| We are all aware of the serious problems with | | | | commander can acquire targets and direct fire |
| the Stryker MGS, but now that Stryker | | | | better). The only clear cut advantage that |
| Brigades have entered combat, and peace | | | | the overhead turret has is in the tank |
| stabilization work in Iraq, a number of | | | | destroyer role. |
| observations have been made. | | | | |
| | | | Finally, if the US Army bought a batch of |
| They are a hell of a lot safer than being in | | | | conventional 105mm turrets for an interim |
| a light armored jeep. They can handle rifle | | | | solution, after the overhead turret version |
| and machine rounds. Smaller IED and personnel | | | | is fielded those turrets could be removed and |
| mines handled without too much difficulty. | | | | easily sold on the world export market. |
| | | | |
| However, they cannot take the punishment that | | | | One of the problems with the Stryker MGS is |
| the M2 Bradley can handle. Even with SLAT | | | | that some people tried to make them a tank |
| armor, they have fallen prey when multiple | | | | replacement. They could have gotten away with |
| RPG are fired at them. They are reportedly | | | | a vehicle with more firepower over the |
| also taking a lot of damage in the wheel | | | | 25-40mm cannon, with something like the |
| areas of the vehicles, whereas the tracked M2 | | | | Canadian Cougar with its short 76mm gun, and |
| would brush them off, keep on moving, and | | | | had no problems with shooting it. However, |
| fighting. | | | | that would have brought into question the |
| | | | disparity between the 105-120mm guns on |
| Considering the foregoing, do you think the | | | | tanks. |
| Stryker will be relegated a lesser position | | | | |
| in the new modular army, with the M2 being | | | | I have no problems with light armored forces, |
| put back into the spotlight. I note that to | | | | after all that is what I served in, however |
| date I haven't seen much about the speed of | | | | the Rumsfeld's of the world, and lord knows |
| the Stryker being of much use in convoy or | | | | we have our share of them up here, had an |
| patrol duties, which makes one wonder if the | | | | agenda and nothing was going to change their |
| think-tanks are hashing this over in terms of | | | | ideology, even if lives were lost. For me and |
| light mobility that can't handle RPG's let | | | | I'd suggest many others that is the bottom |
| alone larger munitions. | | | | line. |
| | | | |
| The M2/M3 has shown that they can take more | | | | It also brings into question the thought |
| damage, sure, but they're still vulnerable to | | | | processes that the Stryker's would not be in |
| RPGs. The other thing that surprised me is | | | | frontline combat as this would be left to |
| that Stryker's tend to do better when hit in | | | | tanks and heavier armor in the way of the M2 |
| the wheel areas than Bradley's; the RPG | | | | and M3, but they somehow forgot how |
| detonates when it hits the tires, meaning it | | | | insurgency fighting can be as dangerous as |
| disables the vehicle but doesn't punch | | | | frontline duty. Convoys with weaker armor can |
| through the armor, while the same hit | | | | still cost lives, just as frontline combat |
| wouldn't necessarily disable the Bradley but | | | | can and in Iraq that never ending lesson is |
| it'd kill everybody inside. I'll ride in the | | | | played out far too often. |
| Stryker. | | | | |
| | | | One of the other posters said something |
| Also, the Stryker was never meant to lead an | | | | important, IMHO, that these types of vehicles |
| assault when there was real armor available; | | | | have a place for base security patrols, true |
| it's supposed to deploy quickly like the 82nd | | | | peacekeeping where the belligerents want you |
| did in 1990 for the Gulf War, and then it's | | | | there as a buffer force, but otherwise this |
| good for peacekeeping stuff, plus it's a good | | | | use of Stryker's in a combat zone has to be |
| platform for middle echelon forces. | | | | rethought. Maybe with newer Stryker's that |
| | | | have added armor this situation will improve. |
| The Stryker's have done pretty good in Mosul | | | | I know that they have done pretty good in |
| with 1-24 INF. I saw that had been hit by a | | | | Iraq and in Afghanistan. |
| car bomb, the only thing really wrong with it | | | | |
| was the tyranny made some funny noises and it | | | | In prior conflicts Canadian troops lost their |
| needed some new tires and a paint job. | | | | legs, and sometimes lives due to the inherit |
| | | | weakness in the M-113 APC, with the wheels |
| One item that the Stryker units in Iraq wish | | | | and bottom protection doing what they are |
| they had "the day before" is the version with | | | | supposed to do, and that is all to the good |
| the 105mm cannon. But because of problems | | | | side of the equation. However, without added |
| with the autoloader it's IOC has been pushed | | | | armor protection that benefit is lost and |
| back to 2008 or 2009. For the life of me I | | | | also the nonsense about making them air |
| can not figure out why the US Army does not | | | | transportable. No way with the added armor. |
| buy some of those off the shelf 105mm two man | | | | |
| conventional turrets (Cadillac Gage has them | | | | Makes one think again that both |
| in production for export orders) and fit them | | | | Lockheed-Martin and Boeing have missed the |
| to Stryker's for Iraq till the overhead | | | | boat in not creating a successor to the Herc, |
| turret version is available. | | | | and why the A400M Airbus with its superior |
| | | | payload capacity while still having the same |
| Yes, the TOW bunker buster is "some what" | | | | take off and landing requirements of a Herc |
| filling that role (i.e. electrical wires | | | | will win the day in many purchases from NATO |
| cause problems in urban warfare), but all the | | | | countries. |
| commanders say a conventional cannon is | | | | |
| needed NOW. And in fact the conventional | | | | Unproven yes, but if it does succeed, LM's |
| turret 105mm is much better for the type of | | | | lead in the medium military lift field will |
| warfare that the US Army is now engaged in | | | | be extinguished. |
| Iraq and Afghanistan (i.e. the turret | | | | |