Author: Kyla Stanton

At the height of the Iraqi insurgency, US troops traveling in Humvees were dying at an alarming rate from IED attacks. Bolting on extra armor increased the vehicles’ protection, but added weight made them slow, clumsy, and prone to rollovers.

The Army wants a vehicle combining the Humvee’s off-road capabilities with the MRAP’s unrivaled protection. Oshkosh Defense beat out Lockheed Martin Corp and Britain’s BAE Systems to win the lucrative contract for the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Click the Humvee Interior to learn more.

The Humvee is one of the most recognizable pieces of military hardware ever produced. Its use in the 1991 Gulf War and the ongoing War in Afghanistan have made it synonymous with modern conflict. However, its legacy stretches far beyond these conflicts. Its ruggedness and iconic design have led to its popularity outside of the military, with off-road enthusiasts, emergency services, and even celebrities all relying on modified versions of the vehicle for their needs.

The story of the Humvee began in Vietnam, where the Army’s fleet of jeeps were pushed to their limits by the demands of modern weapon systems. By 1979, it was clear that an upgrade was needed, and so the Army issued a request for proposals for a new workhorse. AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental all submitted prototypes, and by 1981 the Army had chosen AM General’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, better known as the Humvee.

Designed as a replacement for the Jeep, the Humvee has since become the world’s most versatile light military vehicle. It can be adapted for a variety of missions, and its chassis is easily modified to accommodate everything from mounted machine guns to wire command-guided antitank missile launchers. It can be customized to suit almost any terrain, from desert to jungle, and is capable of operating for long periods with minimal maintenance.

While the Humvee’s off-road capabilities have earned it a reputation as a “war machine,” the fact is that its primary mission is transporting soldiers and cargo to and from the frontline. As such, it has a number of significant weaknesses, particularly when faced with the kind of deadly, roadside ambush that was commonplace in Iraq.

As a result, the Army has begun to move away from the Humvee in favour of vehicles that are more heavily armoured. But the Humvee is a tried and tested platform that will continue to fulfil its critical role for decades to come. With the JLTV gradually replacing it in frontline battle roles, and the upcoming SABER offering an improved version of the original HMMWV for an affordable price, the Humvee’s legacy looks safe for some time to come.

The Humvee’s design

Designed to meet the needs of the Army, Marines, and Air Force, the Humvee is a formidable machine. Its boxy four-wheel drive chassis straddles a wide platform, and it holds a payload of 2,500 pounds in combat conditions—more than double that of a jeep’s. It can also mount a mix of weapons, from machine guns and grenade launchers to the a deadly TOW antitank missile, usually launched from helicopter gunships. A clever pop-up gun turret gives the Humvee added firepower in combat, while an armored shell protects the crew from enemy fire and shrapnel.

The Army kept adding armor and other protective features to the vehicle as it entered Iraq and Afghanistan. While these added luxuries protected the personnel inside, they came at a price: the increased weight made the Humvee slow, clumsy, and prone to rollovers. The extra strain on the engine, transmission, and drivetrain accelerated wear and led to frequent mechanical failures.

In recent years, the military has begun to shift its focus toward the future, replacing many of the Humvee’s current roles with newer platforms like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). But despite the emphasis on the next generation, the Humvee will remain part of the service’s fleet for decades to come.

The vehicle’s iconic look will not change much in the future. But the technology within will evolve, as the Army aims to make the vehicle more fuel efficient and reduce its reliance on foreign oil. To accomplish this goal, the military is testing out a hybrid electric-drive Humvee called the HUMVEE Charge, which uses commercial-off-the-shelf components to integrate an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. The combined system provides both the performance of a traditional ICE and the energy efficiency of an electric drivetrain. The resulting vehicle can run on either electric or gasoline power—and is capable of traveling longer distances without refueling. Check out the video below to see the HUMVEE Charge in action.

The Humvee’s capabilities

The Humvee can be adapted to a number of different configurations. For example, it can be converted into a cargo vehicle, troop carrier or field ambulance. The Humvee is also capable of mounting a gun turret, which can be outfitted with either a machine gun or Mark-19 automatic grenade launcher. As a result, the Humvee is one of the most versatile vehicles in the US Army’s inventory.

The military’s initial requirements for what became the Humvee were quite demanding. These included the ability to climb a 60 percent incline, traverse a 40 percent slope and ford 2.5 feet of water. As a result, the Humvee has a robust four-wheel drive system and impressive offroad capabilities.

In addition to its offroad capabilities, the Humvee can also function as a mobile command post. It can carry sophisticated communications and detection equipment, which allows it to communicate with both friendly and hostile forces on the battlefield. This can be crucial when trying to locate and destroy enemy combatants.

Another important capability of the Humvee is its ability to withstand enemy attack. The vehicle is designed with a special armour that can withstand both small arms fire and 16-grain ballistic fragments traveling at 1,400 ft. per second. The Humvee’s armor is also designed to protect its crew from mines and other explosive devices that might be thrown at the vehicle during combat.

