"HMMWV carry capacity" Topic

Hello,

For a set of squad/platoon-level rules for modern wars I'm writing, I'm looking for a little information on the carry capacity of the HMMWV. Now, as far as I know, officially the "turtleback" version can carry three soldiers in addition to the driver and gunner, while the cargo version can carry eight in the back (and, presumably, a ninth in the front, next to the driver).

I'm well pleased with the figure for the cargo version, but the regular HMMWV disappoints me a bit, as I'd like to be able to transport a full fireteam (4 guys) in one vehicle. If possible, an extra slot (making the total carrying capacity 5) would be much appreciated as well, as I could then fit a squad sergeant in with one of his fireteams. Would this be too much of a stretch? The turtleback seems to have a lot of excess interior space and I reckon a somewhat pressed commander would not think twice about cramming a guy or two in the back.

Thoughts?

--Helstrom

I'm sure the Health and Safety Police would have something to say about that – I bet there aren't safety belts for those extra men :o)

It depends. I've seen guys in all four seats, one in the turret and another "riding bitch" on the hump between the seats. The "excess interior space" gets taken up quickly by guys on an extended patrol with:

2-4 5 gal. cans of additional diesel fuels
2-4 5 gal. cans of water
2 cases of MREs
4 rucksacks
aid bag
additional batteries
Manpack SINCGARS
additional ammo
mission critical equipment (K12 saw, assault ladders, loudspeakers in my case, casualty litters, camo nets, tentage, any other junk the S3 decides is mission critical)

In a less hostile situation, we've taken the hatch off the back and had guys sit on the tailgate, too.

Oh, and you cram about 10 guys in the back of the high back without much effort, 12 if you're good at packing.

Advocate: I'm sure it still beats having three guys in the seats and one running after the ride :P

Jay: Thanks for the answers! I suppose 5 passengers would be taking things a bit too far then, but I'm glad I can move a full fireteam in one vehicle. Gotta ask though… Loudspeakers?

I was a psyop specialist. I'm now in infantry. We don't have the luxury of HMMWVs.

Also, 1 squad with 2 HMMWVs would not be out of the question. Again, with four seats and one in the turret, that's five guys in one and an empty seat in the other (unless the PSG, a medic or translator tags along).

Haven't seen a Covered Wagon since being in the Infantry back in the late '80's. As an M.P. all our Hardshells are three man vehicles, Driver/SAW gunner, T.C., and Gunner up top with a Mk. 19.

Don't know why we even have Mk. 19's, the only time we get to even see them is when we clean them once or twice a year. Not sure who decided that, but a better choice for M.P.'s would have been a Ma Duce.

The vehicles for us (Cav) were integral to the organization so we did have a fireteam per vehicle. The driver, gunner, and commander were part of the fireteam.

On deployment we had 2 vehicles per squad (minumim 6 soldiers per patrol plus translator).

Jay is on the money.

Thanks again for the replies. I was looking for an easy way to mount up a regular rifle squad without disrupting the fireteam integrity, as well as keeping the vehicles crewed (driver & gunner) once the grunts got out. Mission accomplished! How nice of the armed forces to make things easy for game designers :)

I'm impressed by the carry capacity of the cargo version – you could put an entire USMC squad in one (12 guys in the back and, no doubt, the sgt sitting comfortably in the front next to the driver). Tight, sure, but it beats walking!

Having done 5 years of OPFOR duty at the NTC.

Note, that this with a against regulation load plan:

Using a HMMWV with a vismod BRDM I packed a total of 14 personel on board.

This was a 4 man crew (Veh. Cmd., Driver, 2 observers. with 14 augmentee dismounts from one of the light units.

This was with all BII, M-60 MG, and 14 Ruck Sacks.

It was a tight fit but it can be done.

You obviously missed your calling – you could have made a fortune packing clowns into Volkswagens :)

That is pretty much what it looked like going up through Yellow Brick Road at 22:00 hrs in 0% elimination.

I don't remember what was harder, getting every one in or getting every one out.

Ruck sacks strapped all over the out side and troops sitting in seats on laps of people in seats, sitting in the center divider and troops standing up in the hatch area.

The augmentee's were about 2 hrs behind there time line, and had about a 4 mile hump over yellow brick road had to occupy the furlong ridge.

So I game them a ride half way there.

That was the first load, the second load was only 8 augmentee's.

Sorry the frst load was crew of 4 with 10 augmentee's.

Secound was crew of 4 with 08 augmentee's.

Just heard they broke the record, and fitted 54 people into a mini.

Does that help?