Jeep is a small all-purpose vehicle used by the armed forces of many countries. It was first used by the United States military during World War II (1939-1945). The term jeep may come from the letters G.P., the initials for general purpose vehicle. When capitalized, the word Jeep is a trademark for a civilian automotive vehicle that was patterned after the armed forces jeep.
The United States armed forces jeep is called the “Hummer.” This name may come from the initials H.M.M.W.V., which stand for high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle. The Hummer is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) long and 85 inches (216 centimeters) wide. It has an eight-cylinder diesel engine and four-wheel drive. Its maximum speed is about 65 miles (105 kilometers) per hour. A Hummer can carry four people. It can haul loads weighing as much as 2,500 pounds (1,100 kilograms). Jeeps are reliable vehicles and can move rapidly over rough terrain. Armed forces jeeps also serve as platforms for various weapons, such as machine guns and small missiles.
