Army Humvees Facts

The high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) roars off the production line ready for action.

Designed to replace several outdated American military vehicles, the high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, or Humvee, has been in production since 1985. Originally intended as a light utility vehicle, there have been more than 20 variants of this highly customisable, modular platform. Serving over 40 nations, around 200,000 Humvees have been built to date. Able to carry and deploy almost anything, from fully armed troops to anti-aircraft missiles, the Humvee is an open-topped scout vehicle, an armoured personnel carrier, ambulance, a TOW missile launcher, a communication centre, a heavy machine gun platform and whatever else the situation requires.

The latest models are unrivalled in their off-road capability, and are based around a 6.5-litre (1.7-gallon) V8 Turbo diesel engine which produces 142 kilowatts (190 brake horsepower) and 515 Newtons per metre (380 pounds force per foot) of torque. This power is sent to all four wheels through an electronically controlled four-speed automatic gearbox, using a series of differentials.

The drivetrain is rather unconventional as the wheels themselves contain portal-geared hubs, which not only double the torque generated, but due to the offset driveshaft inputs, enable the vehicle’s ground clearance to be significantly higher than a regular centre axle would allow. This innovative drivetrain, coupled with independent suspension and 94-centimetre (37-inch) tyres, allow the Humvee to travel at 113 kilometres (70 miles) per hour or to climb slopes of 60 per cent – though some Humvees have been seen to climb near-vertical walls! The internal environment is fully air conditioned, while a deep-water fording kit allows the vehicle to cross rivers almost completely submerged. These capabilities, combined with design features such as the sturdy chassis, corrosion resistance plus high commonality and interchangeable parts, enable the Humvee to be flexible, dependable and rugged even in the harshest of environments.

Armour options

Since the Humvee was introduced, soldiers have demanded increasingly more protection from it. Early versions had fabric doors and no roof, but the demands of Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated the need for improved armour. Many improvised solutions have been tried in the field in recent years, including sandbags and welding scrap metal to the chassis. However, heavily armoured versions are now available from the factory, as are retrofit kits, which include under-body plates, heavy doors, armoured seats, weapon shields and many other additions. The latest iterations offer the crew protection from assault rifle bullets, some air-burst artillery, and up to 5.4 kilograms (12 pounds) of explosives, thanks to thick steel armour, energy-absorbing coatings and mounting, and reinforced glass. All of this comes at a price, though, with many Humvees carrying 907-1,814 kilograms (2,000-4,000 pounds) of armour, which can only be taken in place of cargo and equipment. Work is underway to make the Humvee more resistant to buried explosives, as the large flat floor is not effective against these.

Packing a punch

There was always a requirement to arm the Humvee to provide fire support and self-defence, but the variety of weapons it can carry is astonishing. Starting with a choice of general purpose machine guns, most weapons can be fired manually or fitted to the remotely operated CROWS turret system. The most common weapon choice is the legendary M2 Browning .50 Calibre. However, should there be a need to raze everything in sight to the ground, the gunner can unleash 100 shots per second using the awesome M134 minigun. For even bigger bangs, the 40-millimetre (1.6-inch) grenade machine gun can launch 60 high-explosive grenades per minute. Should an enemy bring a tank to the fight, the Humvee can launch the TOW anti-armour missile from 3.8 kilometres (2.3 miles) away, or in situations requiring a little bit of overkill, the Humvee is designed to tow a Howitzer cannon. The ultimate version, however, has to be the Boeing-developed Avenger, which carries up to eight stinger antiaircraft missiles, with proposals for additional weapons including a one-kilowatt laser.

Humvee facts

Hard target – Armour configurations vary from having doors that weigh more than a heavy weight boxer to having no doors at all.

Lightweight – Riveted and bonded aluminium body panels give good strength, low weight and flexibility to help off-road performance.

Rugged chassis – All Humvees share common components to help serviceability, including the chassis frame.

4×4 – Three differentials ensure power goes to the wheels at all times, giving great traction.