More new Humvees, armoring kits are making their way to Iraq

Stars & Stripes ^ | Jan. 29, 2004 | Lisa Burgess

[demlosers]

Also, the Ma Deuce gun trucks are making a comback in Iraq.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

With funding secured and contracting processes completed, the Army is starting to move ever-larger quantities of both armoring kits and newly built armored Humvees into Iraq, Army officials said.

“I don’t think we can accept an ’05 deadline,” Warner said.

Brownlee said the Army officials agreed, which was why they were planning to send the armor kits.

In the fall, Congress earmarked sufficient funds to pay for both new up-armored Humvees and armor kits to modify existing vehicles in the 2003 defense supplemental, which included $177 million in Humvee money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A paratrooper from Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, mans a .50 calibur machine gun at a traffic control point during Operation Salm in Fallujah.(Photo by Spc. Michael J. Carden, 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 82nd Airborne Division) www.centcom.mil, 1/29/04

[Old Sarge]

And I betcha local commanders have authorized "field expedient" mods to these, as well.

[SAMWolf]

Also, the Ma Deuce gun trucks are making a comback in Iraq

great, now if only the ROE will allow them to shot first and ask questions later

[Blue Highway]

great, now if only the ROE will allow them to shot first and ask questions later

I'll second that. Any Iraqi with a weapon should be considered a threat and taken out.

[blackie]

Protecting our troops ~ Bump!

[PhilDragoo]

Uparmor bump.

[TXnMA]

In the fall, Congress earmarked sufficient funds to pay for both new up-armored Humvees and armor kits to modify existing vehicles in the 2003 defense supplemental, which included $177 million in Humvee money.

I'm happy to see my tax dollars go for whatever it takes -- to protect our troops!

----------------

BTW, immediately prior to opening this thread, I got an e-mail from "#2 Son", 82nd ABN's "Sgt Chris"!

(SUBJECT: Lovely Iraq!)

"I'm OK & at a Firebase south of Baghdad; been an interesting couple of days here ..."

"Living conditions are pretty good; better than the last time I was here!!!"
["last time" = 1991 -- Desert Storm... TXnMA]

----------------

Lord, please help us give Sgt Chris and all our troops who go into harm's way all the tools they need to protect themselves. But, more importantly, please wrap them in Your loving arms of care -- and bring them safely home to all those who love them.

[taxcontrol]

Ok folks, I need a sanity check. That does NOT look like an M2 .50 cal. Looks like one of those 40mm grenade launchers to me.

Someone able to set me straight?

[Ranger]

This is a pentagon puff piece. Two point of note:

1. Production of uparmored humvees is not capped at 220 per month. That is a myth. The production potential is well in excell of 300 and probably 500 per month. The DoD is not being candid with congress on this matter.

2. Retrofit kits have been delayed by antiquated requisition and evaluaton proceedures in the army. The marines are shortcutting the process and getting equipment in the field months if not years ahead of the army.

3. This article is to offset scathing criticism from congress this week on the topic.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Amen, TX.

So glad you heard from your Sgt. Chris, and that he has a sense of humor ~ and perspective. (^:

Did he hear this speech?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee visited the Iraq-bound 82nd Soldiers for two hours just prior to their departure via two C-17 aircraft. Four additional flights took the remainder of the brigade Jan. 16.

“Over the next two months, 250,000 Soldiers will be on the move in and out of Iraq -- the biggest Army movement since World War II,” Brownlee said. “To minimize the danger, we need somebody who already has combat experience. Sorry you got picked on again. When you are really good, you get picked on.”    Link

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!

[windchime]

"Lord, please help us give Sgt Chris and all our troops who go into harm's way all the tools they need to protect themselves. But, more importantly, please wrap them in Your loving arms of care -- and bring them safely home to all those who love them."

Amen.

[Joe Brower]

taxcontrol, you are correct. That's certainly not a .50bmg, M2 or otherwise. It's a Mk 19 40mm belt-fed grenade launcher, although, despite it's caliber, it's termed a "machine gun".

[Eagle Eye]

All kids of mods--metal coverings, metal boxes, metal deflectors...some more cosmetic than effective, but they're looking for protection against shrapnel and stray small caliber rounds not from IEDs and RPGs.

They have to remember that 1/2" steel carries quite a bit of weight and will rob the vehicle of speed and power.

I'm personally fond of the Razorback's 5 ton trucks with the turret box and .50 cal machine guns and the attitude when driving.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, Joe. That's some picture. Bullets for big game, it appears.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ARMORED WARFARE: Easy Stick Add-On Armor

February 3, 2004: When American troops in Iraq first encountered frequent ambushes and roadside bombs, they realized that their unarmored trucks and hummers were particularly vulnerable. While many rushed to attach armor plates to the vehicles, some of the reserve troops who were cops back home knew of better solutions. At least two firms were selling light weight bulletproof composites that could be quickly attacked to police cars (doors, hood and so on). One type, Aztik 100, consisted of light weight, bendable panels. One side had glue on it, protected by paper that was peeled away when you wanted to attach a panel to a police car, or hummer, door or hood. Another product, RhinoPak, quickly developed a set of rigid lightweight bulletproof panels built to fit right on a hummer, including the top. Bullet proof glass is also provided for the windshield. The composite armor will stop a heavy machine-gun bullet (.50 caliber or 14.5mm. These panels would also stop most fragments from a bomb exploding nearby. As a result of recent reforms, units had money, and authority, available to get these armor kits, and many did.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Stick-on armor gets live test in Iraq