Test drive HMMWV M1151A1
The military campaign "Storm in the Desert" brought fame to one car, the existence of which, perhaps, who guessed, but did not know for sure. After the end of the first war in Iraq at the parade of military equipment in Nevada, the world saw unusual cars. And the television cadres showed how they can quickly and gracefully ride through the Iraqi desert. So the Americans learned about the existence of a military transport vehicle with a complex name HMMWV.
The world saw this car. Among those who watched was an Austrian who was already 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 appealed to the US Department of Defense with a request to sell him one such brutal technique, but received an unequivocal refusal, they say, the car is purely military and not subject to sale to civilians, even to terminators. Once the main entrance is closed, Schwarzenegger decided to go from the back porch and turned directly to the manufacturer - a giant, but little-known then and now AM General company. A little broken, the company sold him a car and immediately attended to the certification of HMMWV for civilian life. Especially since, following the Terminator, other well-known and wealthy people also decided to acquire this automotive miracle. So came the Hummer H1. But this is another story machines, the development of which went on its way, while the sun continued to mercilessly exploit HMMWV, or, as they call it by the people, Hamvi. One fine day their small party arrived to serve in our steppes and deserts as part of some military units of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. On one of them I had a chance to ride.
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 marks the engine compartment cover. But the HMMWV doesn’t have a motor under it, a giant radiator of the cooling system took its place, and the power unit together with the transmission is shifted back relative to the front axle and can be said to be located in the cabin under the huge casing.
The back of the car is given to the cargo compartment, covered with a metal lid, but access to it outside is inconvenient. Firstly, the spare wheel is very high, secondly. The reserve, of course, can be thrown back, but these are unnecessary movements, which take time, which is always lacking in the army service. The M1151A1 modification that got to the test has no armor, however, it is equipped with some elements that increase the survivability of the machine in combat conditions from both the fire and all-terrain point of view. For the first one, there is a turret, on which a 12.7 or 7.62 caliber machine gun is mounted, i.e., the Humvee is able to defend not only by avoiding shelling. The shooter is in the cabin and can fire from the hatch.
A winch with 8 tons of traction and a tire inflation system are installed to increase the capacity of off-road vehicles. And the wheels are shod in Goodyear Wrangler MT / R off-road tires of 37 × 12.50 R16.5 dimension. In general, despite the gigantic external dimensions, the Humvee is cramped and seats only four people, including the driver. The crew includes a driver, a senior car 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. There is a small switch at the front that can be used to regulate tire pressure. And 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. While you deal with them, maybe a night will pass. Instruments are scattered in a creative mess on the panel. Fortunately, the steering wheel is in place, although it is shifted to the left, forcing the driver to cling to the door.
Convenience, however, is present. In order not to get a heat stroke when operating in the steppes and deserts, even a conditioner is provided in the Humvee! Smooth ride is not bad. Independent suspension of all wheels with giant strokes, both in compression and in rebound, allows you to literally sweep across the steppe or desert without the risk of shaking the fighters inside. But some moments remind that such service as comfort is alien to the military service. There is no sound insulation. The engine, and this is after all a giant V-shaped diesel "Eight" volume 6.5 liters, growls loudly. Transmission howls. A metal salon without a hint of any decorative upholstery rattles. But the most interesting thing is that the doors will open on the move, unless they are closed tightly and fixed with a special latch. This happened during our tests. Not the most pleasant sensations, given that the driver, because of the characteristics of the landing, literally piles on the door. In general, it is worth being fastened in the car not only for the sake of observance of traffic rules, but also not to fall out.
Driving HMMWV is interesting. However, personally, I would not want to ride it on city streets, even if it was not at rush hour. The first thing that did not like - visibility. HMMWV, though not an armored car, but provides normal visibility only strictly forward. For a review to the left, for example when turning, it is necessary to bend so that a thick front desk with a rear-view mirror falls out of sight. The side road can only be seen after tilting the head - the side window is very narrow, and the upper edge is located at the level of the chin, if you sit straight. But poor visibility is relevant only when driving in the city, and this happens extremely rarely with this car. In the steppe and desert, there is no time to look around, especially as most of the movements of the HMMWV are carried out in columns, rather than by a single transport.
Another thing that would prevent a quiet ride in a dense urban stream, a very large size of the car. In the "Humvee" poorly felt dimensions. Maneuver has to, as they say, to the touch. Not for cramped conditions machine. This, by the way, showed and practice. During combat operations in Somalia, it became clear that in urban environments, the Humvee is clumsy and is rather a tasty target for the enemy than an efficient vehicle for the fighters.
But in the open spaces HMMWV, as they say, opens the soul and sings. The dynamics, oddly enough, seemed weak. Of course, I didn’t take measurements, but the usual military UAZ seems to be much more dynamic. However, be that as it may, the Humvee, albeit slowly, but accelerates.
