# How tough are military Humvees? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640 "2008-08-11T18:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/1 "2008-08-11T18:40:31Z")
So it’s my understanding that your basic military Humvee is not as armored as people would like. Obviously they aren’t going to stop a rocket or tank round. But how much protection does one offer compared to say a standard civilian automobile or large truck against small arms fire? Watching movies like Generation Kill or Black Hawk Down, it seems like you can shoot the hell out of one while the crew remains relatively safe, while a short burst from a SAW will pretty much rip through a civilian car, instantly killing or injuring anyone inside. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/2 "2008-08-11T19:35:06Z")
Your basic HMMWV has no more armor than a Buick. The M1114 is beefier, with an armored passenger compartment comprised of hardened steel and bullet-resistant glass. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/3 "2008-08-11T19:48:00Z")
There are many variations of Humvee. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/4 "2008-08-12T00:52:43Z")
Indeed. In “Black Hawk Down” scenarios, the HMMWVs are armored up. My section’s HMMVW has fabric for doors. It all depends on the model. There’s the high backs, the turtle shells, the canopies, etc etc. In Iraq, they’re all armored up pretty heavily, if that’s why you’re asking. I mean, the windows are like 6 inches thick. Over here, the windows are made of the same type of plastic as your computer’s CAT-5 cable. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/5 "2008-08-12T01:13:12Z")
**IntelSoldier** Have the improved the undercarriage armor since that debacle early on with the IEDs? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/6 "2008-08-12T01:25:59Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Your basic HMMWV has no more armor than a Buick. [/QUOTE] With its plastic doors, and fiberglass quarter panels and hood… it actually has _less_. > [@mswas](#): > > Have the improved the undercarriage armor since that debacle early on with the IEDs? It has improved. But you can only do so much without totally redesigning the thing. The humvee has a flat profile. You can make the bottom thicker, but its still flat. You need to make it V shaped so the blast is diverted instead of taken head on. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/7 "2008-08-12T02:35:00Z")
[QUOTE=IntelSoldier] Indeed. In “Black Hawk Down” scenarios, the HMMWVs are armored up. My section’s HMMVW has fabric for doors. It all depends on the model. There’s the high backs, the turtle shells, the canopies, etc etc. In Iraq, they’re all armored up pretty heavily, if that’s why you’re asking. I mean, the windows are like 6 inches thick. Over here, the windows are made of the same type of plastic as your computer’s CAT-5 cable. [/QUOTE] I guess I’m wondering how, at least in the scenarios portrayed in Generation Kill and Black Hawk Down, one actually survives running a gauntlet of RPG and small arm fire in what is essentially a big Buick? I was under the impression that the up-armored Humvees came out a few years later. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/8 "2008-08-12T03:26:18Z")
Offense was the best defense in that situation. It was so important to keep a gunner on the .50 to suppress any enemy before he laid effective fire on the convoy. You’re right, the armored variants didn’t start rolling out until a few years later–and actually as a result of the vehicle’s performance in Mogadishu. A good offense and a lot of luck. That’s the only factual answer to your question. Small arms would tear right through those vehicles–and did. Many soldiers died as a result. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tough-are-military-humvees/459640/9 "2008-08-12T17:11:41Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno] Offense was the best defense in that situation. It was so important to keep a gunner on the .50 to suppress any enemy before he laid effective fire on the convoy. [/QUOTE] That kind of blows considering the .50 can only be pointed in one direction at any given time.