HMMWV M1046 w/TOW, IFF Panels and Winch - 3rd Infantry Division, Iraq 2003

“We will carry out a campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility ... and by the application of overwhelming force.”

- CENTCOM commander General Tommy Franks commenting on the conduct of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, March 21st, 2003

On March 22, 1983 the U. S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command awarded the AM General Division of LTV Aerospace and Defense (now AM General Corporation) a $1.2 billion contract to produce 55,000 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV, pronounced Humvee), to be delivered in 15 different configurations over a five year period. The contract included an option to increase the number of vehicles purchased by 100 percent during each of the five option years. The Army eventually ordered an additional 15,000 option vehicles raising the totals to 70,000 vehicles and $1.6 billion. It was the largest multiyear contract for tactical wheeled vehicles ever awarded by the U.S. Army.

Known officially as the M998 Series and nicknamed the HUMMER, this technologically advanced 1 1/4-ton, 4x4, multipurpose vehicle answered the armed forces' need for superior mobility in a tactical field environment. It was versatile, mobile, and fast, and replaced an assortment of vehicles, including: some M151s (1/4-ton utility vehicles (the old "jeep"), all M274s (1/4-ton Mules), all M561s (1-1/2-ton Gama Goats), and some M880s (1 1/4-ton pick-up trucks).

The M1025, M1025A1, M1026 and M1026A1 HMMWVs are Armament Carrier configurations of the HMMWV family. The vehicles are equipped with basic armor and the weapon mount, located on the roof of the vehicle, is adaptable to mount either the M60, 7.62mm machine gun; M2 .50 caliber machine gun; or the MK 19 Grenade Launcher. The weapons platform can be traversed 360 degrees. The vehicles can climb 60% slopes and traverse a side slope of up to 40% fully loaded. The vehicles can ford hard bottom water crossing up to 30 inches without a deep water fording kit and up to 60 inches with the kit. The M1026/M1026A1 are equipped with the self-recovery winch which can also be used to recover like systems. Pictured here is a US HMMWV M1046 w/TOW missile launcher, IFF panels and winch, from the 3rd Infantry Division, serving in Iraq during 2003.

Historical Account: "Rock of the Marne" - The 3rd Infantry Division was activated at Camp Greene, North Carolina, in November 1917. Eight months later, at midnight on July 14th, 1918, the Division went into combat for the first time. During World War I, as a member of the American Expeditionary Force to Europe the Division earned its name as the "Rock of the Marne," when surrounding units retreated, the 3rd Infantry Division remained rock solid. Although the stand was quite successful, we paid a high price. General "Black Jack" Pershing said it best, when he called the Division's performance one of the most brilliant of our military annals.

World War II was to add even greater glory to the Marne Legend. In World War II, the 3rd Infantry Division was one of the Army's premier assault units. Gen. Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. led the division in battles North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France. As the sole United States fighting force for 531 continuous days of combat, the 3rd Infantry Division fought in places like Casablanca, Anzio, Tome, the Vosges Mountains, Colmar, the Siegfried Line, Palermo, Nurnberg, Munich, Berchtesgaden, and Salzburg.

In January 2003, soldiers in the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) were officially informed that they were headed for the Middle East to do their part in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Features:

Open window display packaging.

Highly popular and collectible item.

True to 1/72 scale.

Fully accurate mold.

Fully assembled.

Historically accurate markings and insignia.

Includes protective display case.

Dimensions:

Length: 2-1/2 inches.

Width: 1-1/4 inches.