As planned by the designers, HMMWV is designed to control the machine by a wounded soldier. This seems to be true. The steering is very light. Automatic transmission works smoothly, switches smoothly. The only thing that the car might not like is that the two pedals are too close to each other - gas and brake. There is enough space at the bottom, it would be possible to separate the pedals away from each other, and even in civilian shoes, no, no, yes, both pedals were pressed. And if the feet are berets with a powerful wide sole?
We summarize
Deliveries of HMMWV in 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 steppes and deserts, which occupy more than half of the entire territory of Kazakhstan, it can be indispensable.
Liked:
excellent cross
Contrary to various rumors, the Humvee has a very high permeability and is able to overcome unimaginable obstacles.
powerful engine
American diesel engine with an equal characteristic of the moment.
Did not like:
poor visibility
It is very difficult to observe what is happening on the side of the car, and you can barely see through the mirrors what is happening behind it.
cabin capacity
Such a huge car - and only four seats. Not much. For example, the Turkish armored personnel carrier Otokar Cobra, built on the base and Humvi units, has 7 seats
Milestones of history
In 1979, the US Department of Defense announced a competition for the creation of a multi-purpose vehicle with a high degree of mobility - 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 the ability to travel over rough terrain, the ability to install various weapons, from an easel machine gun to a rocket launcher, ground clearance of at least 400 mm can be noted. At the request of the military, the war machine was also obliged to overcome a vertical wall with a height of at least 46 cm, and a ford to a depth of 76 cm.
Get the state order from the army was always profitable and in all countries. However, only three companies participated in the competition: AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne. Initially, the conditions of the companies were unequal. The second had some developments, the third had already created a ready-made prototype Cheetah, which later became known as the Lamborghini LM002. Only AM General began work with a clean slate.
The first prototype, wearing the XM966 index, was introduced by AM General to tests in the Nevada desert, at the Nevada Automotive Test Center, in July 1980. Two years later, in April 1982, 5 machines for final testing were manufactured. The cars came to the full disposal of the US Army for five months. After the final 22 test in March 1983, a contract was signed with AM General to produce 55 thousands of machines for five years. Mass production began in January at 1985-th at AM General's plant in Indiana.
After the end of the Persian Gulf War, the HMMWV became known to the general public. The company showered orders from civilians. In 1992, AM General began producing a civilian version called the HUMMER.
And in 1999, AM General sells the rights to the HUMMER brand to General Motors. An agreement was concluded, according to which GM obtained the rights to the HUMMER brand, the right to market and distribute the civilian version of an SUV, and AM General retained the right to sell military modifications. In December 2014, the US Army officially announced the replacement of all HMMWVs with the next generation of new vehicles, and the production of the Humvee should be stopped in the 2015 year.
Gamma Motors
On the HMMWV installed different motors. Originally, it was a Chevrolet V8 gasoline engine with a volume of 5.3 liters and a capacity of 160 liters. with. But in the 1984, it was replaced with a GM diesel engine, which had the same power, but much more economical.
In the 1996, the diesel engine received a turbocharged version, which increased the power to 180 l. with.
Each of the engines was divided into two types - for the army and marines. The difference was that the latter had completely shielded electrical wiring, which made it possible not to be afraid of deep fords.
Transmission Cases
Transmission HMMWV with permanent all-wheel drive and dual ratio. The low gear in the transfer case is activated only after the vehicle has completely stopped and only in neutral gear in the automatic transmission.
To increase the patency, the design provides for the forced locking of the center differential, as well as self-locking cross-wheel differentials.
Chassis
All-wheel suspension “Hummy” lever independent. The brakes are ventilated discs on all wheels, but the brakes are located next to the differentials. The steering wheel has a power steering.
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.
Technical specifications
car
Make, model HMMWV, M1151A1
USA production
Year of release 2009
Body frame
SUV type
Number of doors 4
Number of seats 4
Engine
Model GM Detroit Diesel V8
Type diesel V-shaped turbocharged
Location front longitudinal
Fuel injection system
Number of cylinders/valves 8/16
Working volume, cm cube. 6 450
Maximum power, l. With. (kW)/r/min 180 (132)/3
Maximum torque, Nm / rpm 515/1 700
Dynamic characteristics
The maximum speed, km / h 113
Трансмиссия
Drive permanent four-wheel drive
Transmission automatic 4-speed
Suspension
Front independent spring double wishbone
Rear independent spring double-lever
Тормоза
Front disc ventilated
Rear ventilated discs
Dimensions and weight
Clearance, mm 406
Length/width/height, mm 4 570/2 160/1 830
Wheel base, mm 3 300
Tires 37x12.5 R16.5
Curb weight, kg 2 400
Gross weight, kg 3 500
Fuel consumption
Combined cycle, l/100 km 18
Fuel tank capacity, l 95
Information