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2008-02-26 Home Front: WoT

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Posted by Steve White 2008-02-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 "Give Marines the vehicles they need to win the war? But that would come at the cost of cutting MY program! Over their dead bodies!"

Posted by gromky 2008-02-26 02:29|| 2008-02-26 02:29|| Front Page Top

#2 Start by looking hard at the Democrats in congress.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-02-26 12:53|| 2008-02-26 12:53|| Front Page Top

#3 The IG investigation is welcomed, but this isn't the first time Gayl has pushed one of his agendas.

The question then becomes, gromky - the MRAP may be fine for "this war", but what about the next operation? Will there be reports that marines died because there weren't enough vehicles because the MRAPs were too heavy and large to transport, or were unsuitable for the terrain? Or being accused of 'waste' because the MRAPs are sitting on blocks, because they are unsuitable for ops?

It's not like the Misguided Children are going to be able to ask for money from Congress for new vehicles for the next war, because the MRAPs were too heavy and large to transport, or were unsuitable for the terrain. Especially if Congress stays Democrat.

Posted by Pappy 2008-02-26 13:43|| 2008-02-26 13:43|| Front Page Top

#4 That the procurement process can be F'd-up is no secret. Of course it would have been better to move more rapidly and get MRAPS to theater faster. But many here know it is just not as easy as someone issueing a PO, which is what the idiotic MSM and their butt-buddies in Congress always make you want to think. These are expensive, complicated systems that need a whole lot of support once they are in theater. You can't turn on that whole system with the flip of a switch. Should it have been done faster? Sure. So should have the surge and true COIN. But as in all wars, we learn as we go for that particular event.

Posted by remoteman 2008-02-26 15:35|| 2008-02-26 15:35|| Front Page Top

#5 point taken...

MRAPs sure are impressive,

2 1/2 or 3 years ago I'd sure rather have been on route Irish in a MRAP instead of a Hummer.

In future conflicts the MRAP will make one impressive movable bunker!

>:")
.

Posted by RD">RD 2008-02-26 15:46|| 2008-02-26 15:46|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually a lot of the problem we dealt with was spare parts for them and the maint cycle. The manufacturer was in SC IIRC. At one point it came down that they would/could send a whole MRAP quicker then the class-9 block or pre-extended bin to go with the normal rotation of the parts or consumables that shit the bed. Sounds counterintuitive but that's what we dealt with. My unit touched & shipped every MRAP that came through western iraq at one point. There is some merit to this IG invest IMO and from my experience. Some of our flag grade elephants even got involved with complaining to Logcom and the others up in the ether about the lack of velocity in the MRAP fielding.

Posted by Broadhead6 2008-02-26 17:12|| 2008-02-26 17:12|| Front Page Top

#7 The first major MRAP producer was Force Protection. The JERV came from South Africa via GD-Canada and is not totally relevant. Anyway, Force Protection was in now way capable of delivering or supporting the types of numbers that were being called for without some ramp-up time. Normal, especially since they are a relatively young company. It wasn't until the Pentagon called in other big vehicle manufacturers to contribute to the production that things started to shake loose. I can only envision how the spare parts issue was bigger than getting the new ones. Real tough to make spare parts when you are flat out making your normal production.

Posted by remoteman 2008-02-26 17:46|| 2008-02-26 17:46|| Front Page Top

#8 I think the majority of our future wars are going to either be in the Sandbox area, or in Africa or South America. The MRAP would work for all three. Sometimes, a few people can screw up even the best of deals. It took firing one guy at Bell Helicopters to free up Huey production in 1965. The IG should indeed take a close look at what's going on, and should have the power to fire whoever is screwing things up.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-02-26 20:08|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-02-26 20:08|| Front Page Top

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