A Russian tank, fired an accurate head-on shot, destroyed an American armored jeep that was trying to break into Balakleya.
Attempts by the Ukrainian military from the first attempt to break into Balakliya ended with serious losses for the consolidated group of foreign mercenaries and Ukrainian military personnel. As it turned out, during an attempt by an American HMMWV armored car to break into Balakliya, the latter was literally cut into two parts by the a very accurate hit by Russian tankers.
Despite the declared high combat characteristics of this American equipment, American armored vehicles, for obvious reasons, could not oppose the Russian tank defending the approaches to Balakleya. In the presented picture above you can see the consequences of a direct hit on an American HMWWV armored car by a tank shell. Judging by the damage received by the armored car, the shell hit right under the hood of the combat vehicle, in which there were four servicemen. The hit turned out to be so serious that the armored car with the Ukrainian military and foreign mercenaries was literally cut into two parts.
Apparently, we are talking about one of the first attempts by Ukrainian troops to break into Balakliya, which was successfully suppressed by the Russian military.
About the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)
According to Military.Com, known by its military designation as the High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle, the HMMWV is a lightweight, highly mobile, diesel-powered, four-wheel-drive tactical vehicle that uses a common chassis to carry a wide variety of military hardware ranging from machine guns to tube-launched, optically tracked, wire command-guided (TOW) anti-tank missile launchers. It must perform in a wide variety of terrain, from deserts to jungles, for long periods of time, with minimal maintenance. It has to carry its cargo and occupants in safety while dodging instruments of war — bullets, bombs and mines.
Its 15 configurations (cargo/troop carriers, weapons carriers, ambulances and shelter carriers) share a common engine, chassis and transmission, with 44 interchangeable parts that are used in more than one position. That means fewer training hours are necessary for the mechanics who will maintain it. Its simplified supply, maintenance and logistics system — essentially one set of common parts for 15 configurations — means lower life-cycle costs which saves tax dollars.
HMMWVs are maintainable, reliable and survivable. They meet all of these requirements while incorporating new standards of reliability for combat vehicles. They score high on Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Durability (RAM-D) requirements and specifications. During initial production tests, the new vehicle proved to be nearly twice as durable as the Army required.
High ground clearance is a prerequisite for superior mobility. The 16-inch ground clearance of the HMMWV is an engineering feat considering that the vehicle stands only 72 inches high. Full-time four-wheel drive, independent suspension, steep approach and departure angles, 60 percent slope-climbing, 40 percent side slope and 60-inch water-fording capabilities combine with the high ground clearance to make the HMMWV an exceptional off-road vehicle.
As a centerpiece of the Army’s vehicular force modernization, HMMWVs are air transportable and droppable, and can be sling-loaded by helicopters. Three HMMWVs can be carried in a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and 15 in a C-5A Galaxy. In combat conditions, the HMMWV can be delivered by the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System without the aircraft having to land.
The HMMWV has a low profile (six feet tall), a wide stance (seven feet wide) and is 15 feet long. These proportions contribute to a stable, road-hugging truck that is very difficult to roll over. This contrasts to the old M151 Jeeps that were considered unstable.
The HMMWV is constructed on a steel frame with boxed frame rails and five cross members constructed from high-grade alloy steel. Once the substructure is assembled, E-coating is applied to provide additional corrosion protection.
The aluminum body reduces weight and provides resistance to corrosion. Aluminum body panels are riveted and bonded together with technologically-advanced adhesives to provide additional strength. The body is designed to flex to accommodate off-road stresses.