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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Cooling Off Strykers |
| 2005-06-07 |
| June 7, 2005: The U.S. Army's new Stryker armored vehicle has gotten a lot of pad press ("costs too much," "doesn't work," "unsafe," Etc.) But the troops like it, although that isn't considered newsworthy. Troops who served with mechanized infantry units, and used the M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, like the fact that Stryker is faster, quieter and requires less maintenance. Troops who have traveled around Iraq in hummers, even armored ones, like the greater degree of protection provided by Stryker. The biggest enemy in Iraq is not enemy firepower, but the heat. As a result, the troops like to travel with their heads and shoulders out of the open hatches. While providing a cool breeze, this also exposes them to enemy fire (roadside bombs, RPGs, bullets). To add additional protection, troops have put sandbags around the hatches, securing them with rope or wire. But enough sandbags (especially when laid down two rows deep) adds additional weight that can cause the wheel hubs to break. So the troops are encouraged to use 10mm metal plates instead. The driver, unfortunately, is stuck inside. Air conditioning the Strykers is an option. It costs about $90,000 a vehicle, and is done for command vehicles (because of all the extra electronics they carry) and ambulances. But for the regular combat versions, it's not worth it, particularly when you want some of the troops keeping their heads out of the hatches to watch out for trouble. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 Evaporative air conditioners are fairly common here in Western Australia (in houses). As long as the humidity is low, the hotter it gets the better they work and they work really well. So well, that on really hot days friends of ours who have one open all the doors and some windows to stop the house getting to cold. Otherwise, $90,000 for airconditioning? |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-06-07 23:37 |
| #8 thinkn that iraq is both to wetn dew point wise and to congested to get up a head of speed necessary to evaporate the water.... but hey it worth a try |
| Posted by: Half 2005-06-07 20:03 |
| #7 That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. (And no, there was no collusion between Ms. Seafarious and me.) |
| Posted by: eLarson 2005-06-07 17:55 |
| #6 JC Whitney still lives! I got a catalog (unrequested) for my truck in the mail a week ago |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-06-07 16:46 |
| #5 Those of you old enough to remember the J.C. Whitney catalogs from the 60s will remember the "air conditioners" that were evaporative coolers (like the Swamp Coolers here in Arizona) driven by the breeze as you drove along. Just a water tank, some cardboard baffles, and a long tube. How about adding one of those? |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-06-07 16:09 |
| #4 8 minutes! Superior work Em. Or was that a setup? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-07 16:05 |
| #3 *heh* |
| Posted by: eLarson 2005-06-07 10:34 |
| #2 Sure. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-06-07 10:28 |
| #1 A/C isn't worth it? No, the 'desert corrosion protection package' and the 'underbody clearcoat protection' aren't worth it. Is there a different mode of A/C that could be considered? |
| Posted by: eLarson 2005-06-07 10:20 |
