The HMMWV, known to many as the Hummer, has become an iconic vehicle. This army all-terrain vehicle was launched back in the ’80s. And it wasn’t originally intended to be used in the front lines of offensive operations. The HMMWV is a very good, but originally not protected from bombing and shelling, off-road vehicle.
Such a vehicle is well suited for transportation on the home front. In the future, the all-terrain vehicle was armored, but the increased mass affected the cross-country ability, dynamics, brakes and service life of the suspension and gearbox. In the conditions of modern warfare, the U.S. army needs a vehicle well protected from guerrilla attacks. But it doesn’t have to be as bulky as the International MaxxPro.
Taking these factors into account, the Oshkosh L-ATV was created. The competition to create an armored all-terrain vehicle for the U.S. Army was launched in 2005 and about 10 companies participated in it. Three organizations, including AM General (manufacturer of HMMWV) and Lockheed (manufacturer of aircraft) made it to the finals. Now we already know that the winner was Oshkosh, an old truck manufacturer from the USA.
The first contract, worth 6 billion dollars, provides for the delivery of 18,000 vehicles. Work on its realization began in 2018. But already in 2016, 6 Oshkosh armored trucks were used by the US Marine Corps. Of the vehicles produced under the first contract, 6,500 armored vehicles have already taken part in various US operations around the world. In addition to the US, these vehicles are to be received by allies such as: – Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Montenegro, Slovakia, Lithuania and North Macedonia. By the 2040s, 280 of these armored vehicles are scheduled to be produced at a cost of $30 billion.
As you may know, Oshkosh is the name of an Indian chief whose lands were near present-day Wisconsin. Today, that name is carried by these, military vehicles.
Oshkosh L-ATV Price and Sales.
The average cost of an armored Oshkosh L-ATV is $400,000. A vehicle equipped with additional equipment can cost significantly more.
Appearance and photos.
The car from Oshkosh is much larger than the HMMWV. With a body length of 6,200mm, the width is 2,500mm and the height is 2,600mm. Thanks to the air suspension the ground clearance can be increased up to 500mm. According to the photo you can notice that some armor elements are bolted rather than welded. This solution makes it easier to replace a damaged element.
Just by the photo you can see a significant angle of inclination of the windshield. Of course, aerodynamics is not too important for such vehicles, but the armored glass installed at an angle is more likely to survive than the glass installed at an angle of 90 degrees as on the HMMWV. In addition, the front end has two, separate glass panes. The side windows are thick and protrude significantly outward relative to the drills.
It is in the armoring that there is a fundamental difference. All L-ATVs are armored, while most HMMWVs had no armor protection. Other than that the Oshkosh is armored significantly better than the Hummer. The V-shaped bottom is standard for this type of vehicle. It allows dissipation of blast energy.
The rear doors open counterclockwise. So the open front and rear doors provide cover for soldiers leaving the cabin of the Oshkosh.
GVWR of four local modification is 6.4 tons. Which is almost half the weight of the International MaxxPro.
You can see from the photo that there are a lot of mirrors. Even in spite of the smaller glazing area compared to the Hummer, the mirrors provide good visibility. Mirrors can be even on the machine gun turret.
Below the doors you can notice special hinges, which are designed for landing the armored vehicle from an airplane or helicopter. The exhaust pipe is taken out under the right footrest. Of course, this vehicle is equipped with a winch.
Interior and equipment.
Perhaps not everyone thought about it, but many of the ronized Hummers were not equipped with air conditioning! And it is impossible to lower the windows on such cars. Can you imagine what it would be like to be inside such a vehicle in the sun of Iraq, or Afghanistan? For this reason, some soldiers installed a fan in their HMMWV.
The Oshkosh is air-conditioned. And it affects the soldiers’ fighting ability. In addition, the new vehicle has more space where soldiers can put and secure their weapons and ammunition. This can be useful in case of overturning the vehicle, for example, when blowing up on a mine. There is more space just for legs.
It’s quieter in the cabin. Of course, any military equipment does not assume a high level of comfort, but the silence allows you to concentrate and understand from which side the shelling is coming.
Through a small, two-spoke steering wheel you can clearly see the instruments. On the center console there is a display, the main control of which is made by buttons. Apparently, the developers thought that the button control is more reliable than the touch control.
Depending on the tasks that rely on the car, it can be equipped with special equipment. Of course, all machines will be equipped with radio communication.
Engine and technical characteristics of the Oshkosh L-ATV.
Under the hood of the Oshkosh L-ATV is installed 6.6 liter Duramax diesel engine with an output of 300 horsepower. Together with an automatic transmission, this motor is able to accelerate the armored vehicle to a speed of 110km per hour. This is a significant speed for a vehicle of this type. Payload capacity of the four-seater L-ATV is 1600 kg, while the two-seater – 2300 kg.
Hybrid modification with an electric engine ProPulse has a power of 70 kW and allows to save up to 35%.
The independent suspension is equipped with pneumatic cylinders, allowing to adjust ground clearance and stiffness.
It is a new generation armored vehicle. It provides good protection against small arms of medium caliber, as well as against detonation by improvised, explosive devices.
Old HMMWVs are gradually being decommissioned from the U.S. military. Some fall into private hands, and some into the armies of other countries. This is how some HMMWVs ended up in Ukraine, where soldiers continue to use this legendary all-terrain vehicle.
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