Controversy Surrounds Army's Stryker

NewsMax.com ^ | Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 | Jon E. Dougherty

[Vetvoice]

Most of the information in this article is in the public domain but it has never been put together this well. The latest work by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) is featured as well as the latest problems to plague this system in the units sold to New Zealand. There is a constant about the Strykers – wherever they go they screw up.

[Prodigal Son]

But, POGO analysts noted, "The Stryker has already failed to protect soldiers from one of these weapons."

"A Stryker passed over an improvised explosive device planted in a road in Iraq" on Dec. 13, POGO noted in an assessment. "The device detonated, injuring a soldier who barely managed to escape as fire engulfed the engine compartment."

I think it's important to note that no soldiers were killed in that incident.

[sd-joe]

"The Stryker Brigade will bring these capabilities to ...ground forces in Alaska and Hawaii as well."

Ground forces in Hawaii??? How do they stand up to coconuts?

[leadpenny]

The ground forces in Hawaii (2 Bdes. of the 25th ID) are on their way to Iraq and Afghanistan.

[fourdeuce82d]

"The difference between a Stryker and an M-113 is like the difference between a Yugo and a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost," Garamone wrote. He also said the Stryker handled better than the M-113, was much faster (with a top speed of 60 m.p.h.), had better armor, and could carry more troops

I don't know what to think- on the one hand, "POGO" sounds like a group that would slam any weapon system. On the other, I've read articles claiming that modern '113s are a huge improvement over the original, are lighter, easier to load on a C130, are already in inventory, and can be uparmored to surpass the level of armor on a stryker.

any treadheads want to chime in?

[ChiefKujo]

There have been nine rollovers over here to date. This thing's center of gravity is so high and the track so narrow, that it's an accident waiting to happen. It's a high tech joke and everyone over here (who isn't a brain-washed owner-operator) knows it.

ChiefKujo

[Vetvoice]

There were three drowned in a roll over of two Strykers into a caanal before the Brigade even commenced operations. That should be enough dead kids to point out to the Army that bolting on 5,200 pounds of "slat armor" ABOVE an already high center of gravity is suicide for the kids in them.

You are correct. Nobody lost their lives to the IED but one did lose a foot and we lost a $4 milion Stryker. Is that a win?

[Prodigal Son]

There were three drowned in a roll over of two Strykers into a caanal before the Brigade even commenced operations. That should be enough dead kids to point out to the Army that bolting on 5,200 pounds of "slat armor" ABOVE an already high center of gravity is suicide for the kids in them.

Well, to be fair, you could drown in any vehicle that went into the water- M113, Hummer, 5 ton truck, Bradley...

You are correct. Nobody lost their lives to the IED but one did lose a foot and we lost a $4 milion Stryker. Is that a win?

The thing is, we're not God. We can't see what might have happened to the same soldier who lost his foot had he been in a different vehicle. If he had been in a different vehicle and lost his life- not just his foot- then I say, yes, the fact that he was in a Stryker and only lost a foot as opposed to his life is a victory.

Also, they're not kids. I wasn't a kid when I served and I'm quite sure these men in Iraq wouldn't like being thought of as kids either. They're men. Grown up men.

[archy]

There have been nine rollovers over here to date. This thing's center of gravity is so high and the track so narrow, that it's an accident waiting to happen. It's a high tech joke and everyone over here (who isn't a brain-washed owner-operator) knows it.

Are the guys there still under orders not to refer to their vehicles as *Stynkers?*

-archy-/-

[SLB]

More slamming of the Stryker. I can't say I am enamored with it, but it seems to be doing the job, and oh by the way, the 9 roll overs? Right now the credibility of that is about zilch. First and foremost, with the proliferation of the internet that would not be kept under wraps. The most serious incident is one that was destroyed by an IED, the only serious injury was a broken leg by the driver. I saw drivers in Vietnam setting on top of a M113 (ACAV) get blown off and killed. 'Nuff said on that for now.

[archy]

There were three drowned in a roll over of two Strykers into a caanal before the Brigade even commenced operations. That should be enough dead kids to point out to the Army that bolting on 5,200 pounds of "slat armor" ABOVE an already high center of gravity is suicide for the kids in them.

Well, to be fair, you could drown in any vehicle that went into the water- M113, Hummer, 5 ton truck, Bradley...

If a M113 goes into the water, upside down, you can kick open the door in the back ramp and get out, even though the ramp can't be lowered [gravity works against you when it's upside-down, as the Strykers that crumbled the Iraqi river bank, rolled over and went in upside-down were. And the rear doors had been chained shut, preventing the crews from accompanying vehicles from getting the trapped survivors out in time. And Bradleys at least have an escape hatch in the floor at the driver's position.

The XM1117 military police Armored Support Vehicle, designed for the MP task of convoy escorts, mounts a turret fitting BOTH a .50 M2 AND a Mk 19 grenade launcher up top- so side exits that can be opened with the vehicle on its side, upside down, or under fire from one flank were provided, a feature the Soviets also have on their BTR 80/90 8-wheeled cars, lacking on their earlier models- and found to be a serious shortcoming during fighting in Angola, Afghanistan and Chechnya. The XM1117 also included a rear exit, though not primarily intended as an infantry vehicle- let the enemy gunners try to guess which exit those inside might use before the .50 and 40mm open up on them, rather than giving them a single easy target.

We haven't learned thatr lesson with the Stynkers yet. More American soldiers have to die first.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Search keyword stryker

I've been chiming in since July.

Tracks versus wheels is one of those perennial topics, like 9mm versus .45.

I like tracks and .45's.

[fourdeuce82d]

tracks and .45's

works for me...*grin*

[Cannoneer No. 4]

I saw this on Newsmax and didn't bother to post it because there was nothing new.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

With a name like that, you need to get on Darksheare's Field Artillery & Mortar Ping List

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Pair of Stryker vehicles comes under fire in Iraq

[Darksheare]

Another addition to the FAMPL?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

If he asks. Unless we want to conscript him.

[Darksheare]

Okers.
I don't stick people on the list unless they want on it.
That way it avoids the "Uh, why am I on this crazy list?" style questions.

[fourdeuce82d]

Think I responded to another post re: ping list with "Yess'm, Ah believe I wud lak sum a' that there pingage..." Shot, Over...