Iraqi Freedom Humvees

Not likely, the closed hatchback protects the crew from the TOW missile backblast. Which kit are you building? The hatch is a fairly simple shape that could be replaced by a piece of sheet styrene with the back edge bent down.

It's actually not the TOW carrier variant, just the armored carrier with a mounted .50 cal. Would they leave the hatch open?

I know that sometimes it's left open just to create more space for troops and to give those in the back also the opportunity to provide cover fire

We do in the Marine Corps.

James Simmons
Lcpl, US Marine Corps

I could see 5 troops in a hardtop (M1025) real easy. As long as the 5th was in the "turret". Any more than that and it is not too practical, after you add gear, MRE's, water, and what not. Of course, I've seen many more soldiers cram into one, but it took forever to get everybody out. If you have a "Chuck Wagon" (M998 with troop extension) quite a few troops (10-15) could fit inside without gear.

We did it with only duce gear and weapons. Except I also had the Foxtrot. We had three in their with one on the 50 and obviously one driver and an a-driver. For a total of six. It was crampt. But we dont normaly use the hard tops to transport. We just use them as a platform for the heavy weapons. When ever we make a movement to an objective its walk walk walk.

James Simmons
Lcpl, US Marine Corp

All right. My diorama has a driver, a gunner on the .50, and five infantry running out of the vehicle. The back hatch would probably be open?

Cader,

Just out of curiosity, what figures are you using? Have you modified them at all with current equipment? I've been slowly modifying DML figures as I get my hands on them. Basically reshaping the body armor to look more like the new Interceptor model, getting rid of the old LC-2 gear, adding NVG mounts to the helmets, etc.

I hope Tamiya, etc. will come out with current issue equipment pretty soon!

Cader it would be conceivable. One thing you see in the military is that in reality, anything can, might or will be done depending on the circumstances. Just because something is not likely under normal SOP doesn't mean a thing. SOP is the first thing to go in wartime if circumstances dictate.

During my time in Kuwait last summer (4 months) I saw Hummers with the back hatches off quite frequently.

A little creative liscence never hurt's a thing either.

Eric

Okay, erush. So i'll leave the hatch off.

Cobrahistorian, i'm using a little bit of everything to the basic Tamiya Modern US Infantry in Desert Scheme. However, I've got a couple Academy figures in there, and some kitbashing as well. The camo scheme, as it stands right now, is woodland PASGT vest, and three color desert camo. I m researching the NVG mounts, but i havn't seen the Interceptor vest, and I don't really want to strip them down to remodel it.

Speaking of which, why are they not wearing the 6 color camo over there?

Cader,

Sounds good! From what I've seen, the PASGT vests are on their way out in favor of the Interceptor. Anyhow, the reason (as was explained to me) for the switch from the 6 color was simple. 6 Color is really good in the southwestern American desert where the terrain is rocky and coarse. However, in the fine talc-like sand of Iraq/Kuwait, it tends to stand out like a sore thumb. Thus the 3 color was developed so there wouldn't be as much contrast and it would blend in better.

What exaclty is the Interceptor vest? Derivative of PASGT or new Design.

Cader,
I'm actually in the AF Reserves but I spent my four months in Kuwait with a joint task force headed up by the Marine Corp and incluced Navy, Army, Chezck Army and German Army. We were on Camp Doha the Army base near Kuwait city so I go to experience a wide variety of military "stuff".

The vest the Marines had over there is actually a bullet proof vest as opposed to a flak vest. And most everyone had 3 color Desert covers that snapped over the vests. (We did too) Most of the guys you saw wearing Woodland camo on the news coverage were in fact wearing their Chemical jackets and pants. They're QUITE warm so make a good jacket in cold weather and also don't have to take the time to put it on in an emergency.

ALL the web gear and Alice packs were OD green unless someone had their own aftermarket pack also but they have a big pack cover that is Desert also. (Like a big shower cap)

Just thought I'd throw some details at you if you're interested and if you knew this already I apolgize if I bored you!

Eric

Do's any body have pics of Iraqe freedom humvees in action ?????