Military HMMWV Ring MountHard top HMMWVs, such as the HMMWV Armament Carrier with TOW missile configurations, have a roof hatch with a 360° rotating weapons ring. A gunner stands on a floor-mounted platform or rests on a web sling, partially exposed above the roof line of the HMMWV. A short pedestal mount is attached to the ring to support the pintle or pintle adaptor for all standard U.S. military machine guns (top photo).
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Ring MountMany different mounting systems have been developed to utilize the basic roof hatch gunner arrangement, especially in response to the MOUT and counter-insurgency environment of Iraq and Afghanistan. Some have been standardized with nomenclature and NSNs while others are field expedients developed in-theater or in answer to field problem-solving requests. Some expedient solutions have later been standardized.
HMMWV Eagle Mount and HAWM Secondary Weapon MountsBy 2001, the Army was evaluating the Eagle Mount which allows gunners to mount a second weapon on the HMMWV ring mount, next to the primary weapon. It was used, for example, to mount an M249 5.56mm Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) in addition to a TOW missile launcher on the HMMWV Armaments Carrier. In 2004, the Eagle Mount became the HMMWV Auxiliary Weapons Mount (HAWM -- photo above). The U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, MD developed the field bolt-on HAWM to attach to the roof gun ring to provide a second location where a weapon can be mounted. The 40-pound, wedge shaped cast steel platform is designed to be quickly installed or removed as the tactical situation warrants. The mount post is identical to the standard pintle post so all machine guns and the MK19 40mm Machine Gun can be mounted. By placing the second mount on the opposite side from the primary weapon, weight is evenly distributed and the turret ring turns easily. By December of 2004 these mounts were installed by units in Iraq including the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Maryland National Guard. HMMWV Interchangeable Mount System (HIMS)The HMMWV Interchangeable Mount System (HIMS) enables the unit to adapt to changes in the tactical situation quickly. With HIMS, the unit can quickly mount the MK19 40mm Machine Gun or the M2 .50 cal. Machine Gun on the HMMWV Armament Carrier and use them to destroy light armored vehicles, field fortifications, and troops. The HMMWV Interchangeable Mount System (HIMS) is made up of two parts:
HIMS was distributed with a technical data package with instructions and parts lists. Find More Information on the InternetThere are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there. For good results, try entering this: hmmwv ring mount. Then click the Search button. |