[fooman]

All humvees should have a kelvar shell. And the underside should be most heavily armored.

[Nebr FAL owner]

The HUMVEE is an excellent vehicle however it is not the best design or the most cost effective design for this type of fight . Vehicles like the old Rhodesian mine resistant buffalo apc & other similar vehicles based on a Unimog truck 4x4 chasis & drive train made in this country by Daimler Chrysler . Sold commercially by Freightliner

Using welded steel & kevlar will do wonders for increasing the survival of GI's who are currently riding in sheet metal & plastic/fiberglass body type vehicles . Tracked vehicles aren't the best option as the problem of continious operations & the maintenance requirements of tracked vehicles.

The key to the reliability lies in using a TRUCK CHASIS & DRIVE TRAIN the HUMVEE for all its virtues isn't built on a truck chasis nor does it have the engine/tranny/suspension needed to bear the extra weight of armor without excessive wear.

Also the $226,000 price tag needed to up armor a HUMVEE as opposed to $60,000 for a vehicle similar to the old buffalo design would basically allow you to buy 4 armored vehicles specifically designed to survive IED's & landmines as compared to a vehicle that is a cobbled together improvisation & lets face facts the broad flat underside of a HUMVEE is perfect for using AT mines against.