Versatile truck takes on role of tank in Iraq

The Charlotte Observer ^ | May. 13, 2004 | MARK WASHBURN

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Not since the Army replaced horseshoes with tires has a vehicle proven to be as versatile, reliable and multitasked as the humble Humvee.

Though it was never designed to be a front-line vehicle, the Humvee has found itself increasingly in the crossfire in Iraq because it's speedy -- 65 mph on a straightaway is well within the reach of the 2 1/2-ton ultimate muscle machine -- and easily adapted to patrol and convoy security duties.

Since the fall of Baghdad in 2003, Humvees have been the primary defender of the convoys supplying coalition forces in Iraq, both a high-profile and risky role for the vehicles.

Combat units including infantry or artillery routinely ran armored Humvees. But transportation companies -- such as the Charlotte-based 812th Transportation Battalion, which administers the movement of the supply lines from a base on the Kuwait-Iraq border -- were assigned Humvees with canvas sides because their use was expected to be largely administrative.

As those unprotected vehicles swung into the role of guarding convoys roaring across Iraq, they became priority targets for insurgents' bullets and bombs.

Turrets were cut into the Humvee roofs so machine gunners could poke out and provide better defensive coverage against attackers. After improvised roadside bombs began to take a toll on the escorts and the soldiers, sandbags were added to the floorboards of the vehicles to cushion blasts.

Creature comforts are sparse in the Humvee, which locomotes like a skateboard on gravel. Spc. Andrew Burquest of Charlotte, an Army reservist on duty with the 812th, took the machine gun turret for his first convoy escort in March, standing for most of the 340-mile mission, bugs pelting his face mask at 60 mph.

"There's a slight breeze," Burquest reported with a touch of sarcasm from his perch as the convoy took a pit stop. "Still, it's better than sitting in the cramped jump seat."

As attacks on convoys -- and consequently on the Humvees -- increased this spring, field commanders intensified requests for conversion kits to add steel side doors to protect soldiers on escort duty.

In March, a broad program was ordered to replace canvas sides with steel doors in the transportation units and the conversions began at once.

The Humvee joined the military in 1985, replacing the quarter-ton Jeep as the workhorse transport and established itself as a mobile jack-of-all-trades. Humvees were soon adapted as ambulances, missile carriers, scout vehicles and troop carriers.

At Camp Carolina Crossroads, where the 812th is based, Humvees even serve as fire trucks. Luxury models have entered the civilian market at price tags reaching upwards of $100,000.

Hail the Humvee

At 7 feet wide and 15 feet long, the military's diesel-powered, V-8 Humvees have a three-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive and disc brakes. They have a range of about 350 miles on a tank of fuel. They are technically known as HMMWVs (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles), but the affectionate Humvee title has stuck.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Wounded soldiers say slow Army trucks left them exposed to attack

Their congressman, Rep. John Sweeney, is making his own inquiries into why the soldiers were not in an armored vehicle the day they were attacked.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Treadhead ping

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Treadhead ping

[Jalapeno]

I think the Humvee is the wrong vehicle for the job over there, and has contributed to the KIA count. They were not meant to survive such ambushes.

[Old Sarge]

"My Hummer ain't got no gun rack, it's got a gun mount!"
- Old First Sergeant of Sarge's Aquaintance

I like what the Hummer can do. I also like what the Stryker can do. Both vehicles can perform multiplpe missions, and I can't see losing the Hummer anytime soon - we had the old M151's in the inventory up until 1988, anywho.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The HMMWV is a highly successful family of vehicles. We could use a smaller, lighter vehicle in the 1/4-Ton class for many things we are using 1 1/4-Ton HMMWV's for. That is not economy of force. Note that the M-Gator is almost exactly the same size as the Willys Jeep.

The M1114 is an OK vehicle for some missions, suboptimal for other missions and a poor choice for far too many missions. Everything concerning Up Armored Humvees has become totally politicized. Political pressure has forced the Army to buy more, to the great benefit of the sole source contractor, O'Gara-Hess, while other, more capable vehicles without powerful patrons and well orchestrated media campaigns are ignored entirely or bought in small quantity.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Vest drive gets in gear

Humvees may already be 'up-armored'

OCALA - Law enforcement agencies from around Florida contributed Wednesday to a campaign spearheaded by Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean to collect used bullet-proof vests that Army Reserve troops in Iraq could use to pad Humvees against enemy fire.

Dean sent out an appeal for the vests after receiving a letter from 1st Sgt. Fred Chisholm, a member of the 351st Military Police Company. Chisholm, a Marion County deputy when not on military duty, asked Dean to send the Kevlar vests to help protect soldiers traveling in Humvee military vehicles.

The vests, while still usable, were slated to be retired from service because they were outside the manufacturer's five-year warranty period

Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, said such armor wasn't included in the Bush administration's $87 billion spending request for the Iraq war, nor in a $25 billion supplemental request.

"They didn't request the armor for the Humvees," she said. "We should not send our men and women into harm's way without the proper equipment that they need."

"The first sergeant had some ingenuity, like soldiers have had for generations, and they're trying to get some more protection,"

Now Corrine Brown and Teddy Kennedy and Evan Bayh and Dick Durbin are oh, so solicitous of our troops' well-being.

[Darksheare]

Only65?
According to the New York State Police, they clocked us towing a howitzer to the Kensico Dam Plaza doing 90.
Spc Carlson merely sped up until traffic wasn't passing us left and right anymore.
Since the speedo stops at 50 (55 can be guessed at) we have no idea what speed we were really going at.
But the Staties were yelling to us over our tire and engine noise that we were doing 90, and to have a nice day.
(I highly doubt we were doing 90. 67 maybe.)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The M1114 is heavy. Your prime mover wasn't an M1114, was it?

[Darksheare]

Nope.
M1097.
(Still heavy, but it did get above 60 that I know of. I DOUBT that we really were doing 90 like the State Police said, well, yelled over to us.)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Engineered Support Receives $10.6 Million in Additional Funding for Up-Armoring of Military Vehicles

Well, Corrine, what are we buying this with?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The changing needs illustrate how the battlefield is evolving over time. Five months ago, troops wanted better protection for their Humvees and more body armor. But as the improvised explosive devices become more sophisticated and prevalent, forces started demanding armor to line the bottom of their vehicles instead of only the tops and sides.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

This is why a purpose-built armored vehicle with a V-shaped, blast deflecting hull is better than a flat bottomed armored limousine. The M1114 takes that right up through the floor boards.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

But the Staties were yelling to us over our tire and engine noise that we were doing 90, and to have a nice day.

Lol!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks for staying on top of this hot political issue.

The DoD knows what's going on (did you hear the troops cheer for Gen. Myers when he praised the CinC's leadership today in Iraq?).

Pinging the crew to the latest spin, and informed FReeper commentary.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Darksheare]

Like I said to Cannoneer, I doubt we were doing above 67, maybe 73. (I'll buy 73, I was sitting in the back watching the howitzer we were towing wiggle left & right and hop on one wheel..)

I think the staties were messing with us.
But, if we really WERE doing 90, I'm impressed.

[SAMWolf]

HumVee bump

[ExSoldier]

Whatever happend to the old Gamma Goat vehicle? What a POS! I hated them with a passion. For convoy security, methinks a Stryker would be better served than a Humvee. Of course nothin' beats an Abrams, either!