HMMWV M1025A2 SF Ground Mobility Vehicles GMV 1.0

[Crap Game]

These are my current mental health projects, shall we say.  About 2 years ago, 180 former US Army Special Forces M1025A2-based (6.5L NA 4sp 4L80E NP242) Ground Mobility Vehicles GMV were transferred to the Marines then released as surplus.  As you may or may not know, only the USMC HMMWVs from older A0 to older turbo-based trucks have been released as surplus to the public, the Army has all of theirs shredded and crushed to be sold as scrap for pennies on the $1000 Bill.  These 180 GMVs were stripped of their Turrets, C Pillar as well as the SF GMV peculiar add on components.   The B Pillars and Turret Weapons Supports were removed by the local fire department as a training opportunity with the Jaws of Life, the 0.25" aluminum tubing sheared to allow removal of the weapons support without pulling the roofs.    Just determining what every bolt hole was for is a job for a Columbo-level Detective.

 

GMV were a solution to the rather ineffective Scud Hunts during Desert Storm, most US and UK teams went in on foot after a helo insertion, the vast Iraqi desert being too large to search on foot; some SEAL/UDT Teams had their Chenowth Fast Attack Vehicles, some UK had their Land Rovers.   The US Answer was to use a stock HMMWV as a basis for motorized transportation, the trucks receiving various upgrades to the suspension to allow for faster transit to hide sites or targets from a MH-130 or MH-47 insertion. 

 

My two trucks were rigged significantly different, the only rule of thumb applying to GMV is, there is no cookie cutter answer to anything, most trucks were personalized by a particular crew and often changed to suit any particular mission.   

 

SFC5SF 2A11C is a 1995 M1025A2, rigged with the most common corrugated cargo panels on the wheelhouses, had the extended Bumper Shelf bolted to the A2 Airlift Bumper.  She had the windshield washer reservoir relocated inward to make room for a 24v Thomas Air Compressor on top of the cowl.   She had a 2 slot 7.62mm Ammo Can Bin bolted on top of the former M220 TOW Tracking Head pedestal on the transmission hump.   She has some add on armor plates still present and bolt holes from specialized armor plates formerly installed on the cowls.

 

1st Special Forces Group (A) GMV 5, is a 1995 M1025A2, had a Military Systems Group (www.milsysgroup.com) Assault Cargo Rail Kit installed, instead of the corrugated style cargo panels on the wheelhouses. The CIF Companies used the GMV to put Assaulters "on the X" in a rapid manner.  She had a Bumper Shelf or Step Bumper on the A2 Airlift Bumper.  She has an H1 Hummer-style custom shelf for a 24v Thomas air compressor under the hood.  This GMV is alleged to have been associated with the Commanders In Extremis Force (CIF) Company in the SF BN, the Company designated for Counter-Terrorism tasks, etc.   

 

Both GMV had an external A Pillar Pintle Mount for the Navigator's M240 employed on an MSG Swing Arm and Cradle.  Both trucks had Light Vehicle Obscuration Smoke System launchers LVOSS mounted on top of windshield frame and roof on the left and right. They have paint shadow from where an A Frame spare tire carrier specific to GMVs were carried in the cargo bed.  The velcro remnant seen on the wheelhouse sides is from 2" hook velcro that was used with a special vinyl cargo cover that fit over the cargo panels/rails.

 

All 180 of these trucks still have Rod Hall Offroad Racing Expanded/Remote Reservoir Nitrogen-charged Shocks and beefed up steering components.

 

I've had them since Dec 2019, both are in progressing along with various mechanical repairs/replacements and having the original equipment that I could scrounge, bolted back into place before a CARC Tan 686 paint job.

 

These are going to be a mix of photos showing the stripped down for sale condition as well as a representive example of how each was likely rigged in the field.

 

 

[Nack]

Wow these are cool!

[Crap Game]

CIF Company GMV 5 with a 1/4" aluminum diamond plate cargo bed liner, M1936 Ammo Can Bins.  This truck is going to have 2 seat cushions on top of each wheelhouse and a seat cushion on the front corners of the cargo bed liner, in the rear seat positions.

 

Before this cargo bed liner plate gets bolted down with the original Cargo D Rings, I have to paint it with a self etching primer then substitute CARC Tan686 Paint.  I have Davis Aircraft lap belts for the side door positions and for each seat cushion on the wheelhouse.