Hello friends

I am at the time on the building of an "armored" HEMTT M983 Truck Tractor with armor plates, welded on the doors and a machine gun mount, above the front seat passenger.
I had the idea, to mount a Rhino anti IED kit in the front of the truck. Is that realistic? I have never seen a photo however would be such a modification also in Iraq in the employment?

I would be happy for any help, comments and informations.

Dave

I'm putting a Rhino anti-ied device on my iraq gun truck

I haven't seen it on a hemtt in any photos but I'm sure there's some out there

by the way where did you find a hemtt kit, I've been looking all over for one

Evan

Thanks much times for your answer Evans

I am happy to hear that a HEMTT truck tractor mounted with a Rhino system, would be possible and realistic.

I bought the Italeri HEMTT M997 (Revell has the same model kit) and i would like to scratch build "the back" of the truck. The truck tractor is much shorter thn the cargo version HEMTT. I shortened simply the chassis and with the help of walk around photos of the truck tractor, i hope, i am able to build the truck.

If you are interseted i have a Revell HEMTT M997 in stock at home. I would give it to you, if you need one.

Are you also interested in the subject HEMTT truck series?

I really wanted to do a HEMTT gun truck but I just simply couldn't find a kit here in the U.S., so I settled for the Italeri Big foot kit to base my gun truck on.

Evan

I know Evans....its really hard to find the Italery HEMTT.

But i have a Revell HEMMT at home. If you are interested i can give in you. The Revell ist the same kit like the Italery. There are no differences.

Dave

No that's fine, thanks for the offer though

Evan

Hi Dave
In case you need reference stuff, Pascal Bausset has posted some nice M983 walkaround pics on Webshots :
http://news.webshots.com/album/165270949YMNkty

HTH
Frenchy

Hello Frenchy

Thank you so much for your comment. The photos are fantastic... I can use these photos well.

Besides i have another question to all out there. I would like to hang a board on the front of the HEMTT, with the label: " Convoy Commander". Is it possible that a M983 truck tractor could be a convoy commander truck? Or is that impossible or the label unrealistic?

Dave

Convoy commander would be at least 3 vehicles back, depending on the convoy size. Standard TTP would not put him up front. The sign could read "Convoy Follows" and be in Arabic. If it was in Germany then it would say "Kolgne Volgt"

Thanks Wanye.

That is me a large assistance. Now i will take the signature "convoy follows" on the board. I hope i find that in arabic.

Dave

Since you both are building older trucks with home-made armor, this is not correct. The Rhino Anti-IED device came out after the add-on armored guntrucks were no longer used. The home-made armor guntrucks were only around for about a year, until they were replaced by factory-made armor kits.

Thanks Gino for your important comment. I do not have at all known that the "field made armor" is since a year no more in the employment. Is that forbade completely?

Is called summarized thus the Rhino system is only realistic with a manufacturer made armor kit.

Dave

I think you are asking if the home-made (field applied) armor is still used. If that is your question, the answer is no. It was ineffective and replaced by factory-made armor kits and fully armored cabs etc. Now, the vehicle has to be to a certain level of armor before it is allowed off the base camps. M1114 and M1151 HMMWVs with FRAG 5 armor, fully armored FMTV 5-tons and LMTV 2.5 tons, factory armored HEMMTs and M915 trucks, and MRAPs for patroling. MRAPs are quickly replacing up-armored HMMWVs for patrol and general transport duties as well.

Thanks for the heplfull comments and support