Split rims and combat rims are two different concepts. The horror stories involve split rims whilst Humvees have combat rims.
The thought behind the number of bolts considers the distance between adjacent bolts if one were to break, the tire pressure, and load.
Originally Humvees had 8 bolt wheels, bias ply tires aired to 20/25 lbs. and magnesium sectional run flat devices utilizing grease packs and in use could be a fire hazzard.
With the introduction of the radial tire, CTIS, and the civilian Hummer came the use of the 12 bolt wheel and rubber bead lock/run flat to decrease the distance between remaining bolts should one bolt fail, with the 24 bolt wheel coming along for the heavier later versions.
Initially seating the bead is the most dangerous point in time when working with tires.
Like a moron, I once painted a rim and then tried to mount a tire while the paint was still a little tacky with terrible results.