Why should we believe that the Hummers’ Windows in Broken Arrow are bullet-proof since the rest the Hummers are not? You can shoot throught the roof, the gas tank, and the body. Why would someone only have bullet-proof windows? Is this common in vehicles?
IIRC, in the book Blackhawk Down one of the soldiers was saved from getting shot by the window being rolled down… the bullet went right through the door and was stopped by the window.
I presume one of our military dopers will be along shortly with a more factual, less anecdotal answer though…
I believe that DWMarch is right. But in general, Broken Arrow is not known for accuracy regarding military tech.
I haven’t seen that movie in a long time. Certainly not since I could tell you how inaccurate it probably is. But the Hard Armored HMMWVs back then had metal roofs, kevlar-style fiberglass doors, polycarbonate windows, and a bullet resistant windshield.
But despite its appearance, you could shoot even the small round from an M16 right through a door. It would stop most pistol rounds and fragmentation and such.
During survivability testing, the following was noted:
“Results of survivability subtests conducted on the HMMWV showed the following survivability features: the ballistic grill deflected several fragments and protected the radiator; the position of the radiator in the vehicle presents less of a target to detonation from the front (but not from aerial bursts); and the windshield was not penetrated. The ballistic fiberglass in the body appeared to offer little protection, while the windshield offered better protection. Tires remain the most vulnerable part of the vehicle. The standard tires on the vehicle are a run-flat type having a magnesium inner liner. There is no spare tire on the vehicle. Flats have been driven up to 20 km before failure.” [Bolding Mine. To point out that the windshield had better ballistic protection than the rest of the vehicle]
New Up-Armored kits with heavy steal armored doors and operable bullet proof glass are now being implemented. But these things were not around when that movie came out. IIRC.
Though I haven’t read the book, the comment about a door offering better ballistic protection with the window down is absolutely correct. The door alone would not stop a rifle round. The door and window combined would do a much better job of protecting the passenger.
Oh, and to correct a mistake above:
I meant to say “New Up-Armored kits with heavy steal armored doors and inoperable bullet proof glass windows are now being implemented. But these things were not around when that movie came out. IIRC.”
I’ve never seen a factory Up-Armored version, but I’m pretty sure the windows don’t roll down. And I hear they get HOT inside!!
The majority of ‘standard’ HMMWVs are not bulletproof, at least not against any sort of wartime weaponry. In fact, the most commonly used ones (at least in my unit) have fabric doors with plastic (thin, flexible) windows that zipper down. The hard shell HMMWV (M1025) has a sturdier frame, a rotating ring mount, and glass windows…haven’t done any checking, but it may stop pistol and frag rounds, but against 7.62mm rounds like those from the AK-47, it’s useless. Seen many an up-armored HMMWV, and they have about 1/4 inch thick steel plating, and 4 or 5 pane sandwiched bulletproof glass windows and windshields. They DO get hot inside, as the window is hinged and very small…you just swing it out to open the window. Because the air opening is so small, and it’s so hot in Iraq…it makes the things pretty steamy.
Hell, when I was in Kuwait, we spent most of our time in a HMMWV with all the doors taken off, and just the canvas top, and it was still hot. Felt like you were driving in a 60mph hair dryer.
I don’t have confirmation, but I’ve heard they’re beginning to put AC units in some of the HMMWVs…that would be nice.