In 1979 , theU.S. Armyissued a postulation for a new fomite blueprint that could receive take standards , including the ability to alter the base vehicle for dissimilar missions . Chrysler Defense , Teledyne Continental and AM General take innovation proposals , and after extensive run and revisions , the Army present AM General a $ 1.2 billion contract to grow theirHigh Mobility Multi - purpose Wheeled Vehicle(HMMWV ) , well know as theHumveeorHummer .
The Hummer plays an integral role in the Army ’s fomite fleet . The U.S.Marines , NavyandAir Forcealso utilize Hummers in various military operations . AM General first pop the question a civilian version of the Hummer in 1992 . In 1999 , GM buy the right to produce vehicles using the Hummer name , so now there are two lines of hummer in production – AM General ’s military vehicles and GM ’s civilian Hummers .
smoke have made a huge shock on both military applications and civilian life style . This various vehicle seems to embody complex – and sometimes contradictory – nonsuch , from useful workhorse to the ultimate expression of machismo . Even as the armed services looks to put back HMMWVs as part of its Future Tactical Truck Systems ( FTTS ) programme , the Hummer continue to be a symbol of the U.S. armed forces ’s presence in fight zones around the man .
In this clause , we ’ll seem at the canonical armed services Hummer and its amazing configurations . We ’ll examine the civilian models – officially known as Hummers – presently on the market . We ’ll also explore the ethnic impact of the Hummer .
In the next section , we ’ll look at the basic military Hummer .
Hummer Specs
By the seventies , Armyofficials were win over that they necessitate to upgrade their fleet of ground vehicles . The Jeep , which was the Army ’s previous general - determination fomite , had outlived its versatility and usefulness in the field . They needed a new , adaptable vehicle that could handle the demands of the acquire nature of scrap environment .
A double A - arm independentsuspensionin the front and rear withhydraulicshock absorber allow the Hummer to tackle unforgiving terrain . It also hastorque - biasing differential and four - rack discbrakes , which give the Hummer the ability to continue moving even when some of the wheels fall back contact with the ground .
The Hummer is a fullyfour - wheel drivevehicle – theenginepowers all four wheels at all clip . It also has clear - differential gears with Torsen differentials . When one wheel begins to drop away , it loses torque . The Torsen differential system senses the departure of torque and increases torsion to the other cycle . match with the brake traction control system , the Humvee ’s Torsen differentials give the fomite incredible off - road capabilities .
AM General equip the Hummer with militarytires , and some Hummers included acentral tyre pomposity system(CTIS ) . With this system , a driver can adjust tire insistency without leaving his hindquarters . By lowering the pressure in the tire , the driver could increase the Hummer ’s clutch on rough aerofoil , which can be handy if you ’re trying to drive up a steep hill address in rock-and-roll . gamy pressure is better when driving on even surfaces – it helps maintain a smooth ride .
heater have a 25 - gal ( 95 - cubic decimetre ) fuel armoured combat vehicle and can go about 300 miles ( 480 kilometers ) before needing to refuel – stand for a basic Hummer receive about 12 mile to the gallon , though heavier Hummer variation are moderately less efficient . As per the Army ’s request , all military Hummers escape on diesel fuel and have anautomatic transmission– the Army wanted all its vehicles to bleed on the same fuel system and felt that automatic transmittal would be easier for new trainees to learn quickly .
The Hummer haspower steeringand includes a 12/24 - volt electric system . Either two or four soldier can model inside the taxi of the vehicle , depending on the variant . consort to AM General , the location of the seats on either side of the driving railroad train helps give the Hummer a low center of gravity .
The vehicle have powerful scrap locks on each of the doors to facilitate keep soldiers safe . regrettably , some soldiers have find it impossible to start the doors if the locks are damage out in the bailiwick . To fix this problem , AM General now include aD - ringon all Hummer doors . The D - closed chain is a loop of metal confiscate to the outside of the Hummer ’s doors and functions as a plaza to bind a cable television or chain . A winch or similar equipment can pull the cablegram , pressure the room access open and letting soldier out of the vehicle .
That ’s the lowdown on the basic Hummer . Using this as a starting platform , AM General produced 15 different HMMWV variants . They plan 44 interchangeable Hummer parts , allowing the Army to modify , maintain and repair vehicles with incredible efficiency , economy and flexibility .
