7. Humvee
It would be a travesty to make a list of military vehicles and not even mention the greatest thing on wheels since the Jeep itself. Since 1989, when the Humvee was first deployed to Panama, it has been America’s answer to every vehicle question. A jack-of-all-trades, this vehicle has been upgraded several times to carry troops all over, from the Gulf War to Somalia and Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Humvee’s body is made of lightweight aluminum which means even at maximum weight it can still go over 55 mph to get the job done. It’s a versatile body that can be modified to suit any situation, with variations as ambulances, air support vehicles or missile carriers. It can go anywhere to solve any problem, hence its profound employment across the globe. The Army and Marines have over 300,000 Humvees operating today.
When deployed, the Humvee was great for navigating rough terrain and maneuvered around obstacles. However, with the prevalence of IED attacks in Iraq around 2006, the lack of armor proved treacherous. Quickly, kits were added to help protect soldiers, but the bulk and weight of the new armor took its toll. This doesn’t mean the end of the Humvee though, as the fleet is planned to be in service through 2050.
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