Stryker Crews Find New Vehicles Can Take A Punch

Tacoma News Tribune ^ | 22 Dec 2003 | Michael Gilbert

[FreedomPoster]

Judging from this pic,
http://community.webshots.com/photo/92508045/92508272oXKPrN
someone forgot to check the box for the "Corinthian Leather Interior" option. ;-)

How difficult would it be to add a pair of M240s with shields in the back of a Stryker, similar to what's on that gun truck?

Finally, I got a thank-you envelope from Baghdad Saturday. I had sent a couple of nice, large Christmas packages to some friends of a friend, and I got this in return. I'm just glad the stuff I sent made it.
http://images4.fotki.com/v50/photos/7/77755/500835/erationIraqiFreedomTshirtPatch-vi.jpg

[FreedomPoster]

Interesting. Those things aren't grossly expensive, either.

http://www.blacklionoptics.com/product_info.php?products_id=118

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Sgt. Dustin Williams, from Bedford, Texas, a scout with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, sets up a long-range advanced scout surveillance scope on top of his Stryker vehicle at Camp Udairi before leaving for Iraq.

[Travis McGee]

Good gear! There's a great article on SFs in Iraq in super-humvees fighting off an ambush, and the driver talks about driving with his left hand while shooting out his window with his right on his EOTech equipped M-4.

[Joe Brower]

The reticle inside the EOTech holosight doesn't impress me much, although the sight itself does have the very neat and useful property of still being usable even when part of the glass gets smashed.

I prefer the Aimpoint Comp-M, or the newer Trijicon Tripower with the red inverted chevron -- they just work better for me. But once they're broke, they're broke.

[archy]

Interesting. Those things aren't grossly expensive, either.

When they get one that's not battery dependent, or at least has a backup, instantly available with the flip of a switch, reserve battery, I might hang one on a weapon. I'm thinking about an AK74S. I have a sweetie friend very fond of the Russian Kobra scope on her AK74, and it's worth a try being dragged kicking and screaming into the XXIst Century.

-archy-/-

[archy]

How difficult would it be to add a pair of M240s with shields in the back of a Stryker, similar to what's on that gun truck?

I'd bet the mount from a Humvee could be adapted pretty easily, and it'd give coverage both to the rear, or could swivel to cover the side it's mounted on, on out to about 45º toward the forward. Probably, either a 7,62 or .50 MG or a Mk 19 grenade launcher could be so fitted, though the vehicle could run out of .50 ammo pretty easily. Another possible setup might be twin M249 SAWs covering either side.

One of the two M240s [or M249s] would need to be set up for right side feed. Or an M240 could be used on the left, and a Russian 7.62 PK, which feeds from the right side, could be used for an *intirm* dual-mount gun.

If not, the fixed pintle mount off the old M114, which used an M60 to cover the vehicle's starboard side and rear while the TC faced forward, could be used instead. Last time I priced one, I think they were $45 apiece. And they'll support an M60 or M240 with a gun shield, though a Stryker's axles may not be real happy about the additional weight. Maybe drop one crewman per additional MG/ammo/armor?

[archy]

Army seeks better Stryker communications

Army officials suggested increasing each brigade's number of Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) systems from three to five and replacing each unit's 44 Near-Term Digital Radio Systems and Mobile Subscriber Equipment-Triservice Tactical Terminals with 53 Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) and Wide-Area Network Single Shelter Switch Baseband Nodes

More Stryker news will be showing up at the Stryker news website *here*, http://www.strykernews.com/

Until it does, it'll be in the archives *here*.

-archy-/-

[FreedomPoster]

TAPCO has an FAL mount now that is raised so that the iron sights can still be used, in case of dead batteries. Isn't there something similar for an M4?

http://www.tapco.com/product_information.asp?number=MNT2418&back=yes&dept=136&last=18

[archy]

TAPCO has an FAL mount now that is raised so that the iron sights can still be used, in case of dead batteries. Isn't there something similar for an M4?

Yes, but I'd rather have a low-mont, as close to the bore as possible. The flip-up auxiliary sights will serve should breakage occur, or I've noticed a lot of guys with the M16A3 mounting their backup rear sight/carry handle assembly on the foregrip KAS rail under the foreend, where a flashlight is sometimes also fitted.

Check out the scope on this guy's M4/M16A2....

-archy-/-

[Cannoneer No. 4]

A Stryker blog. Thanks, archy.

[FreedomPoster]

Holy snikes! And the NVGs. Not a guy you want watching you at night, if you're up to no good.

[Temple Owl]

Ping-show this one to your brother.

[exnavy]

it sounds like this vehicle is holding up quite well so far.

[historian1944]

I know that this really late to be replying to this thread, but I haven't had time to be on FR until very recently. The Stryker in that photo is currently at my location and will be moving to Arifjan very soon. The only comment I have is that the blast didn't directly injure the soldier-when the soldier exited the vehicle he injured himself. No one was injured by the blast. In that respect, these vehicles are successful.

[FreedomPoster]

Really? Wow! Hey archy, take a look at the replied-to post.