Whether you’re a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger or love military vehicles, owning your very own Humvee can be a dream come true. But before you buy one, it’s important to understand what it’s all about.
The Army and Marine Corps are currently replacing the Humvee with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The JLTV has better protection against roadside bombs and off-road obstacles. Click Humvee For Sale to learn more.
The military vehicle known as the Humvee has conquered foreign battlefields sub, urban soccer fields, and everything in between. But now that gas prices are high and warfare is evolving, the Humvee has reached a crossroads. Will it remain a powerful symbol of American might or be replaced by something more efficient and effective?
The story of the Humvee began in 1983 when the Pentagon awarded a contract to AM General Corporation to develop 55,000 High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles or HMMWVs. Also known as “Humvees,” the vehicles entered the public consciousness after they were used in the 1989 invasion of Panama to overthrow dictator Manuel Noriega and again in the Persian Gulf War in 1991.
Since their introduction, the vehicles have been modified in countless ways to suit the needs of various combat missions. They’ve been scout vehicles, armored personnel carriers, ambulances, and even equipped with a roof-mounted tubular-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) missile launcher.
Despite their many uses, there were always limitations on how much armor the vehicles could provide and they were vulnerable to roadside improvised explosive devices. In response, the military created the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program, which designed vehicles with V-shaped armor plated hulls to deflect bomb explosions up and away from the vehicle. These vehicles became the standard for combat patrols in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In recent years, Humvees have continued to morph into a variety of other configurations to meet the ever-changing demands of the battlefield. The latest versions are equipped with a new, more powerful engine and a lighter chassis that’s less likely to suffer from the kind of catastrophic structural failures that plagued older models. They’re also designed to be more fuel efficient.
In 2014, the Defense Logistics Agency began selling surplus Humvees to the general American public. But before they can be sold, the vehicles must undergo a process called demilitarization that strips them of their armor and weapons-carrying capability. There were only a handful of Humvees in the private market before this move, and most of them went to Hollywood for movie roles.
The Humvee’s Design
The Humvee is an iconic vehicle for good reason. It’s one of the most rugged off-road vehicles ever produced, able to conquer desert terrain and even traverse bodies of water. It’s also a versatile vehicle that can be configured for a number of missions and purposes, including transporting equipment, fighting fires, and patrolling the streets of cities.
The military’s HMMWV was a smash hit from the moment it entered service in 1991. It was a juggernaut that easily overpowered enemy forces on rocky terrain, and it was popular with civilians as well.
Unfortunately, the Mogadishu campaign taught the military that the Humvee’s unarmored design was a serious liability in frontline combat. It was easy for enemies to destroy the trucks with improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, and these were often located in populated areas. The military hastily up-armored the Humvee with bolt-on armor, but these added hundreds of pounds to the vehicles’ already heavy frames and reduced their performance.
By 2007 the military began replacing its aging fleet of Humvees with the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which is more heavily armored and able to withstand roadside bombs. However, the MRAP is still not ready to replace the Humvee on a one-for-one basis, as it is too bulky for most of the same roles that HMMWVs fill.
Currently, the HMMWV remains in service as an advanced firefighting vehicle, cargo hauler, and patrol truck. The vehicles are also used as command and control vehicles, and they can be configured with a variety of weapons systems. The most common configuration is the M998 variant, which has a turret mounted machine gun or Mk19 fully automatic grenade launcher.
The HMMWV can also be used for surveillance and security missions by mounting cameras and other equipment on the body or cab of the vehicle. It can also be configured with a range of power systems to generate, store, and distribute electricity for various uses. This includes the ability to recharge the batteries by capturing energy from braking and suspension motion. The vehicle can also be powered by solar panels and other renewable energy sources.
The Humvee’s Modifications
The Humvee is the Army’s most recognizable vehicle and the first thing that comes to mind when people think of the US military. The vehicle started out as a way to replace the Army’s aging fleet of jeeps, which were limited in their cargo and weapons capabilities. The Humvee was designed to meet the needs of a wide range of missions, and it has proven its worth in conflicts around the world.
The Humvee’s most obvious modification is its addition of armor. The Army added protective plating to the vehicle’s frame, body, and engine. The Humvee’s armor is able to resist bullets, mortar shells, and rocket-propelled grenades. The armor also protects the vehicle’s occupants. The Humvee’s armor has allowed the vehicle to continue operating in dangerous situations, such as during the Battle of Mogadishu.
Another major modification is the Humvee’s ability to carry a variety of different weapons. The vehicle can be equipped with a choice of a gun turret or a remotely operated CROWS system. The weapon systems can be fitted with a variety of different ammunition, including a M134 mini-weapon, a 1.6-inch grenade high-volume weapon, or a TOW anti-armour missile. In case you need a little more firepower, the Humvee can be equipped with a 105 mm howitzer.
The US military’s love for the Humvee has continued to this day. Its latest iteration, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, began replacing older vehicles in 2021. The JLTV boasts better armor, a mine-resistant hull, and longer suspension travel.
It will be interesting to see how the new vehicle evolves over time. One of the Army’s biggest challenges will be to integrate technology into the JLTV that makes it as capable as the Humvee while being lighter and more affordable.
Even though the Army is beginning to replace its Humvees with the JLTV, it is positioning itself to still be able to send thousands of these iconic trucks to allies around the world. Its agreement with AM General is a clear indication that the Army wants to keep these trucks in service. The company is preparing to offer what is basically a build-your-own Humvee derivative called the Multi-Purpose Truck (MPT). This will allow the Army to use the trucks in many different configurations, including protected weapons carriers, cargo transporters, communications vehicles, and ambulances.
The Humvee’s Future
As a vehicle that has dominated its battlegrounds for decades, the Humvee is one of the world’s most iconic pieces of machinery. While many troops are now trading in their trusty old Humvees for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and other state-of-the-art new trucks, the Humvee isn’t going anywhere, and will likely be around for a while to come.
During the Cold War, the Humvee’s main task was to ferry soldiers and marines across long stretches of desert terrain. And that it did, with ease. But as the military entered the modern wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it became clear that the Humvee was ill-equipped for these kinds of missions. The trucks’ aluminum bodies were like tissue paper in the face of rocket-propelled grenades and roadside improvised explosive devices, even with added armor.
The Army was in need of a lighter, more maneuverable truck that could carry more soldiers and their gear to more locations at once. So, they shopped around for something that would replace the Humvee. And, as National Defense magazine notes, this isn’t a simple task. “Designing a lightweight tactical vehicle that can carry more people, evade roadside bombs, and keep up with the rapid movements of modern warfare is a goal that defies the laws of physics.”
So, what will be the replacement for the Humvee? Some experts think it will be an all-new, hybrid-electric version of the JLTV, which will provide greater range capability, faster acceleration, operational stealth, and exportable power. This will be possible thanks to a conventional internal combustion engine paired with an electric motor and battery. This vehicle will also offer better fuel economy, improved ergonomics and comfort, and the ability to incorporate Commercial-Off-The-Shelf components.
While the Humvee isn’t going away, it is becoming less of a combat vehicle and more of an expeditionary vehicle. And that isn’t a bad thing. After all, it’s no secret that the US military has a lot of places to go and things to do. And there’s no better way to do that than in a truck that can handle anything.