Article

2011-10-19 Science & Technology

Iowa Nat Guardsmen Innovate 7.62 MG Ammo Backpack

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Posted by Anonymoose 2011-10-19 16:14|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 How come a 27 inch bit of metal costs 1,700 dollars?

There's a crap "throwable" robot on a stick with a camera. Cost 15,000 dollars.

You're getting ripped off.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2011-10-19 17:04|| 2011-10-19 17:04|| Front Page Top

#2 BP, it's an articulated metal chute. After design, testing and manufacture, these things add up.

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2011-10-19 17:34|| 2011-10-19 17:34|| Front Page Top

#3 Maybe it has the +$x surcharge, but a feed chute is something I'd think I would want built right, of the right materials.

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-10-19 17:50|| 2011-10-19 17:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Another reminder of Lt. Gen. Forrest's dictum - get there first with the most.

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2011-10-19 17:56|| 2011-10-19 17:56|| Front Page Top

#5 I wonder how many rounds you can put through that thing before you need a barrel change?

In WWII, the Germans had water cooled MG that, in fighting the Russians, would boil off the water, so continuing to fire, one of the crewmen would put in handfuls of snow.

I would think about this when using an air cooled MG that needed its barrel swapped frequently.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-10-19 18:09|| 2011-10-19 18:09|| Front Page Top

#6 That $1700 "piece of metal" is a bit more than that. The article says that the chute assembly from the HMMWV's CROWS system is just being used here as a field expedient to deploy Ironman rapidly, while NSRDEC designs and tests a more permanent solution. Among other things, this means that there is a logistics chain in place to maintain the Ironman prototypes.

Here's more on the purpose of CROWS from a 2006 description:

The CROWS will provide the capability to remotely operate crew served weapons, improve system accuracy and operational response time by integrating state of the art drives, controls and sensors. ...

CROWS is mounted on High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) enables gunners to accurately engage targets viewed on a computer screen from the safety of their vehicle. CROWS allows Soldiers to operate successfully from within the safety of the Humvee's armor, without being exposed to the threat of improvised explosive devices and small-arms fire. The improved stable platform will support most crew-served weapons and contains a sensor suite and fire control software that allows on-the-move target acquisition and first-burst target engagement. CROWS can traverse 360 degrees and go 60 degrees up and 20 degrees down. The technology used on the CROWS is a variation of the remote-controlled crew-served weapons system already used on combat vehicles like the Bradley fighting vehicle and the M-1A1 Abrams tank

Posted by lotp 2011-10-19 19:13|| 2011-10-19 19:13|| Front Page Top

#7 I know what a CROWS is.

I also know what custom bits of metal cost...

You're getting ripped off.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2011-10-19 20:45|| 2011-10-19 20:45|| Front Page Top

#8 You're getting ripped off.

We'll keep it in mind.

By the way, how's the British Army doing?

Posted by Pappy 2011-10-19 20:52|| 2011-10-19 20:52|| Front Page Top

#9 The maker's of Predator as well as Jesse and Arnold have to be told about this. I do not care for either one's politics, but when you help inspire an idea that helps out the troops in combat, that increases their odds of surviving and winning shootouts, then a "tip of the hat" is justified.
Anyway, bringing in the celebrity angle will help get the troops who made the idea reality get some well deserved recognition.
HOOAH GUYS!!
Rifle308

Posted by Rifle308 2011-10-19 21:06|| 2011-10-19 21:06|| Front Page Top

#10 If it's articulated, there's probably some bearings involved. Possibly thin-section bearings, and there the price can add up.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-10-19 21:08|| 2011-10-19 21:08|| Front Page Top

#11 >how's the British Army doing?

Oh the MoD is a totally over-staffed rip-off.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2011-10-19 23:32|| 2011-10-19 23:32|| Front Page Top

00:05 JosephMendiola
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