Hi all,

I am currently looking for informations about an "exotic" HMMWV version. Italeri released a HMMWV variant called M998
Desert Patrol. I know that it was a prototype for an armored squad carrier for US Army Light Infantry Divisions. Anyone has online informations about these variant?

Cheers
Hans-Hermann

How really this version was called - it is not known. The term "Desert Patrol" invented Italeri, presenting its very weak model of this version. But let's keep that name - it will be clear which Humvee is going on.



The original was supposed to be a 10-person team transporter. It was tested in the late '80s of the last century at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. Characterized by elevated, metal cab on the part of the cargo, which was placed outside the mountings for two canisters (at the back, on both sides of the additional door) and backpacks (the sides of the cab). The main armament was mostly .50" caliber M2 machine gun mounted on a roof (or sometimes an unknown grenade launcher). Army has cancelled an ordering this version of the Humvee.

The photos show the prototype in a mono-tone painting (probably Olive Drab) with a front bumper with four holes (pictured above - note an unusual doors) and a prototype of the NATO tri-color painting with the front bumper with three holes. It is not known whether it was the same copy of a slightly modified and repainted, or there was more than one prototype. At one of the photos below is visible a winch - possible that this was another prototype.

Here are all the photos I was able to find:


Sources:
http://www.missing-lynx.com
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_hmmwv_variants.php
http://www.defenseimagery.mil


The best model of this version IMHO was built by a friend of mine:

http://www.humvee-models.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31#p3708

Its quite possible that the "desert patrol" moniker came from seeing the vehicle under evaluation at Fort Irwin. If it was during the 1980s it was probably part of development of motorized forces in the US Army, which were largely geared toward a rapid response to contingencies in the Middle East.

Also, the US Army has not separately designated the various versions of the M998 (and other HMMWV variants) with different body kits, such as contact maintenance trucks and the like. Its likely that this vehicle would not have received a separate designation either.