[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.

[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.

[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.

[OXENinFLA]

You were needed on the Senate Floor earlier.

Dick Durbin (D-IL) was ranting about the steel industry and brought up the specific point that Humvees needed doors and it was going to take a year to get all the doors needed.

Due to there only being one steel plant left in the US that can produce what is needed.