Article

2008-03-12 Iraq

Stryker Crews in Iraq Rally to Defend Their Rides

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Posted by Steve White 2008-03-12 10:43|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 I know I can't have any really valid opinion, being a civie with no other ideas that what he can read here and there on the subject, plus, I'm biased, because I've read Mike Sparks early on, and he really, really, really, really dislikes Strykers and other lightly armored wheeled vehicles with little "popguns", and he makes his points with fervor (he seems a bit crazed, not that there is anything wrong with that, of course :-)...), but apart from the the stealthier wheels and higher road speed (but sparks debates that last point), what exactly can do the LAV or the Stryker and its variants than an upgraded and pimped out (and much cheaper) M113 couldn't (with big guns and heavy firepower, 90mm cannons, 106mm RR,... as Sparks would want, of course)?
Or the USMC EFV?
That is, don't fix what isn't broken, keep what's working, and upgrade accordingly to the advances of technology in comms, sensors, fire control,... rather than spending billions in literally re-inventing the wheel?

Posted by anonymous5089 2008-03-12 11:48|| 2008-03-12 11:48|| Front Page Top

#2 Not that I don't think the Strykers, LAV, are not good vehicles in their own right with inherent advantages and drawbacks due to their design, but I'm curious, why shelve large stocks of capable vehicles, as proven over time, give more as foreign aid, and then go back from scratches, with lots and lots of money in R&D?

Posted by anonymous5089 2008-03-12 12:05|| 2008-03-12 12:05|| Front Page Top

#3 Better is the enemy of good enough.

Good enough is the enemy of more R&D bux...

Posted by M. Murcek">M. Murcek 2008-03-12 13:49|| 2008-03-12 13:49|| Front Page Top

#4 Most people who complain about military equipment have never been in a fight - period. The only way to get accurate information about what works and what doesn't is to listen to the people that use this equipment daily. The armchair admirals and generals in the Pentagon need to remember that.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-03-12 13:56|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-03-12 13:56|| Front Page Top

#5 anonymous5089, the M113 and the M577 (command track version) were old 30 years ago when I was driving the 577. They were maintenance hogs and the engines, drive trains and tracks were subject to breakdown. They are are noisy and slow and don't have any room to add all of those new goodies that keep our troops alive and in contact with each other. And the fact that they are a slab sided, thinly armored (fifty cal will penetrate) and probably a really good IR target. Those slab sides would be a really great surface to hit with rpg's and that flat floor should transmit every bit of force of a landmine/ied to the crew and troops. Other than that it's a great piece of vintage tech suitable for show at a museum.

Not that I have an opinion on the subject.

Did I mention that the tracks are a PIA to maintain? If you could get the parts.

Posted by tipover 2008-03-12 14:41|| 2008-03-12 14:41|| Front Page Top

#6 tipover: so what are you saying?

:-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-03-12 20:25|| 2008-03-12 20:25|| Front Page Top

#7 Strykers do what everything else in the inventory cannot do and that is be quite, travel quickly and efficiently without tearing up the community, and most importantly they protect Soldiers. I have worked along side them and they get it done. I saw one take an IED one day in Baghdad and the boys calmly exited via the ramp and all of them merrily went after the trigger man. Yes the MGS has problems and must be worked out, but the guys are making that happen. One other point that is very importnt...the bad guys are terrifed of them..very hard to kill and they pack a punch they cannot hear coming.

Posted by TopMac 2008-03-12 21:22|| 2008-03-12 21:22|| Front Page Top

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