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