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How many articles do you have to write and how many times must you tell the Army "This vehicle is unsafe" before someone with courage says, "This vehicle is unsafe?" That lack of courage in the Army has cost us three fine young men without a shot being fired because the design of this top-heavy vehicle causes it to roll over on any angle more severe than 30 degrees.
1 posted on 12/08/2003 9:15:18 PM PST by Vetvoice
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To: Vetvoice
BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Three soldiers from the Stryker Brigade Combat Team were killed in an accident during a combat patrol in Iraq Sunday night, ABC News reports. A fourth soldier was injured.

The accident occurred after an embankment on an unimproved road collapsed, causing two Stryker infantry carrier vehicles to roll over into a canal. ABC News says it was not a result of hostile fire.

Heavy rainfall in the area might have been a cause, but the Army is still investigating.

The names of those killed have not been released.

Unit First Of Its Kind

The light-armored Stryker Brigade is the first of its kind in the military, designed to be mobile and get troops to the hot spots fast.

The brigade, composed of 3,300 soldiers, is fully computerized and connected to the Internet as they travel.

The Stryker resembles the light-armored vehicles used by the Marines for decades. But the Strykers have thicker armor. And before leaving Kuwait for Iraq last week, the Army installed what's called "slat" armor designed to detonate rocket-propelled grenades before they hit the vehicle.

Computers inside give soldiers a detailed map of enemy positions. A sophisticated gun system has optical and infrared cameras to target the enemy.

Although it's primarily a troop-mover, the Stryker can pack an offensive punch. It can be equipped with automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles and 50-caliber machine guns.

The Stryker team will be deployed in Iraq for at least a year.
2 posted on 12/08/2003 9:16:46 PM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: Vetvoice
because the design of this top-heavy vehicle causes it to roll over on any angle more severe than 30 degrees.

It apparently is also rather difficult to exit when inverted and submerged.

3 posted on 12/08/2003 9:21:02 PM PST by Amerigomag
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To: SLB
FYI.
4 posted on 12/08/2003 9:24:07 PM PST by Jeff Head
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To: Vetvoice
The IDF has said all along that the US needs to change the vehicles it is using in Iraq, as per their experiences fighting Arab terrorists and in similar land structure areas.
5 posted on 12/08/2003 9:52:02 PM PST by yonif ("If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, Let My Right Hand Wither" - Psalms 137:5)
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To: Vetvoice
The accident occurred after an embankment on an unimproved road collapsed, causing two Stryker infantry carrier vehicles to roll over into a canal. ABC News says it was not a result of hostile fire.

Hmmm. You don't reckon that could've happened to a 113 or even a Humvee?

7 posted on 12/08/2003 11:09:44 PM PST by Prodigal Son
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To: Vetvoice
Jeepers, creepers, this is exactly the story I did not want to see first on the Stryker in Iraq.

A fully armored combat vehicle and we lose people in a traffic accident.

I just want to close my eyes and go please no please no please no!

18 posted on 12/09/2003 4:09:07 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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