M998 with a larger, more powerful turbocharged engine, air conditioning, increased payload, and a strengthened suspension system. More importantly, it boasts a fully armoured passenger area protected by hardened steel and bullet-resistant glass.
There are at least 17 variants of the HMMWV in service with the United States armed forces. HMMWVs serve as cargo/troop carriers, automatic weapons platforms, ambulances (four litter patients or eight ambulatory patients), M220 TOW missile carriers, M119 howitzer prime movers, M1097 Avenger Pedestal Mounted Stinger platforms, MRQ-12 direct air support vehicles, S250 shelter carriers, and other roles. In all configuration, it shares a common engine, chassis and transmission, with 44 interchangeable parts that are used in more than one position. That means fewer training hours are necessary for the mechanics who will maintain it, simplified supply, maintenance and logistics system, and lower life-cycle costs in the long run.
There are many features of the HMMWV; it is capable of fording 2.5 ft (76 cm) normally, or 5 ft (1.5 m) with the deep-water fording kits installed, it includes a winch with maximum load capacity of 6000 lb/2700 kg, 16-inch ground clearance, full-time four-wheel drive, independent suspension, steep approach and departure angles, 60 percent slope-climbing, 40 percent side slope capability, a payload of 2,500 lbs, and is able to be retrofitted with add-on armour. HMMWVs are also air transportable and droppable, and can be sling-loaded by helicopters. Three HMMWVs can be carried in a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and 15 in a C-5A Galaxy. In combat conditions, the HMMWV can be delivered by the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System without the aircraft having to land.
Watch the Hummer Ohio Extreme Squad climb a 6 ft vertical wall!
Humvee Climbing Vertical Wall 2
HMMWV in deep mud
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