In the next section , we ’ll look at some of the variants of the military Hummer .
Hummer Models
The 15 variations on the basic Hummer model let theArmyto use the same vehicle as atrooporcargo transport , weapons carrier , shelter carrier(a vehicle designed to transport electronic equipment ) orambulance . Some variance look almost identical , while others seem to be all unrelated . All employ the same frame , force train geometry , suspensionand lower body .
The current 15 variations fall into two different broad categories – theA2model series and theExpanded Capacity Vehicle(ECV ) role model . Nine theoretical account are in the A2 serial , include theM1097A2 Cargo / Troop Carrier , theM1097A2 Shelter Carrier , theM997A2 Maxi - Ambulance with Basic Armorand theM1045A2 Armament / TOW Missile Carrier with Supplemental Armor . TheTOWmissileis atube - launch , optically tracked , telegram - steer missiledesigned to countervail enemytanksand aircraft .
The Army has rafts of options when it do to fortify A2 Hummers . Some of the weapon you might incur on one include :
The Army also require some vehicles that could impart heavier payloads without a detrimental effect on thecars’mobility . AM General ’s reply was the ECV serial . TheM1113 ECVis used in special operations missions and as a communication shelter carrier . TheM1114has elevate ballistic protection and is used in military constabulary and explosive disposal charge . TheM1151is an equipping carrier and theM1152can either be used as a troop carrier or shelter carrier . TheM1165is used as acommand and controlvehicle . TheM1116is theU.S. Air Force’svariation on the Hummer , with a larger cargo orbit and turret machine gunner armor .
Just like a commercial-grade vehicle , there ’s some optional equipment you could get on a military Hummer . The options available to both the Hummer and civilian fomite are air conditioning , limited pigment , a severe top , central tyre ostentation systemand a winch . Here are a few of the selection the armed services can include that are definitely not useable on your average solidifying of wheel :
In the next part , we ’ll look at how the Hummer invaded the civilian automobile market .
Civilian Hummers
The American public ’s awareness of the Hummer really unfold in 1991 as Operation Desert Storm dominate day-after-day headlines and newscast . For most Americans , it was the first chance to see theArmy’sHummer in action . Many were intrigued by its broad , brawny pattern , and before recollective people start to require AM General if it planned to produce a commercial version of the Hummer . AM General ’s response was " yes . "
In 1992 , AM General began to produce afour - wheel drivevehicle found off the military Hummer . They market it as " the existence ’s most serious 4x4 . " The Hummer shared many of its military cousin ’s feature , including the brake grip dominance system that gives the Hummer the ability to correct torque even when a roulette wheel is altogether off the ground . Off - road enthusiasts were overjoy at the medical prognosis of getting behind the rack of a car that could tackle courses that would scare off a Jeep driver . The auto ’s safety ranking were very gamy – but you ’d probably expect that from a railway car in the first place design for combat missions .
Civilian Hummers use the same build as the military Hummer , and AM General even employ the same manufacture facilities to build up them . From 1992 to 1995 , the Hummer used adiesel engine(either a 6.2 or 6.5 - l locomotive , depending on the year ) . From 1995 to 1997 , AM General experimented by produce a simulation that used a 5.7 - cubic decimetre gasolene V-8 engine . regrettably , the Hummer just weighed too much – former Hummers matter in at around 7,000 Irish pound ( 3,150 kilo ) – and AM General last back to using diesel engines after 1997 .
In 1999,General Motorspurchased the right to produce vehicle under the Hummer brand name . AM General would preserve to bring on the original Hummer , rename as the H1 , under the GM brand name . GM named late models the H2 and H3 . Although GM designed the H2 , AM General build the cars in its facility . General Motors manufacture the Hummer H3 using its own installation .
Hummer Options
The Hummer H2 is long than , but not as wide as the H1 , and the H3 is the lowly fomite under the sword name so far . Even so , you ca n’t line the H3 as kickshaw – it ’s 85.5 inches ( 7.1 foot ) panoptic and 186.7 inches ( 15.6 feet ) long . Drivers who love the series discover the size authorise , while other number one wood often experience intimidated when they encounter such gargantuan vehicles .
