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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Ubiquitous in the United States Army are many variants of the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), normally called the "Humvee", or sometimes the "Hummer", although the latter is a commercial, street-legal version. The HMMWV are light trucks that complement the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck

Humvee variants include:

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M998	Cargo/Troop Carrier
M1038	Cargo/Troop Carrier, with winch
M1043	Armament carrier
M1044	Armament carrier, with winch
M1045	BGM-71 TOW carrier (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile)
M1046	TOW Carrier, with winch
M997	Ambulance, basic armor 4-Litter
M1035	Ambulance, 2-Litter
M1037	Shelter Carrier
M1042	Shelter Carrier, with winch
M1097	Heavy HMMWV (payload of 4,400 pounds)

Each of these can have variant loads, and the entire series is being improved.

The Armament Carrier versions have an interchangeable mount for a .50 caliber machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

Issues

HMMWVs, which first entered service in 1985, were developed during the Cold War when improvised explosive devices (IEDs) similar threats to non-combat were not a a major concern. None of the vehicles, in fact, were designed to stop a full-power rifle bullet, although the ambulance and armament carrier had fragment protection. ^[1]

IEDs have far more power than a rifle bullet. Adding armor to a vehicle not designed for it has presented problems in the field; the engine, suspension and cooling are not designed to carry the weight of the additional protection. In some cases, it also makes the vehicle top-heavy and more dangerous to maneuver. Cooling is of special concern in environments such as Iraq.

With more than 50% of the Army’s total tactical wheeled vehicle fleet nearing the end of its useful life, a successor may be needed, although the HMMWV is still in production. One option is a more survivable variant, the Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which could be available by FY2009. These have more purpose-built protection than HMMWV's "up-armored" in the field.

Successor

The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are developing the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is under development, preferably with a lesser number of versions than the 11 HMMWV variants.^[2]

At present, the Army and Marines may be continuing HMMWV production for low-risk missions, producing the MRAP, and developing the new JTLV. Even with the potential of large export sales, questions have been raised about the need for three programs.

References