The Missing Link: Making the HMMW Scoutworthy

The Missing Link: Making the H M M W Scoutworthy First Lieutenant Kenneth L. Deal Many Icssons arc Icitrncrl at the National Training Centcr. Most are Iciirnecl the hiird way. and some are fnrgottcn whcn soldiers go home. Despite the filct that so much is forgotten, it is always rcfreshing to see the nunibcr of Icssons learned that are incnrporatcd into subsequent rotations. We have recently seen more and more returning units with HM MWV- mounted scouts. The HMMWV is one of thc best investments the Army has made in recent years. The vehicle requires little maintenance, is quick, yet relatively quiet, is maneuverable on all terrain, and has a range of 300 miles on a tank of fuel. It can be fitted any way the unit chooses - from TOWS and mortars to ground surveillance radars and ambulances - and is fully airmobile to boot. Some HMMWVs, employed at the NTC as scout vehicles, had mounted tank thermal sights taken right out of an M6OA3. These scouts could see the battlefield clearly in all weather conditions without making a sound. What a concept! It is evident that the armor community is now beginning to regard scouts as lookers, rather than fighters, a sound decision, because tank battalions already have 58 tanks trained exclusively to fight. Perhaps one of the factors driving conversion of scout platoons to - 3 of success exhibited by the OPFOR rcconnaissancc company whcn it uses the vehicles. While the HMMWV's outstanding performance is rewarding to the OPFOR, one must consider that the OPFOR HMMWVs are used to represent Soviet armored cars (BRDMls or BRDMs), only coincidentally taking advantage of the HMMWV's stealth and maneuverability. Many nations use armored cars for reconnaissance. For example, the Sovicts have the BRDM, the British the Fox, and the French use the Panhard. Even the United States Marine Corps uses LAV25s in much the same manner as divisional WVdll?'. With several modifications, the HMMWV would makc an outstanding scout vchiclc. However, of the existing HMMWV configurations, all are woefully inadequate. ily a single observer. Regardless ' what type of weapon is mounted, ___.__ L --I.. --- --- L- First, the hard top (M966) configuration carries too little equipment inside, and the hatch permits of in cuniaci, only UIK WGIUII can uc brought to bear. Additionally, with the windows up and the heater running, the scouts' hearing is '' '& ' It h il batt e proL.,CLLw..,., lll..lI.,u th,. VI,1. These major drawbacks dismiss the 01 abk lir n a n u r.... -,.e:-,- ias been observed that; to hear the enemy, ha le is won. Finally, th t-ct;nn;P l;mito,-I tn The next available choice is the opcn-top vcrsion of the HMMWV (M1038). Again, lack of armor is a significant drawback, but at least all weapons can be fired at the enemy, and all observers arc up and looking. This is still not the best solution, but it is more suitable for scout use. If these remain the only choices available to the task force, modifications can make them more effective. Windshields should be removed from all scout HMMWVs. Although in the bitter cold of a TEAM SPIRIT exercise, it's nice to have a warm vehicle, at sunrise and sunset the reflection from the windshield can travel 10 kilometcrs; a comfortable vehicle won't keep a crew alive! (Incidentally, all tactical HMMWVs at the NTC have no windshields.) A 1780 (AN/VRCl) intercom system, with at least three control box hookups for use with a CVC, is absolutely essential so that the crew can talk and monitor the radios without using speakers. The most silent vehicle on the battlefield is of little use on a still night when the commander screams, "Go left, dammit!" Although these problems are casily solved, their solutions alone will still not make the.,... '.., I,

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HMMWV can make it as useful to a scout as a rifle is to an infantryman. 1 suggest the M1038 basic chassis. I envision a two-door vehicle with the doors covered with Kevlar, each with one small window. A frame would be mounted from the windshield to the rear end, covering the roof and sides, and constructed of Kevlar. The windshield is removed; in its place I would mount Kevlar shutters that could drop into place during action or up during routine operations. These shutters would have several slits, much like glass vision blocks. The door windows would be secured in the same manner. (Another method to avoid windshield glare is to cover windows with louvers or clear window screen.) Kcvlar protection for the engine would increase survivability of the vehicle but is not essential. The crew compartment would be much the same as the M113. The top would remain open, with a hatch that could be closed for artillery protection. The crew compartment should be five feet by three feet, allowing room for two scouts and the vehicle commander. For additional protection, the crew would wear flak jackets. The vehicle commander's weapon can be any weapon, but for the most effective firepower, an grenade launcher would be an out- ARMOR - November-Decer; Outfitting A Scout HMMWV Author's concept for a dedicated scout HMMWV based on the M1038 basic chassis, with Kevlar body, doors, and shuttered Kevlar windshield panels. Top hatch for all-around observation could be closed for overhead protection, when necessary. Top-mounted grenade launcher and machine guns are on swivel mounts for all-around coverage, dismountable for ground-mounting. Skid plates, a winch, smoke grenade launchers, and a deep-water fording kit make the vehicle more versatile, while a land navigation system and thermal sight aid scouting. A single C-130 could carry three of these and a 15-member scout section. A single vehicle could be sling-loaded for transport by helicopters. ier 7990 37

