Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Humvee
open-in-new
<p>The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; <a href="/facts/Colloquial/HvEweYjS">colloquial</a>: Humvee) is a family of <a href="/facts/Military_light_utility_vehicle/8466zPM3">light</a>, <a href="/facts/Four-wheel_drive/5sFHvumf">four-wheel drive</a> <a href="/facts/Military_vehicle/j2DLsEnf">military trucks</a> and utility vehicles produced by <a href="/facts/AM_General/vTTKpVDp">AM General</a>. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the <a href="/facts/Willys_MB/aYSTNknY">original jeep</a>, and others such as the Vietnam War-era <a href="/facts/M151_%C2%BC-ton_4%C3%974_utility_truck/bqdpWYkY">M151 Jeep</a>, the M561 "<a href="/facts/Gama_Goat/yvRXgMPP">Gama Goat</a>", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the <a href="/facts/Commercial_Utility_Cargo_Vehicle/YnDCcUXU">Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle</a>, and other light trucks. Primarily used by the <a href="/facts/United_States_military/NHVsU9Id">United States military</a>, it is also used by numerous other countries and organizations and even in civilian adaptations. </p><p>The Humvee saw widespread use in the <a href="/facts/Gulf_War/6LdLnGdo">Gulf War</a> of 1991, where it navigated the desert terrain; this usage helped to inspire civilian <a href="/facts/Hummer/ahl2GUV0">Hummer</a> versions. The vehicle's original unarmored design was later seen to be inadequate, and was found to be particularly vulnerable to <a href="/facts/Improvised_explosive_device/hwwca28W">improvised explosive devices</a> in the <a href="/facts/Iraq_War/dlAgf8at">Iraq War</a>. The U.S. hastily up-armored select models and replaced frontline units with the <a href="/facts/MRAP/DsLSeqbv">MRAP</a>. Under the <a href="/facts/Joint_Light_Tactical_Vehicle_program/CSxna5ux">Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program</a>, in 2015 the U.S. Army selected the <a href="/facts/Oshkosh_L-ATV/bWupaMdv">Oshkosh L-ATV</a> <a href="/facts/Humvee_replacement_process/WwHSrhNw">to replace</a> the vehicle in frontline U.S. military service. </p>