Editing Humvee (section)

===Modifications===
[[File:Marine humvee with bolt-on armor x2.jpg|thumb|right|A [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] M1123 HMMWV in 2004, equipped with a bolt-on MAK armor kit]]

In December 2004, Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] came under criticism from U.S. troops and their families for not providing better-equipped HMMWVs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6694474 |title=NBC: Boost for armored Humvee output – Conflict in Iraq |publisher=NBC News |date=2004-12-10 |access-date=2013-11-16 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221211845/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6694474 |url-status=live }}</ref> Rumsfeld pointed out that, before the war, armor kits were produced only in small numbers per year. As the role of American forces in Iraq changed from fighting the [[Iraqi Army]] to suppressing the insurgency, more armor kits were being manufactured, though perhaps not as fast as production facilities were capable. Even more advanced kits were also being developed.  While these kits are much more effective against all types of attacks, they weigh from {{convert|1500|to|2200|lb|kg|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} and have some of the same drawbacks as the improvised armor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-update.com/products/h/humvee-ogara.htm |title=Up-Armored Humvee M1114 |publisher=Defense-update.com |date=2006-07-26 |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428211510/http://www.defense-update.com/products/h/humvee-ogara.htm |archive-date=28 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Unlike similar-sized civilian cargo and tow trucks, which typically have dual rear wheels to reduce sway, the HMMWV has single rear wheels because of its independent rear suspension coupled with the body design.

Most up-armored HMMWVs hold up well against lateral attacks when the blast is distributed in all different directions but offer little protection from a mine blast below the truck, such as buried IEDs and [[land mine]]s. [[Explosively formed penetrator]]s (EFPs) can also defeat the armor kits, causing casualties.

