The military campaign "Desert Storm" brought fame to one car, the existence of which, perhaps, someone guessed, but did not know for sure. After the end of the first war in Iraq, the world saw unusual machines at the military equipment parade in Nevada. And the footage shown on television showed how they can ride quickly and gracefully across the Iraqi desert. So the Americans learned about the existence of a military transport vehicle with the complex name HMMWV.
The world saw this car. Among those who watched was an Austrian already well-known at that time, who decided to become rich and famous at the expense of Hollywood, whom we know primarily as the Terminator. Arnold Schwarzenegger liked the car so much that he turned to the US Department of Defense with a request to sell him one such brutal equipment, but received an unequivocal refusal, they say, the car is purely military and cannot be sold to civilians, even to terminators. Since the front door is closed, Schwarzenegger decided to enter from the back porch and turned directly to the manufacturer - the giant, but little-known then and now, AM General company. Having broken a little, the company sold him a car and immediately attended to the HMMWV certification for civilian life. Moreover, following the Terminator, other well-known and wealthy people also decided to acquire this miracle of the automotive industry. This is how the Hummer H1 was born. But this is another story of the machine, the development of which went its own way, while the Armed Forces continued to mercilessly exploit the HMMWV, or, as the people call it, the Humvee. One fine day, a small party of them arrived to serve in our steppes and deserts as part of some military units of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. I had a chance to ride one of them.
HMMWV looks very brutal: not a single smooth line, everything is somehow parallel-perpendicular. The windshield is vertical, the roof is flat, only the hood with giant air intakes is slightly sloping. However, the word "hood" is not entirely appropriate. It identifies the engine compartment cover. But the HMMWV does not have a motor under it, its place was taken by a giant radiator of the cooling system, and the power unit itself, along with the transmission, is shifted back relative to the front axle and, one might say, are located in the cabin under a huge casing.
The rear of the car is assigned to the cargo compartment, covered with a metal cover, but access to it from the outside is inconvenient. Firstly, it is very high, and secondly, the spare wheel interferes. The spare tire, of course, can be folded back, but these are unnecessary movements that take up time, which is always not enough in the army. The M1151A1 modification that we got for testing has no armor, but it is equipped with some elements that increase the survivability of the vehicle in combat conditions, both from a firing point of view and an all-terrain point of view. For the first, a turret is provided, on which a machine gun of 12.7 or 7.62 mm is installed, that is, the Humvee is capable of defending itself not only by avoiding shelling. The shooter stands in the cabin and can fire from the hatch.
To increase off-road capabilities, a winch with a pulling force of 8 tons and a tire inflation system are installed. And the wheels are shod with Goodyear Wrangler MT / R off-road tires measuring 37 × 12.50 R16.5. In general, despite the gigantic external dimensions, the Humvee's interior is cramped and can accommodate only four people, including the driver. The crew includes a driver, a senior vehicle and two paratroopers. But the entire center of the interior is occupied by a huge box, under which, in fact, the engine and transmission are located. Ergonomics … absent. But all the main controls are located near the driver of the car. The main thing is to get used to their location. At the front at the bottom there is a small switch that can be used to adjust the tire pressure. Moreover, separately for the front and rear wheels. Lighting control is assigned to a small console with three toggle switches to the left of the steering column. Until you deal with them, the night may pass. Appliances are scattered in creative disarray on the panel. Fortunately, the steering wheel is in place, although it is shifted to the left, forcing the driver to press against the door.
Convenience, however, is there. In order not to get a heatstroke during operation in steppes and deserts, even an air conditioner is provided in the Humvee! The ride is not bad. Independent suspension of all wheels with giant strokes for both compression and rebound allows you to literally rush through the steppe or desert without the risk of shaking the soldiers inside. But some points remind that the military service is alien to such concepts as comfort. There is no sound insulation. The engine, which is, after all, a giant 6.5-liter V-8 diesel, growls loudly. The transmission whines. The metallic interior rattles without a hint of any decorative upholstery. But the most interesting thing is that the doors will open on the go, if they are not closed tightly and fixed with a special latch. This happened during our tests. Not the most pleasant feeling, considering that the driver literally pushes against the door due to the peculiarities of the landing. In general, it is worth wearing a seat belt not only for the sake of compliance with traffic rules, but also in order not to fall out.
Driving the HMMWV is fun. However, I personally would not want to drive it on city streets, even if not during rush hour. The first thing I didn't like was the visibility. Although the HMMWV is not an armored car, it provides normal visibility only straight ahead. To view to the left, for example when turning, bend so that the thick A-pillar with a rear-view mirror falls out of sight. The road situation from the side can be seen only after you tilt your head - the side window is very narrow, and the upper edge is located at chin level if you sit straight. But poor visibility is relevant only when driving in the city, and this happens very rarely with this car. In the steppe and desert there is no time to look around, especially since most of the movements of HMMWVs are made in columns, and not by single transport.
Another thing that would prevent a quiet ride in a dense city stream is the very large size of the car. In "Humvee" dimensions are poorly felt. You have to maneuver, as they say, by touch. Not for cramped conditions a car. This, by the way, has been shown by practice. During the military operations in Somalia, it became clear that in urban conditions the Humvee is sluggish and is more of a tasty target for the enemy than an effective vehicle for the fighters.
