He also said that three out of four Humvees in the war zones were armored, and that unarmored vehicles were used in back-up operations.

It is also used against unarmored vehicles.

The strike, which tore a deep crater in the ground, destroyed 17 military vehicles, including Humvees and other unarmored vehicles, the officers said.

They were retrofitted to transport ERT assault teams into hazardous areas where transport in unarmored vehicles would not be safe.

This set the scene for the four Americans, traveling in an unarmored vehicle.

They were in two unarmored vehicles and had no map.

Supply convoys used both armored and unarmored vehicles.

Some units still do not have essential equipment, like radios, and many Iraqi troops travel in unarmored vehicles, leaving them vulnerable to the ubiquitous roadside bombs.

Hundreds of armored Humvees have been rushed to Iraq over the past year, and Pentagon officials say unarmored vehicles are now confined to bases.

Soldiers said that just a year ago they could patrol in unarmored vehicles.