“We will carry out a campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility ... and by the application of overwhelming force.”

- CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks commenting on the conduct of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, March 21st, 2003

On March 22, 1983 the U. S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command awarded the AM General Division of LTV Aerospace and Defense (now AM General Corporation) a $1.2 billion contract to produce 55,000 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV, pronounced Humvee), to be delivered in 15 different configurations over a five year period. The contract included an option to increase the number of vehicles purchased by 100 percent during each of the five option years. The Army eventually ordered an additional 15,000 option vehicles raising the totals to 70,000 vehicles and $1.6 billion. It was the largest multiyear contract for tactical wheeled vehicles ever awarded by the U.S. Army.

Known officially as the M998 Series and nicknamed the HUMMER, this technologically advanced 1 1/4-ton, 4x4, multipurpose vehicle answered the armed forces' need for superior mobility in a tactical field environment. It was versatile, mobile, and fast, and replaced an assortment of vehicles, including: some M151s (1/4-ton utility vehicles (the old "jeep"), all M274s (1/4-ton Mules), all M561s (1-1/2-ton Gama Goats), and some M880s (1 1/4-ton pick-up trucks).

The M1025, M1025A1, M1026 and M1026A1 HMMWVs are Armament Carrier configurations of the HMMWV family. The vehicles are equipped with basic armor and the weapon mount, located on the roof of the vehicle, is adaptable to mount either the M60, 7.62mm machine gun; M2 .50 caliber machine gun; or the MK 19 Grenade Launcher. The weapons platform can be traversed 360 degrees. The vehicles can climb 60% slopes and traverse a side slope of up to 40% fully loaded. The vehicles can ford hard bottom water crossing up to 30 inches without a deep water fording kit and up to 60 inches with the kit. The M1026/M1026A1 are equipped with the self-recovery winch which can also be used to recover like systems. The M1025A1 and M1026A1 models have the latest modifications applied to the vehicles. Pictured here is a US M1025 HMMWV equipped with an Armor Survivability Kit, which participated in LSA Anaconda 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Historical Account: "Viper's Den" - Camp Anaconda is a large US base near Balad, Iraq, spread over 15 square miles. As of late June 2004, the majority of the airfield's pre-existing bunkers have been abandoned by the US military. Facility Engineer Team 21 out of Ft Devens is the Department of Public Works for the base camp. As of September 2003 the Team was working on a Master Plan for the base, which may get as big as 20,000 soldiers. As of May 2004 the base had 17,000 troops and was 12 1/2 miles in circumference. Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. Central Command, told the House Armed Services Committee in March 2004 that ". . . we are making Balad Airfield our primary hub in the region, and the idea of doing that is because we need to have the Baghdad International Airport revert to civilian control."

Features:

Open window display packaging.

Highly popular and collectible item.

True to 1/72 scale.

Fully accurate mold.

Fully assembled.

Historically accurate markings and insignia.

Includes protective display case.

Dimensions:

Length: 2-1/2 inches.

Width: 1-1/4 inches.