[[File: Humvee equipped with four snow treads.jpg|thumb|left|At the [[Bridgeport, California]] Mountain Warfare Training Center in March 1997, a test HMMWV drives through the snow, equipped with [[Mattracks]] treads]]
The armor kits fielded include the [[Armor Survivability Kit]] (ASK), [[M1114 HMMWV Interim Fragment (Frag) Kit 5|FRAG 5]], [[Frag Kit 6|FRAG 6]], as well as upgrade kits to the [[M1151]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-3-04/up-armored-humvee.htm |title=Up-Armored HUVMEE (UAH) |publisher=Defense-update.com |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107142718/http://www.defense-update.com/features/du-3-04/up-armored-humvee.htm |archive-date=7 November 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/5958m-contract-for-m1151-hummers-uparmor-price-limits-02488/ |title=$595.8M Contract for M1151 Hummers & Up-Armor Price Limits |publisher=Defense Industry Daily |date=2006-08-02 |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828234555/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/5958m-contract-for-m1151-hummers-uparmor-price-limits-02488/ |archive-date=28 August 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ASK was the first fielded in October 2003, adding about {{convert|1000|lb|kg|sigfig=2}} to the weight of the vehicle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-update.com/products/a/ask.htm |title=Armor Survivability Kit (ASK) for soft vehicles |publisher=Defense-update.com |date=2006-07-26 |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407214858/http://www.defense-update.com/products/a/ask.htm |archive-date=7 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Armor Holdings]] fielded an even lighter kit, adding only {{convert|750|lb|kg|sigfig=2}} to the vehicle's weight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-update.com/products/h/humvee-kit-battelle.htm |title=HMMWV Armor Kit – Battelle |publisher=Defense-update.com |date=2005-10-25 |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324142855/http://www.defense-update.com/products/h/humvee-kit-battelle.htm |archive-date=24 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Marine Armor Kit (MAK), fielded in January 2005, offers more protection than the M1114 but also increases weight.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} The FRAG 5 offered even more protection but was still inadequate to stop EFP attacks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021101345.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Thousands of Army Humvees Lack Armor Upgrade |date=2007-02-12 |access-date=2010-05-04 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012123109/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021101345.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The FRAG 6 kit is designed to do just that, however its increased protection adds over {{convert|1,000|lb|abbr=on}} the vehicle over the FRAG 5 kit, and the width is increased by {{convert|2|ft|cm|sigfig=2}}. The doors may also require a mechanical assist device to open and close.<ref>{{cite web |title=Humvee May Get Armor, Performance Boost |publisher=Military.com |date=2007-08-17 |first=Christian |last=Lowe |url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,146187,00.html?wh=wh |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819111517/http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,146187,00.html?wh=wh |archive-date=19 August 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:SAM-HMMWV.jpg|thumb|right|A HMMWV equipped with [[SLAMRAAM]] [[surface-to-air missile]]s, on display at the [[Paris Air Show]] in June 2007]]
Another drawback of the up-armored HMMWVs occurs during an accident or attack, when the heavily armored doors tend to jam shut, trapping the troops inside.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/field-lifesaver-10th-mountain-division-invents-the-rat-claw-02969/ |title=Field Life-saver: 10th Mountain Division Invents "The Rat Claw" |publisher=Defense Industry Daily |date=2007-01-19 |access-date=2010-11-27 |url-status=live |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004527/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/field-lifesaver-10th-mountain-division-invents-the-rat-claw-02969/}}</ref> As a result, the U.S. Army [[United States Army Aviation and Missile Center|Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center]] developed the Humvee Crew Extraction D-ring in 2006. The D-ring hooks on the door of the HMMWV so that another vehicle can rip the door off with a tow strap, chain, or cable to free the troops inside.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=September 2007|title=Acquisition & Logistics Excellence|journal=Defense AT&L|volume=36 |issue=5|page=65 |url=http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA482552 |via=Defense Technical Information Center}}{{dead link|date=June 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,135017,00.html |title=Humvee Doors Trap Troops |publisher=Military.com |date=2007-05-08 |agency=UPI |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510020918/http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,135017,00.html |archive-date=10 May 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> The D-ring was later recognized as one of the top 10 greatest Army inventions of 2006.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Army Recognizes Greatest Inventions for 2006 |url=https://www.army.mil/article/3629/army_recognizes_greatest_inventions_for_2006|last=Leipold|first=J.D. |date=15 June 2007|work=U.S. Army |access-date=27 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712005407/https://www.army.mil/article/3629/army_recognizes_greatest_inventions_for_2006|archive-date=12 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, Vehicle Emergency Escape (VEE) windows, developed by [[BAE Systems]], were fielded for use on the M1114 up-armored HMMWV, with 1,000 kits ordered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/bae-invents-vee-quick-escape-bulletproof-windows-03711/ |title=BAE Invents VEE Quick-Escape Bulletproof Windows |publisher=Defense Industry Daily |date=2010-10-05 |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910135327/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/bae-invents-vee-quick-escape-bulletproof-windows-03711/ |archive-date=10 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Crows-M153CommonRemotelyOperatedWeaponStationOnHumvee.jpg|thumb|left|Soldiers of 3rd BCT/25th ID use an M153 CROWS atop an M1115A1 HMMWV at the Battle Area Complex, [[Schofield Barracks]], Hawaii, 2017]]
The soldier manning the exposed [[crew-served weapon]] on top of the vehicle is extremely vulnerable. In response, many HMMWVs have been fitted with basic gun shields or [[gun turret|turrets]], as was the case with [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113]] APCs after they were first deployed in Vietnam. The U.S. military is currently evaluating a new form of protection, developed by BAE Systems as well as systems designed by the Army, which are already in theater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/now-thats-a-gunshield-the-chavis-turret-03171/ |title=Now That's a Gunshield: The Chavis Turret |publisher=Defense Industry Daily |date=2007-03-27 |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826200748/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/now-thats-a-gunshield-the-chavis-turret-03171/ |archive-date=26 August 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> The new gunner's seat is protected by {{convert|1.5|to|2|ft|cm|sigfig=2}} high steel plates with bulletproof glass windows. Additionally, some HMMWVs have been fitted with a remotely operated [[CROWS]] weapon station, which slaves the machine gun to controls in the back seat so it can be fired without exposing the crew. The [[Boomerang (countermeasure)|Boomerang]] anti-[[sniper]] system was also fielded by some HMMWVs in Iraq to immediately give troops the location of insurgents firing on them.

Another weakness for the HMMWV has proven to be its size, which limited its deployment in Afghanistan because it is too wide for the smallest roads and too large for many forms of air transport compared to jeeps or Land Rover-sized vehicles (which are, respectively, 24 and 15 inches narrower). This size also limits the ability of the vehicle to be manhandled out of situations.