The United States government donated four of the specially-outfitted M997 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV or “Humvee”), and the Ministry of Defense purchased an additional fifth vehicle. U.S. Ambassador Lynda Blanchard welcomed the delivery of 5 new military field ambulances with Slovenian Defense Minister Matej Tonin at the Port of Koper on April 22. In addition to improving the ability of Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) to respond to a variety of emergencies, the medical ambulances will enhance the SAF’s capability to support the Balkan Medical Task Force, which enables militaries in the region to combine medical resources to generate a deployable force and provide medical care where it is needed most.
The M997A3 is an ambulance configuration of the Humvee family. The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. Equipped with advanced armor protection, these combat ambulances were built to reliably transport causalities from the battlefield to medical aid stations. Capable of transporting up to four litter patients, eight ambulatory patients—or a combination of both—as well as medical personnel, equipment and a driver, the M997A3 is dependable in the face of danger.
The ambulance can be heated, ventilated or air conditioned, depending on environmental conditions. For operation in a nuclear, biological or chemical (NBC) environment, the M977A3 can be equipped with a Gas-Particulate Filter Unit (GPFU) with heaters capable of supporting up to seven personnel equipped with either M25 series protective masks or M13 series patient-protective masks. The GPFU sends temperature-controlled, filtered air to individual face masks, increasing protection, making breathing easier and reducing stress and heat fatigue during extended periods of NBC operation.
