Recently fi tted with explosive resistant coating armoured doors, this US
Marine Corps M998 is seen here at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, in July 2004. The
cargo bay is protected by armoured panels each side. The Humvee has also
been retro-fi tted with truck–type mirrors (introduced with the A1 version of
the Humvee), a brushguard and a roof rack. As is standard for Humvees fi tted
with a deep-water wading kit, the engine air intake is in the raised position.
GUNNERY SERGEANT E RIOSMATA / NATIOANL ARCHIVES
A
ll Humvee variants were built on the same basic rolling chassis,
though this developed over the years: original version; A1, A2 and
Expanded Capacity Vehicle. A body was fi tted to a rolling chassis
suitable for its intended role. There were three ambulance variants. The
M1035 was a soft-top vehicle accommodating two stretchers (litters in
American terminology).
The M996 mini-ambulance had a telescoping body. With the body lowered,
there was space within for two stretchers; with the body raised, there was
space for four stretchers. The M997 maxi-ambulance had a rigid body with
space within for four stretchers. The maxi-ambulance was fi tted with basic
armour comprising Kevlar or steel internal panels depending on location. The
armoured windows were made of polycarbonate. The M997A3 up-armoured
ambulance was built on the expanded capacity vehicle rolling chassis.
Even though the Humvee is now being replaced in many roles by the joint
light tactical vehicle (JLTV), the US Army placed a large order for new-build
M997A3 ambulances as recently as September 2018. This was becauseIn this, the second of a two-part series on
the High-Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled
Vehicle (the Humvee), John Teasdale looks
at some of the other variantswords John Teasdale pictures archive