Military Wrangler JKU Coming?

[HOrnbrod]

 

http://www.jk-forum.com/articles/jeep-wranglers-could-be-used-in-battlefields-again/?newsletter?utm_source=jan16&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=content

[jimoshel]

I'll take two. both pink.

[HOrnbrod]

I hear pink camo will be an option, so you're in luck Jim.  :yes:

 

[Pete M]

since the combat jobs are more and more going to armored rigs, a civilian-based ride makes sense for the other duties. 

[HOrnbrod]

It makes damn good sense especially now since our wonderful Prez has hacked and slashed the military budget to death.

[shelbyluvv]

I honestly don't see a use for a JK inspired combat vehicle.

 

It is too wide to be transported by a Osprey. It isn't armored to use outside the wire in a combat role. It can't tow that much. It can't haul that much. All and all, while it is a good concept it will probably not happen.

 

At least not as far as the Marine Corps is concerned.

[HOrnbrod]

The military Wrangler would be used to transport Army troops, much like the Willys MB did during World War II..........

 

Not for combat, more like a base taxi.  :thumbsup:

[Rockfrog]

That's the exact role the contractor is targeting. Troop transport in low risk environments. The same role the HMMVW filled back when it first came in. I could also see use as a light recce role. But honestly, there are better choices these days. They are pushing the cost savings though, due to use of a civilian production model. Up north we've done this same thing using civvy pattern trucks for low risk combat environments and basic transport needs.

[budwisr]

It makes damn good sense especially now since our wonderful Congress has hacked and slashed the military budget to death.

 Fixed it for you. Congress sets the budget. The "Prez" requested a 7.8 percent increase in Defense Department spending, Congress approved a 6 percent increase. 

[shelbyluvv]

 

The military Wrangler would be used to transport Army troops, much like the Willys MB did during World War II..........

Not for combat, more like a base taxi. :thumbsup:

That's a whole lot of useless money spent on a "conus only" vehicle. If the military has it, they will use it. Where is the "train like you fight" mentality in this vehicle? The HMMWV needs to be replaced. The platform is 30 years old and it is past it's prime. I don't see a JK taking the place of a H1 though. The HMMWV is such a versatile platform. It will be hard to find another vehicle that will out perform it. I work hand and hand with the program office and program managers, we are keeping our HMMWVs for a few more years. The MC is looking for a all around vehicle. We have a few in mind. The one standout seems the have a Hummer feel but has a 6.6, Allison, independent suspension and full armor.

[HOrnbrod]

It makes damn good sense especially now since our wonderful Congress has hacked and slashed the military budget to death.

 Fixed it for you. Congress sets the budget. The "Prez" requested a 7.8 percent increase in Defense Department spending, Congress approved a 6 percent increase.

 

 You didn't fix anything. Of course the "Prez" requested an increase this time - he's on the way out. Look at his past military spending and manpower priorities record mate. Too little too late.

Anyhow, all this is off topic - my fault - back to our regularly scheduled programming.  :cheers:

[HOrnbrod]

 

 

The military Wrangler would be used to transport Army troops, much like the Willys MB did during World War II..........

Not for combat, more like a base taxi. :thumbsup:

That's a whole lot of useless money spent on a "conus only" vehicle. If the military has it, they will use it. Where is the "train like you fight" mentality in this vehicle? The HMMWV needs to be replaced. The platform is 30 years old and it is past it's prime. I don't see a JK taking the place of a H1 though. The HMMWV is such a versatile platform. It will be hard to find another vehicle that will out perform it. I work hand and hand with the program office and program managers, we are keeping our HMMWVs for a few more years. The MC is looking for a all around vehicle. We have a few in mind. The one standout seems the have a Hummer feel but has a 6.6, Allison, independent suspension and full armor.

 

 

The JK can never replace the HMMWV, it's apples and oranges and different missions. But I can visualize modified JKs transporting troops on and off posts both on-road and off-road all over the world, doing convoy escort, military police duties, etc. They are reliable, wouldn't be expensive to procure / convert / commission, economical to operate, and would help standardize maintenance. It's a good platform for jobs like that and would free up the HMMWVs or whatever replaces it currently doing these tasks.

