It's our last show of the year,
and we're going out with a bang...
Special Guest
Kenneth Timmerman
will be discussing his latest book!
Radio FreeRepublic is sponsored by the FreeRepublic Network.
Posted on 12/18/2003 2:45:55 PM PST by 11th_VA
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Fearing roadside bombs and sniper bullets, the members of the Army Reserves' 428th Transportation Co. turned to a local steel fabricator to fashion extra armor for their 5-ton trucks and Humvees before beginning their journey to Iraq earlier this month.
But their armor might not make it into the war, because the soldiers didn't get Pentagon approval for their homemade protection.
(Excerpt) Read more at bayarea.com ...
It's our last show of the year,
and we're going out with a bang...
Special Guest
Kenneth Timmerman
will be discussing his latest book!
Radio FreeRepublic is sponsored by the FreeRepublic Network.
The last gun truck in the mail convoy follows the bobtail tow truck out the gates of the Baghdad military mail terminal.
By Randy Talbot
U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command
Staff Historian
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- On the Fourth of July, most people look forward to sharing the day with family and friends, cooking out and celebrating the birth of our Independence. Everywhere, that is, except here in Southwest Asia where the past and present meet to provide a solution to our soldier's running convoys to Baghdad.
This year, volunteers from AMC's Anniston Army Depot and Red River Army Depot, working out of AMC's U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command's Forward Repair Activity in Kuwait, decided to do build a vehicle that is designed to be an "ambush buster."
Discussions between the Science Advisors from the Army Materiel Commands Field Assistance and Technology Activity (AMC-FAST), Combat Engineer Battalion- Arifjan (provisional) and the FRA started the project moving.
David Daniel, who works at Production Planning and Control at Anniston related that the philosophy at the FRA "was not to turn anything away."
"Our understanding was that they wanted an ambush buster-something that could be hidden in a convoy and be a deterrent on the ambush," explained Chuck Gunnels, a special projects officer for the General Manager of Production Operations at Anniston.
"We have people getting killed everyday in ambushes in Iraq," says Johnny Downs, supervisor of Electronic Operations at Red River. The goal is to build an armored truck, that when completed will "be able to lay down a base of suppressive fire" to thwart attempts to attack convoys heading north with much needed supplies.
This teaming of welders, mechanics and engineers and science advisors Dr. Ray Bateman and Steve Burnett, both from the Army Research Laboratory at Fort Hood, Texas, have literally taken a military problem into their hands, and have reached into their past for a solution.
Army Logistician published an article in July 1986 titled "The Guntrucks of Ambush Alley," that details the growth and success of this vehicle during the Vietnam War. Between 1967 and 1971, first the "deuce-and-a-half" with M60 machine guns, and later the 5-ton with .50 caliber machine guns were configured in either single or multiple mounts. Some vehicles carried 7.62-millimeter "minicannons" and soldiers with M79 grenade launchers.
The vehicles had sheets of steel plate welded to the front, rear and sides, along with the cab floor and truck bed. This gave the vehicle-armored protection against mines. When sheets of steel plate were difficult to obtain, the ingenious crews stripped armored personnel carriers and mounted its hull on the front of a 5-ton truck.
They found the solution by stepping forward into the past.
Taking a condition "H" (not repairable) M818, welder Jody Owen from the body shop at Anniston quickly went to work stripping the vehicle of its fifth wheel, cab and other parts.
Jody said that first, "We had to get the truck ready, stripped and prepped."
While he worked in oppressive 124-degree heat, a Heavy Equipment Transporter brought in a condition "H" M113 Armored Personnel Carrier.
Explaining how they got started, Gunnels said that, "designing is a team effort. There are no plans to put a 113 on an 818. But when we finish, there will be plans on how to do it!"
Without plans or drawings, but with stubborn determination, they went to work. Their biggest concern is placing the hull of the M113 onto the truck. Then they have to run it and see what it can do. Weight will be increased as ammunition is added and finally the guns.
Besides the weight, there are concerns about "making the tank fit the truck" according to Owen.
"We have to cut the nose off [the M113], gut it out, cut the front off and mount it on the truck," he continued, then the "drivers position will have to move about six inches to the center" so that the driver will receive the full protection of the armor.
Once the shell of the armored personnel carrier is on the truck, placement of both the guns and the windshield have to be fitted.
"The plan right now" Owen explained, was to "use the windshield from an up-armored HMMWV and place it on top of the 113 shell."
Finally, the vehicle will have two or four ring mounts that can hold .50 caliber machine guns. One concept that is being looked is to have two .50's mounted on the top--front and back-with HMMWV ball-bearing ring mounts with gunner slings," related Gunnels.
"It's doable. It will be done," he continued.
If this works, Dave Daniels would like to see this configuration "put on a newer model truck where you can have a little more excess electrical power" for weapons like mini-guns. He would also like to see a vehicle with a little better suspension.
The truck has become an item of interest in Kuwait. While it may be an oddity, everyone in the FRA agrees that it was a real morale booster.
Although the vehicle is in its early stages of development, it may not have the flashy names of its predecessors, War Lord, Eve of Destruction or The Untouchable.
But do not be surprised to see a photo of an unorthodox vehicle called The War Wagon or Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang around the Main Supply Routes of Iraq, breaking through ambushes and helping bring much needed supplies and equipment to the troops living in the dirt and the dark.
You see, the motto of the FRA is "We can do anything."
Field expedient Stryker.
True. We used AALPS or CALM to do load plans now...but it is only easy and accurate if the standard data is correct!
I hope no infantry was around when it got hit.
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