U.S. Army in S. Korea Gets Up-Armored Humvees

U.S. Army in S. Korea Gets Up-Armored Humvees (NSI News Source Info) SEOUL - October 1, 2008: The 2nd Infantry Division of U.S Forces Korea (USFK) has received up-to-date up-armored tactical Humvees to replace its aging fleet of Humvees deployed in the mid- to late-1980s, USFK officials said Sept. 30. Sixty-one up-armored Humvees, whose per-unit price is some $119,000, were delivered to 2nd ID units stationed north of here last week, the first of approximately 170 that will be distributed to U.S. troops in South Korea in coming weeks, they said.

M1151A1 HMMVV

Two types of up-armored Humvees, the M1151A1 HMMVV and the M1165A1, are being delivered to the USFK, mostly 2nd ID units, said Dave Palmer, chief of the USFK public affairs office. USFK requested the vehicles about four years ago to replace Humvees shipped to the Middle East, but their arrival was delayed because new Humvees had been going to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Stars and Stripes reported in March. Army Gen. B.B. Bell, a former USFK commander, told a congressional committee March 11 that he was concerned about his command's lack of up-armored vehicles and had asked the Army to speed up their delivery. Bell also reportedly requested the Army supply his command with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles designed to survive improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes. "Given the experience that we've had in Afghanistan and Iraq and knowing the special operating force capability in North Korea, I want all of my wheeled vehicles to be up-armored on the peninsula, and that has not taken place yet," Bell said. "If you walked among the 2nd Infantry Division right now, you'd see a very ready division without up-armored vehicles," said the general, who retired from the military in June. "So that piece, given what we've seen in Iraq and that vulnerability, does concern me." The USFK plans to bring its up-armored vehicle stock to 14 percent of its total requirement, according to officials. Currently, about 2 percent of the USFK's tactical ground force wheeled vehicles are up-armored, in addition to fully armored tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. About 1 percent of USFK's prepositioned vehicles and equipment are up-armored, it said.