The Hummer billet is not known for itsfuel efficiency . Various models of the Hummer H1 reportedly averaged at around 10 naut mi per gal [ generator : Shortnews.com ] . Peter Ternes , Hummer ’s film director of world-wide production communication , tell that the H2 fetch 12 miles to the gallon [ root : AOL Autos ] . The H3 fares the best with 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway . There ’s also the experimental H2H , a hydrogen - power Hummer , but because there ’s no hydrogen fuel base in the United States , it ’s not likely to be commercially available soon .
As the Hummer brand has evolved over the last few yr , General Motors has introduced more choice catering to client comfortableness . The earliest commercial Hummer vehicles were only a minuscule more comfortable than their military Hummer opposite number were . The collection of the fomite was in its off - road capability , not its panache or amenities . The prominent conceding to client comfort was aviation conditioning , something many military hummer lack .
Current Hummer vehicles have more sympathetic options like chrome finish , leather seats , heated windshields , removed keyless ingress , magnate windowsandcruise controller . you may buy an H3 Hummer withsatellite radioand heated seats if you like . Other options cater to broken outdoorsy types – winches , off - road hardware , dick kit and prevue hitches are available .
As amenities have increased , the price of Hummers has actually gone down . The original Hummer ’s price was more than $ 100,000 . The first H2 vehicles were also expensive , though now a 2008 H2 Hummer will cost you about $ 55,500 . The H3 is the most affordable model – a 2008 H3 is price between $ 30,000 and $ 39,000 .
In the next section , we ’ll attend at how Hummers have impacted our culture .
Hummer’s Cultural Impact
Images and video of Hummers appear nigh every sidereal day in paper on the United State ’s presence in foreign country like Iraq and Afghanistan . Ever since Desert Storm , the Hummer has been a symbol of the U.S. military . In some cases , critic have pointed out perceive shortcoming in the Hummer ’s figure , chiefly focusing on its armor . AM General direct out that theArmynever need extensive armor for its Hummers . AM General does pop the question canonic and supplementary armor for several Hummer models , though these packages only provide limited security . A direct shot from a comparatively potent rifle could still pierce the armor .
report of the Hummer ’s armor limitation give ascent to accusations that the equipment sent to our flock oversea is n’t sufficient . Many military outfitsup - armortheir equipment , instal armour plating directly to the vehicle once they have it . add armor to a Hummer increase its exercising weight , which in turn can pretend its performance . In some case , a Hummer may be well armored but less maneuverable , making it a more likely target for enemy flak . Because of these limitation , critics say the Army should concenter on other vehicle selection like theStrykervehicle .
On the civilian Hummer front , there are other issues . driver who enjoy gainsay their acquisition and pushing a vehicle to its limits in off - route courses tend to love Hummer vehicles . A Hummer can surmount hills that are unsurmountable to most othercars . They can go up steep slopes , drive over objects that would embarrass other vehicle and even plow through up to 30 inches of piss without a problem .
While Hummers might traverse a unmanageable obstacle trend with relative ease , they confront a much more daunting roadblock when it come to environmentalists and other critics . The Hummers ' infamousfuel efficiency– or lack thereof – is enough to turn a green - given person bright red . In California , a State Department where environmental concerns are prominent in the thinker of its citizen , Gov. Schwarzenegger faced criticism for his unembarrassed love of the vehicle . His involvement during the publicity tour of theH2H hybridvehicle did little to calm his critics .
Others see the Hummer as a symbol of American excess and gluttony . A few go so far as to place the blame of the res publica ’s foreign insurance on the possessor of Hummers and other SUVs , claim that we ’re involved in conflicts in the Middle East due to our enormous rate of oil ingestion . Some the great unwashed just feel the cars are large , worthless , unwieldy and scary to encounter on the road . A few people even take action : Hundreds of people protested at Hummer dealership on November 15 , 2003 – a day activist call " National Protest Day Against Hummers " in a fit of originative genius [ beginning : CommonDreams.org ] .
It seems that growing numbers of Americans are trying to be environmentally conscious . In that environment , the Hummer line of vehicle confront its baffling road yet – there may come a day when Hummer owner front more than just the scorn of critics . It ’s ironic that the same vehicle that was a symbolization of American heroism , determination and unity in purpose in 1991 has become a divisive symbol both at home and overseas today .
To check more about Hummers and bear on subject , cruise over to the links that follow .
