In the world according to me, the AM General HMMWV would’ve been a dedicated wartime machine, kitted up as a kind of fast-mover or gun platform vehicle, and would not have become the over-armored, over-burdened bricks that they were when I left the service ten years ago. The HMMWV has it’s faults, as I’m free to spill out every now and then, but it also has strong spots and by battlefield rules, an M1097 with an M2 .50 cal machine gun mounted on it is a fearsome thing. That same HMMWV back home is the equivalent of trying to drive a Mack dump truck down some side street in Scotland…best of luck to you. They’re wide, they’re long and in the Army’s infinite wisdom, they require a second individual to ride with you so that when you have to back up the vehicle, they can hop out of the truck and wave you around, like you’re operating a 747 and you’re being pushed back from the gate.
The CUCV/LSSV program, on the other hand, seemed like a great idea: make a stouter version of the Chevrolet K-truck (they’re a 1 1/4 ton truck) and make sure it’s the proper military colors, and call it good. Look in the parking lot at any military location. See any large SUVs or pickup trucks? Of course you do. Which means that if Private Snafu can drive that Silverado with the nose pointed to the sky and the rear bumper dragging on the ground, surely to God he can drive the Uncle Sam version of Grandpa’s pick-em-up truck, right? Mostly found in three flavors (longbed, dually and Blazer), the CUCV is the daily-use version of the HMMWV, right down to the clatter of it’s 6.2L diesel. No need to grab an extra body to help you not back into someone’s car. Just get in and get to work.