Humvees are also designed to require minimal maintenance, which can save the Army time and money. They are equipped with an automatic transmission, which is easier for soldiers to use than a manual gearshift. In addition, they are built with run-flat tires, which allow the vehicle to continue moving if a tire is punctured.

While the Humvee is a very effective vehicle, it does have some drawbacks. For one, it is not very fuel efficient. In fact, the Humvee consumes more fuel than a Jeep, which is a much smaller and lighter vehicle. The Humvee also has a tendency to overheat, which can be a serious problem in hot weather. As a result, the Army has begun developing new variants of the Humvee that will address these problems.

The Humvee’s problems

When it comes to rugged off-road vehicles, the Humvee reigns supreme. With a 6000 durability rating, the HMMWV can shrug off everything from accidents to bullets from Cultists and T-Dolls with little effort. But that ruggedness can also be its downfall. If a Humvee were to hit an IED or landmine, the occupants may not survive. That’s why it’s essential to outfit your Humvee with proper armor and protection.

The Humvee was originally created to replace the Army’s fleet of jeeps, which were becoming increasingly outdated. But it soon became clear that the new vehicle would need to be larger in order to accommodate new weapons and equipment. The Army came up with some specs, including a diesel engine and an automatic transmission, and AM General got to work. The result was the Humvee, which debuted in 1984 and saw its first action in Panama five years later.

Although the Humvee thrived in peacetime, it suffered mightily during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Insurgents began targeting US troops with improvised explosive devices, which quickly proved to be a deadly threat. While reinforced armor and improved bomb-resistant technology were used to improve the vehicle’s capabilities, the Humvee was still prone to attack from buried explosives.

To reduce the number of soldiers killed in Humvee crashes, the Pentagon replaced the Humvee with a more heavily armored vehicle known as the MRAP. But the MRAP is massive and can be difficult to maneuver, which may make it less useful than its predecessor. Additionally, the MRAP is often overloaded with weapons, turrets, and other modifications, which increases the risk of injury to the occupants.

A new study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy finds that there are several factors that increase a soldier’s risk of injury while in a Humvee. Among the most important factors are being involved in combat or serving as the vehicle’s driver or gunner. This finding suggests that training for military personnel on how to operate their Humvees in combat-like settings might be beneficial. In addition, the study recommends improving the design of military vehicles and increasing their availability for civilian use.

Pests are organisms (fungi, insects, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, weeds and vertebrate animals) that negatively impact human activities or damage living areas. They also alter the environment by displacing desirable species, and by changing soil health and nutrient availability.

Look for a company that offers natural options and can discuss preventive steps you can take. Avoid a pest problem by eliminating clutter and sealing potential entry points into the home. For professional help, contact Pest Control Nampa.

Pests are organisms that interfere with human activities by damaging or destroying plants and animals, contaminating food or water, causing disease in humans or pets, or simply annoying people. Despite this, not all organisms are inherently pests; they may only become pests if their presence affects our quality of life. While some organisms are more likely to be considered pests than others, most organisms can be managed without the use of chemical controls. Prevention strategies include removing attractants and eliminating the conditions that encourage pests to develop. Identifying pests and their needs can also help prevent them from becoming a nuisance. For example, ants can be managed by removing the crumbs they leave behind and keeping garbage containers tightly closed. Rodents can be prevented from entering buildings by repairing cracks and gaps in walls and foundations, and cleaning up their droppings.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that uses common-sense practices to reduce pests without the use of harsh chemicals. It starts with a careful examination of the habitat and history of the pests. This information helps determine the kind of control that is needed, such as altering cultural practices, environmental manipulation or the usage of resistant plant varieties. The next step is to monitor the pests through a series of steps. Once a threshold level is reached, the proper control method will be implemented.

Threshold-based decision-making relates to observing the number of pests, their activity levels and other factors such as their reproductive status. For example, a few wasps scavenging in the garden may not warrant an intervention; however, when the numbers increase and the nest becomes exposed, a wasp-specific insecticide will be used to kill them. It is also important to understand pests’ lifespans and life cycles because some control methods are effective at certain stages of their development.

Pests can enter a facility through open windows, air vents or sewers; they may be carried in by staff or arrive on merchandise and equipment. They cause damage by consuming or damaging artifacts, introducing disease causing pathogens such as intestinal worms and microbial pathogens; contaminating food with their droppings; and deteriorating building materials, resulting in dampness and fungal decay. Good site sanitation, proper building maintenance and quarantine of artifacts can significantly reduce pest threats to museums.

Suppression

Often, when pest populations reach damaging levels, it is necessary to take action to reduce the population. Suppression strategies aim to bring the pest numbers down to a level that is acceptable for the environment and human occupation. Suppression is a common component of integrated pest management (IPM), which utilizes prevention and suppression strategies to reduce the number of pests in an area.