But in the open spaces HMMWV, as they say, reveals its soul and sings. The dynamics, oddly enough, seemed weak. Of course, I did not take measurements, however, it feels like an ordinary military UAZ is much more dynamic. However, be that as it may, "Humvee", albeit slowly, but accelerates.
As conceived by the designers, the HMMWV is designed to control the vehicle by a wounded soldier. This seems to be true. The steering is very light. The automatic transmission works smoothly, switches smoothly. The only thing that you may not like in the car is that the two pedals - gas and brake - are too close to each other. There is enough space at the bottom, the pedals could have been spread further from each other, otherwise even in civilian shoes, no, no, both pedals were pressed. And if there are ankle boots with a powerful wide sole on your feet?
Let's summarize
The delivery of HMMWV to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan can be considered a good deal. This military transport vehicle is not very relevant in the mountains and forests, but in the open space of the steppes and deserts, which occupy more than half of the entire territory of Kazakhstan, it can be irreplaceable.
Liked:
excellent cross-country ability
Contrary to various rumors, the Humvee has a very high cross-country ability and is capable of overcoming unthinkable obstacles.
powerful engine
The American diesel engine pulls, with an even characteristic of the moment.
Did not like:
poor visibility
It is very difficult to observe what is happening from the side of the car, and it is almost impossible to see through the mirrors what is happening behind
cabin capacity
Such a huge car - and only four seats. Not enough. For example, the Turkish armored personnel carrier Otokar Cobra, built on the base and units "Humvee", has 7 seats
Milestones in history
In 1979, the US Department of Defense announced a competition for the creation of a multipurpose vehicle with a high degree of mobility - the High Mobility Multy-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV for short, which gave the car its name. This car had to meet many requirements of the military, among which one can note the ability to move over rough terrain, the ability to install various weapons, from a heavy machine gun to a rocket launcher, a clearance of at least 400 mm. And the combat vehicle, at the request of the military, was obliged to overcome a vertical wall with a height of at least 46 cm, and a ford up to 76 cm deep.
It was always profitable to get a government order from the army and in all countries. However, only three companies took part in the competition: AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne. Initially, the conditions for the companies were unequal. The second had some developments, the third had already created a ready-made prototype of the Cheetah, which later became known as the Lamborghini LM002. Only AM General got down to work from scratch.
The first prototype, bearing the XM966 index, was taken by AM General for testing in the Nevada desert, at the Nevada Automotive Test Center, in July 1980. Two years later, in April 1982, 5 machines were manufactured for final tests. The cars went into full possession of the US Army for five months. After finishing tests, on March 22, 1983, a contract was signed with AM General, providing for the production of 55 thousand cars over five years. Serial production began in January 1985 at the AM General plant in Indiana.
After the end of the Gulf War, the HMMWV became known to the general public. Orders from civilians poured into the company. In 1992, AM General began producing a civilian version called HUMMER.
And in 1999, AM General sold the rights to the HUMMER brand to General Motors. An agreement was concluded, according to which GM received the rights to the HUMMER brand, the right to sell and distribute the civilian version of the SUV, and AM General retained the right to sell military modifications. In December 2014, the US Army officially announced that it would replace all HMMWVs with new next-generation vehicles, and production of the Humvee should be discontinued in 2015.
Range of motors
Different motors were installed on the HMMWV. Initially, it was a 5.3-liter Chevrolet V8 gasoline engine with a capacity of 160 hp. with. But in 1984 it was replaced by a GM diesel unit, which had the same power, but much more economical.
In 1996, the diesel received a turbocharged version, which increased the power to 180 hp. with.
Each of the engines was divided into two more types - for the army and the marines. The difference was that the latter had fully shielded electrical wiring, which made it possible not to be afraid of deep fords.
Transmission affairs
HMMWV transmission with permanent all-wheel drive and range. The low gear in the transfer case is activated only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and only in neutral gear in the automatic transmission.
To increase the cross-country ability, the design provides for a forced blocking of the center differential, as well as self-locking inter-wheel differentials.
Chassis
Suspension of all wheels of "Humvee" is lever independent. The brakes are ventilated disc brakes on all wheels, but the brakes are located next to the differentials. The steering wheel has a hydraulic booster.
All wheels are connected to a centralized tire inflation system. The system is controlled from the unit located to the right of the driver on the central tunnel.
Specifications
Automobile
Brand, model HMMWV, M1151A1
Made in the USA
Year of issue 2009
Frame body
Type SUV
Number of doors 4
Number of seats 4
Engine
Model GM Detroit Diesel V8
Type diesel V-shaped turbocharged
Longitudinal front arrangement
Fuel injection pump power supply system
Number of cylinders / valves 8/16
Working volume, cc 6450
Maximum power, hp with. (kW) / rpm 180 (132) / 3 400
Maximum torque, Nm / rpm 515/1 700
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed, km / h 113
Transmission
Permanent four-wheel drive
Transmission automatic 4-speed
Suspension
Front independent spring double wishbone
Rear independent spring double wishbone
Brakes
Front ventilated discs
Rear ventilated discs
Dimensions and weight
Clearance, mm 406
Length / width / height, mm 4 570/2 160/1 830
Wheelbase, mm 3 300
Tires 37x12.5 R16.5
Curb weight, kg 2 400
Full weight, kg 3500
Fuel consumption
Combined cycle, l / 100 km 18
Fuel tank volume, l 95