 

Just a note on HMMWVs: I was working at the Yorktown NavWepsSta back in the early 80's when they first came out and ran the radio shop there. We were tasked to install Motorola VHF radios in all of them, and I'll never forget how tough it was to drill the holes in the steel for the antennas. Nothing we had in the shop could touch it. As I recall we had to order special bits made in Germany and HD drills to pierce the skin. 

[gogmorgo]

Interesting. I thought they were aluminum bodied, but maybe that's just the H1? I wonder what alloy it was.

[Akula69]

hornbrod, on 18 Feb 2016 - 5:02 PM, said:

 

QuoteThe military Wrangler would be used to transport Army troops, much like the Willys MB did during World War II..........

 

Not for combat, more like a base taxi.  :thumbsup:

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. In WWII, the Willys was a great platform for just about all facets, but fragile in the extreme. This JK concept wouldn't stand a ice cube's chance in h3ll against a 105MM IED....but would work in the far-to-the-rear roles.

[RustyRodder]

 

hornbrod, on 18 Feb 2016 - 5:02 PM, said:

 

QuoteThe military Wrangler would be used to transport Army troops, much like the Willys MB did during World War II..........

 

Not for combat, more like a base taxi.  :thumbsup:

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. In WWII, the Willys was a great platform for just about all facets, but fragile in the extreme. This JK concept wouldn't stand a ice cube's chance in h3ll against a 105MM IED....but would work in the far-to-the-rear roles.

 

 

Id tend to agree with this- as a lightweight on base role, it would do well. Some parts crossover with civvy models isnt horrid either.  I wonder if they would want to use the standard V6 or upgrade it to the 5.7?

[jimoshel]

[Pete M]

 

 

hornbrod, on 18 Feb 2016 - 5:02 PM, said:

 

QuoteThe military Wrangler would be used to transport Army troops, much like the Willys MB did during World War II..........

 

Not for combat, more like a base taxi.  :thumbsup:

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. In WWII, the Willys was a great platform for just about all facets, but fragile in the extreme. This JK concept wouldn't stand a ice cube's chance in h3ll against a 105MM IED....but would work in the far-to-the-rear roles.

 

 

Id tend to agree with this- as a lightweight on base role, it would do well. Some parts crossover with civvy models isnt horrid either.  I wonder if they would want to use the standard V6 or upgrade it to the 5.7?

 

 

I'd vote for the overseas diesel

[poopypants]

A pink camo jk cruising through jihadistan with Katy perry blasting over some 6x9's would make Isis leaders cloth laden heads explode...so I say order 1000 of them and load up our boys iPods :)

[outlaw star]

Interesting. I thought they were aluminum bodied, but maybe that's just the H1? I wonder what alloy it was.

Some are aluminum, some are steel bodied. It depends on its platform for service. Some are just troop transport, some are armored up. We're Engineers, we use both types.

[shelbyluvv]

The bodies are all aluminum. They may have an armor applique over the body. Either way the actual body is 100% aluminum. I have been a Marine Corps Motor Transport mech for over 23 years and I know them inside and out.

[Incommando]

Either way the actual body is 100% aluminum. .

Doesn't that apply to the Hummer H1 as well? Just curious

[shelbyluvv]

Yes they were built on the same assembly line as the HMMWV.

[outlaw star]

The bodies are all aluminum. They may have an armor applique over the body. Either way the actual body is 100% aluminum. I have been a Marine Corps Motor Transport mech for over 23 years and I know them inside and out.

Thanks, should have clarified that better.

[rmoore1031]

I shared the link on Facebook a few weeks ago. I'm all for the JK military version or the JK replacement. Obviously it'll need to be diesel/JP8 compatiable. Its light and cheap! Pull up Fedlog on a Humvee, base model is like $35k... Decked out Jeep not close to that price.

 

Plus y'all are forgetting the most important thing. In several years you can buy at auctions for cheap.

[HOrnbrod]

The bodies are all aluminum. They may have an armor applique over the body. Either way the actual body is 100% aluminum. I have been a Marine Corps Motor Transport mech for over 23 years and I know them inside and out.

 

The first to show up back in the day at NAVWEPSTA had an armored steel shell, at least 1/4" thick, that surrounded the interior personnel compartment. They were heavy and slow, and the jarheads, who handled the security duties at all Naval weapons stations then because nobody did it better, hated them. It got tiresome listening to the bitching at the club.  :yes:  The auto trannys were especially funky and breakdowns were frequent. These were among the first batch the military fielded, and they had teething problems, most all later corrected I guess.