Hometown efforts to help troops hindered [Humvee modifications hindered]

USA TODAY ^ | 1/28/2004 | Gregg Zoroya

[Ranger]

When the 700 men and women of an Alabama National Guard battalion were told last year that they were going to Iraq, they worried about the canvas doors and thin metal floors on their Humvees

[My Dog Likes Me]

The only person who should've known about the unauthorized mods was the loadmaster of the C-5 cargo plane. "Um, these particular Humvees are a bit heavy..." Can't people keep their mouth shut???

This story has been in the Alabama press for weeks. But until USA Today reported the final result, I didn't know that the Army said no. Sad.

[clee1]

Unauthorized modifications to issued military equipment has happened all throughout history.

Just DO it... don't TALK about it.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

The only person who should've known about the unauthorized mods was the loadmaster of the C-5 cargo plane. "Um, these particular Humvees are a bit heavy..." Can't people keep their mouth shut???

Actually that's just one of the reasons they shouldn't be modified. The weight, size, and center of gravity should be almost exactly the same for all of the same type equipment. Humvees are a tight fit in a C-130. One may not fit with modifications. Your statement assumes there will be any Army personnel with the humvees when they arrive at an air base ( or port ) and that isn't likely to happen. Usually it's the Air Cargo section or Base Supply handling it.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Yes, I know that the devil is in the details.
If the Army just stenciled the weight of the vehicles on the side of their vehicles, maybe that would solve the problem.

[iopscusa]

Great idea (WWII-the Shermans blades & the Normand hedges)and the right people to do it....the grassroots efforts remind me what makes this country great...Individual Creativity & Responsibility. My hat is off to all these Patriots in Alabama, we South Carolina Patriots are with you!

[mbynack]

Their heart was in the right place, but I can see some potential problems with this type of modification. In addition to the problems with the center of gravity and the additional weight there may be a problem with the type of steel they used. I used to work on armored vehicles and armor plating isn't just thick steel. It's designed to be very hard and to not shatter when it's hit. A lot of plate steel will shatter and become like shrapnel. It could actually make the problem worse and instead of injuring one person it could kill everyone in the vehicle.

[AppyPappy]

I can't believe anyone would accuse the military of being inflexible.

[Ranger]

I'd take an untested plate of steel welded on by friends to protect me from a blast over a cotton t-shirt anyday.

[mbynack]

I think that the home made plating would be better than nothing in 99% of the time. Especially if it's protecting against small IEDs.

From what I've been told a lot of the units over there have modified the Humvees that are in theater in the same way these folks did.