There are many ways to suppress pests and keep them at bay, from modifying the environment to capturing and killing them. The most important factor is to know exactly what kind of pest you are dealing with so you can tailor your control methods to that particular situation.

Some of the most common suppression techniques include modifying the environment, introducing natural enemies, and releasing biological controls. These are usually products made by people that are designed to kill the pests, such as nematodes that eat away at harmful soil grubs or parasitic wasps that attack greenhouse whitefly. Other products, such as nematicides, are sprayed onto the soil surface to provide a knock-down effect and prevent nematodes from moving up into plants.

Cultural controls involve modifying the conditions that allow the pests to grow, such as plowing, crop rotation and removal of infected plant material. These are a part of IPM and are used to reduce the need for chemical pesticides.

Another common method of suppression is the use of natural enemies to kill the pests or stop their reproduction. These can be predators such as birds and bats, parasites such as nematodes and wasps, or diseases such as fungi and viruses. These are used to supplement a variety of other control methods, including plant hormones, which inhibit the development of insects into adult forms, or chemicals that interfere with the growth cycle.

Many of the organisms that are considered pests in a certain area originally came from elsewhere and were brought there by humans either on purpose or accidentally. When they are introduced, they often don’t have their natural enemies back at home, so they can rapidly explode in population and take over habitats formerly occupied by native species. This method, called classic biological control, involves sending expeditions to the organisms’ places of origin to find and return their natural enemies.

Eradication

We can’t always live without pests, but sometimes they can be a nuisance and damage crops or pose health risks. Eradication strategies can range from prevention, which keeps a pest from becoming a problem; suppression, which reduces the population to an acceptable level; or even extermination, which destroys all pests. It’s important to consider how much the pests are costing you and what their long-term impacts are when making decisions about eradication.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based approach that involves monitoring to identify pests, their numbers and the degree of damage they are causing. Then, it takes into account the pest’s biology, environment and behavior when deciding on the best control options. Monitoring may include trapping, scouting and examining field conditions. A technique called degree day models can predict when a pest is likely to emerge and be damaging.

IPM methods are often cheaper and less harmful to people, plants or the environment than chemical control. They include cultural controls, such as adjusting irrigation practices to reduce disease and weed problems; physical controls, including traps for rodents and mulches for weed management; and biological controls, such as introducing predators or parasites to keep pest populations under control.

Chemical pesticides, which are sprayed directly on infested areas, usually offer more immediate results than other types of pest control but are more costly and can be toxic to humans and pets. Examples of chemicals used in pest control include repellents that deter pests, fungicides to prevent diseases and insecticides that kill insects.

Organic insecticides can be more environmentally friendly, but they take longer to work and may not be as effective against some pests. In addition, some pests develop resistance to organic insecticides over time, so they must be reapplied more frequently.

Eradication efforts typically involve large-scale operations at local, regional or national levels and are based on projects that measure the value of the benefits of removing the pests. This includes projecting future infections and vaccination costs, attaching values to these and discounting them, then comparing this discounted value to the cost of eradication to determine whether it is worth the expense.

Regulatory

Regulatory strategies are employed when pests can’t be managed effectively through preventive and suppression tactics. These include quarantine and eradication programs. The former prevents pests from entering areas where they don’t exist while the latter eradicates existing populations. Both of these strategies are deployed under the direction of governmental agencies in accordance with local and federal laws.

Regardless of the type of pest problem, it is important to first thoroughly evaluate the situation and environmental conditions that led to the infestation. This will help managers select effective control methods. In addition, it will allow the proper use of pesticides and ensure that pesticide residue levels in food and feed do not exceed the maximum permitted level.

Government facilities are particularly susceptible to pest infestations. These include schools, universities, and courthouses. They often house large amounts of food and have a variety of entry points. Rodents and insects look for food, water, shelter, and warmth in these buildings. Therefore, it is essential to prevent pests from infesting them and to keep them away from sensitive areas like operating rooms and sterile environments in health care facilities.

A wide range of pest control tactics can be employed in a government facility, from physical barriers to bait stations. In addition, integrated pest management (IPM) is often used in government facilities as a method of decreasing the amount of chemicals required to control pests. IPM focuses on making changes to the environment to reduce the likelihood of pests, such as adjusting irrigation practices and installing barriers.

The use of natural enemies to control pests, such as parasites and predators, is a common strategy in IPM. This technique is especially useful for reducing the use of pesticides in sensitive environments, such as in greenhouses and orchards. However, it is important to understand that natural enemies may be negatively affected by certain pesticides. Therefore, it is essential to choose pesticides with low toxicity and a short residual duration to minimize the impact on natural enemies.

It is also important to regularly communicate with your pest control company about the pest problems you have in your building and what steps they are taking to address them. This will help them develop an effective plan to prevent pests from infesting your building and ensure that they remain pest-free.