Humvees and variations of Humvees are an important component in ground warfare today. A single or twin gun placed in the cargo bed is a standard sight as these machines carry our soldiers through the streets.
However, over the course of a day-long mission, fatigue can set in for the gunner back in the cargo bed. And that can affect not only his firing accuracy, but also his situational awareness.
Another important consideration is the placement of the rear wheel wells. If a gunner is firing fore or aft, wheel wells don’t affect his rear working circle. But when firing at an angle, the gunner has to contend with the height of the wheel wells as he tries to maneuver.
In the mid-90s, we worked with the Marines to develop a seated rotating gun mount for their Riverine Assault Craft program. We built upon the success of this system and created the POP (Pedestal Offset-Pintle), which allows the GMV or Humvee rear gunner to have a 360 degree arc of fire while seated.
The POP system is designed for complete 360 degree turns inside the parameters of the wheel well. Though the seat can be turned by the operator with almost no pressure, locks and brakes keep it secure when the weapon is being fired.
Our initial design met all the requirements and specs of the contract. But our experience on both the design side and the combat side allowed us to see opportunities to go beyond what was asked for and add touches that make the system even more efficient.
And keep that set of eyes in the back of the Humvee even more focused.