Outfit a few scoutworthy HMMWVs with a section of M3 CNs, for their thermal capabilities and tank-killing firepower, and the task force would have a formidable platoon for the reconlcounterrecon battle. standing choice. (An M2HB S O cal. would also provide adequate firepower.) During a withdrawal, both machine guns can provide suppressive fire to the rear. On a swing mount, much like the loader’s M240 on the M1-series tank, the vehicle commander’s weapon would give 180-degree coverage to the front of the vehicle, and with its 2000-m range, it can keep the most determined enemy at bay. Each observer’s station would be equipped with an M60 machine gun, also on a 180-degree swing mount, adding 360-degree coverage. Both M60s must be capable of ground-mounting during dismounted operations or for local security. Additional weapons would be M16A2 rifles for the driver, a passenger, and the vehicle commander. The basic load would be set by local unit SOP, but most of the ammunition would go under the floor boards (the rear seats in the conventional HMMWV). Personal equipment can be stored on the outside of the HMMWV, leaving room for essential equipment in the back of the truck. The extra room can also accommodate soldiers attached for specific tasks (medics, sappers, Stinger teams, or FISTS). A vehicle with a five-rnan crew is exceptionally dynamic; three men can dismount without degrading the combat efficiency of the vehicle, and if four scouts dismount. the vehi, Other L I I I G iicccssary and effective include: 0 A five-ton winch mounted on the front of the HMMWV.. Skid plates on the belly of the HMMWV for protection of the crossmembers, drive shaft, oil pan, transmission (The OPFOR scout vehicles have homemade skid plates and the OR rate has increased dramatically!) There is no protection for the plastic fuel tank, and it is desperately needed, especially for HMMWV use on rocky terrain. 0Smoke grenade launchers on the front and rear to cover movement under tire. 0 A Dragon system will add to the versatility of the vehicle for use on lucrative targets (the use of TOW is actually overkill for the scouts; leave the killing to the tanks). 0 A quick-erect antenna (AB903) with an RC292 or OE254 head assembly for extended range, for usc in leaders’ vehicles. 0 A TOW VAS11 thermal sight mounted on a spindle on the right front of the crew compartment. 0 A deep-water fording kit (Its use will not replace a real amphibious scout vehicle, but it would add anew dimension to a HMMWV scout.) (The BRDM and LAV25 are amphibious without preparation, unlike the M3 CFV.) 0 A land navigation system, using a global positioning system receiver in conjunction with a laser rangefinder that could provide accurate eight-digit grid coordinates to targets. ac 0 A small arms shield can be dded to crew-served weapons. Current models of the HMMWV are not the answer to the scout vehicle debate, but are a step in the right direction. Outfit a few scoutworthy HMMWVs with a section of M3 CFVs, for their thermal capabilities and tank-killing firepower, and the task force would have a formidable platoon for the reconkounterrecon battle. Finally, with a rapidly deployable strategic Army, the scout HMMWV could be moved with minimum difficulty. Like other models, the scout HMMWVs could be sling-loaded and a three-vehicle, 15-member section could be transported in a single C-130. The changes outlined in this article are by no means meant to be the linal solution. We are along way from developing the ultimatc scout vehicle. 11 is well known that task forcc scouts are the eyes and ears of the battalion commander. Wc protcct our own eyes and cars, why not our scouts? The HMMWV as a scout vehicle is a brilliant vision and its potential is limitcd only by our imagination. First Lieutenant Kenneth L. Deal, Jr. was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Idaho. He is a graduate of the 2, e n P l - t n n m I a-rlar rnmwen Un Armor Officer Basic Coursf Junior Officer Maintenanc Course, and the Scoi -... - I l a L u V l I Lcaucl VVUl3C.

served as a tank platoon leader with D Company, 2-72 Armor, Camp Casey, Korea; and as a tank platoon leader for C Company, 1-63 Armor, Ft. Irwin. He is currently sewing as the scout platoon leader for 1-63 Armor. 38