Its low profile and lack of body armour made it an easy target for insurgents. Arnold Schwarzenegger then persuaded AM General to build a civilian version, further cementing the vehicle’s iconic status in the form of the Hummer.Īlthough widely used early on in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Humvee was not originally designed for a combat role. It was widely used in the first Gulf War in 1991, a conflict whose short and decisive outcome showcased US military power at its zenith in the immediate post-Cold War period. The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee as it is better known, debuted in 1983 and made its first combat appearance during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989. This challenge exposed the shortcomings of one of the world’s most famous vehicles. In Afghanistan, for example, over 40 percent of UK military casualties, and almost 50 percent of US casualties can be attributed to IED attacks. This was especially so for military vehicles, which now needed to be engineered to withstand the threat of roadside bombs. It was the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), perhaps more than any other factor, that shaped the changing equipment needs of Western forces. The nature of the threats faced in these conflicts created new challenges for military vehicle design. Another was the prevalence of security threats from non-state actors, such as terrorist or insurgent groups.įollowing the tragic events of September 11, Western defence forces found themselves embroiled in brutal counter insurgency campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. One key trend was the growing prevalence of intrastate conflict, civil wars that spilled across national borders and were transnational in form. Here, Roger Brereton, head of sales at military steering components supplier Pailton Engineering, explains how these vehicles have evolved in the last quarter of a century to combat new and emerging threats.ĭespite the ending of the Cold War, the 1990s saw the emergence of new forms of conflict. Military vehicle design engineers strive to create vehicles that can perform on rough terrains, in harsh climates and against ever-evolving threats. How the emergence of IEDs changed military vehicle design.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |