ARMORED WARFARE: Gun-Vees Appear in Iraq

StrategyPage.com ^ | August 4, 2003 | Adam Geibel

[overtaxed_canadian]

August 4, 2003: August 2, 2003: At least two battalions in the 4th Infantry Division have modified their equipment to help them adjust to urban warfare by mounting .50 caliber M2 heavy machine guns on the back of their Humvees. These vehicles are now nicknamed "Gun-Vees" and resemble the "technicals" used by Somali fighters first encountered by Americans in Mogadishu ten years ago.

These up gunned vehicles are especially useful in battling the Islamic fighters in alleys and other tight urban spaces, where tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles cannot maneuver. The modified vehicle also provide an element of surprise, being far quieter than the tracked M1 Abrams or M2 Bradley's.

[jriemer]

I'm wondering why mounting a machine gun on a humvee is considered "news" but it's a good excuse to post a picture...

[boxerblues]

We heard from our son over the weekend, they are getting belt fed grenade launchers put on their truck along with 40mm GAFTI's (go ahead f*@#ing try it) guns

[Michael Barnes]

I think what they mean is there is the standard turrent, and the cargo bay now has a weapon. A Browning pointed in each direction could pose a serious punch.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I'm wondering why mounting a machine gun on a humvee is considered "news"

It's a 50-cal, Jim. It'll outgun anything an urban guerilla is likely to sport, it'll knock down a cinderblock wall. I think taking potshots at US troops is going to become a whole lot less fun.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Modern Desert Rats. I like it!

[Blood of Tyrants]

And they are rapidly finding that there are fewer and fewer volunteers to go shoot at the Americans.

[randog]

The Rat Patrol rides again!

[blanknoone]

All that is true, but it is also standard equipment. For example, light scouts (battalion and brigade level) and 2ACR all have hummvees with .50 cals, automatic grenade launchers and in the case of the 2ACR, TOW IIb anti-tank missiles. This is not new...maybe more people have the equipment, but it has been around for quite a while.

[Joe Brower]

You're right, this isn't news. The USMC used these in Somalia in early 1993 when it was "cowboys and indians" and the main mission was simply to get the armed militias off the streets. In addition to the 50bmg having considerably more killing power than the .30cals commonly mounted on "technicals", the Humvee can and did go right up and over the bad guy's vehicles on occasion.

[DoctorMichael]

Whack-a-Raghead Bump.

[2Jedismom]

And it's a nice picture!

I wish I had one of these...

[FreedomPoster]

Ma Deuce / JMB bump!

A true American genius.

[AppyPappy]

I'd rather have a .50 and a .30. Shoot, a gatling gun would be cool.

[Leatherneck_MT]

hmmm

The Marines have had these configurations for years. Mounting not only the .50 call but the Mark 19 40MM Grenade Launcher as well. That's a sweet piece of machinery. 240 Grenades a minute down range :)

[astounded]

This is a variation of the "quad 50s" from the VietNam era. Those, however, were heavily armored, usually mounted on 2-ton trucks. They were used to protect convoys from attacks by the VC and would devastate the muslims - much more firepower than anything available short of tanks. Mounting the 50 cal weapons on Humvees makes them more maneuverable than the 2-tons, however. How are they armoring them - sandbags and kevlar panels from Blackhawks? I would like to see how a 7.62 minigun from a Blackhawk or Little Bird mounted on a HumVee would work - that would make for some real sporting contests...

[bagman]

Wouldn't sandbags add too much weight?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

There's a company in Pennsylvania that mounts 50 caliber machine in guns in SUV's. I think the story was posted about a year ago.

[ColdSteelTalon]

The Rat Patrol is loose... :)