Military

M996 HMMWV Mini-Ambulance

The M996 and M996A1 were the Mini-Ambulance configuration of the HMMWV family. The vehicles were equipped with basic armor and used to transport casualties from the battlefield to the medical aid stations. The M996 types could transport up to 2 litter patients, 6 ambulatory patients or a combination of litter and ambulatory patients.

Additionally, medical personnel, equipment, and a driver could be accommodated in the vehicle. The patient compartment was heated with a vehicle-mounted fuel burning heater. For operation in an NBC environment, the M996 and M996A1 could be equipped with a Gas-Particulate Filter Unit (GPFU) with heaters capable of supporting up to 5 personnel equipped with either M25 series protective masks or M13 series patient protective masks. The GPFU forced temperature-controlled, filtered air to the mask facepieces, which increased protection, eased breathing, and reduced stress and heat fatigue during extended periods of NBC operation.

The M996 weighed 7,180 pounds with the fuel tank no more than 3/4 full. The vehicle is 203 inches long, 87 inches high, and 86 inches wide. The body configuration made other uses of this vehicle possible, such as specialized communication or command and control functions. Fully-loaded M996 and M996A1 ambulances could climb road grades as steep as 60 percent (31 degrees) and traverse a side slope of up to 40 percent (22 degrees). The vehicles could ford hard bottom water crossings up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) without a deep water fording kit and 60 inches (152 centimeters) with the kit.

An improved variant with the A1 series modifications was also produced. The M996A2 models had new bumpers, along with all the other A2 series improvements, which made the vehicles slightly longer. A 9,000 pound self-recovery winch was also available for the M996A2 models as an option.

M996 variants fitted with any of a variety of add-on armor packages as part of near term armor programs, beginning in 2003 were designated with a "P1" after their respective model number.