New Army Brigade Plan is Dangerous

Military.com ^ | 11/5/2003 | David Pyne

[olde north church]

El Cid is spinning.

[optimistically_conservative]

Why are you stuck on the number "40 ton"? The M1 is about 70 tons.

The Future Combat System will be a revolutionary system providing greater mobility while achieving an overall system weight approaching 40 tons (<50 tons desired).

Take a look at the Korean terrain and tell me that airpower is gonna win it.

I know the terrain well. Explain to me whether an Abrahams or FCS would perform better in the restrictive terrain of Korea.

Air power did not prove decisive in Bosnia, in large part because of the terrain.

Bosnia and Korea share the same terrain?

[wildbill]

The Chinese are notoriously "China-centric" in their view of the world. I cannot foresee any circumstances at all where the US would attempt to fight a land war against the Chinese on their territory. Any fighting wouldn't be on the Asian continent, but done via missiles or naval task groups.

Similarly, I can't see the Chinese becoming a sea power and transporting troops across the Pacific in numbers sufficient to attack us or allies like Japan or Austrailia.

I do believe the Chinese may test us when they attain some kind of missile parity by trying something like the invasion of Taiwan to see if we'll risk their missiles.

[sauropod]

What I recall from the news footage of the time is very hilly terrain and the propensity of the Serbs to hide their pieces inside barns, houses and the like.

[optimistically_conservative]

Bosnia is even more restrictive.

I'm not a fan of the win from 30,000' strategy either.

[sauropod]

The win from 30,000' people are the ones that Rumsfeld is putting in place in the Army.

This kind of mentality has been in vogue over the last few years with various op-ed writers in "conservative" newspapers. One such person that comes to mind is Philip Gold.

[optimistically_conservative]

The win from 30,000' people are the ones that Rumsfeld is putting in place in the Army.

You mean Shoomaker? That's ridiculous.

[Poohbah]

What are Pyne's credentials?

1. Former armor officer who thinks that tanks rule, infantry drools.

2. Former FReeper "eightwing2" who, prior to the War in Iraq, bragged about his extremely high security clearance and position in the Army Secretariat as he flamed anyone who supported going to war against Iraq--including, incidentally, several of his bosses.

[hchutch]

I think he's outta the Pentagon and heading some think tank now...

[Kozak]

ok then. Let's just ignore the many-thousand artillery pieces DPRK has. Let's just ignore the PRC army.

By 2025 Our current heavy armor will be as useful as a steam frigate at Midway. I'm betting that the same revolution in RPV's that's starting in the Air force ( to the horror of all the old pilots in command positions ) will be a major force on the ground. Picture semi autonomous small lethal vehicles, with no great need for survivability due to their lack of crew. Unmanned hunter killer helo's, orbital kinetic kill missles that lay down a guided meteor storm at a few moments notice. Controlled by third generation video gamers. The infantry will be used to mop up the dazed and shattered remnants of any force stupid enough to go up against them.

[GeekDejure]

AMERICA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE BLEEDING

The LORD has never allowed a society to promote homosexuality or abortion without bringing His judgment - ours is no different: America is even now under the judgment of the LORD. America will not be able to stop the bleeding; foreign armies will occupy this land. Behold, they are already among you, and you see them not. America has refused the LORD’S grace, now she must accept His judgment:

1. Innocent blood was spilled on the land; the land is now defiled.
2. The blood of over 40 million babies has been shed in this land.
3. The sin has reached unto the throne of the Holy One.
4. Judgment is now upon the land; it will tarry no longer.
5. The blood of the offender has to be appeased.
6. America constantly rejects the LORD’S grace. Therefore,
America will now have to accept His judgment !!!

[Bombard]

I have read all the Bolo books. Cybertanks are a long way off. I am also a wargamer and have played the games GEV and OGER which has massive cybertanks as well. Both were created before the advent of nano tech. I have more fear that nanotech will be the warfare environment than massive tanks.

[Bombard]

What you saw is only what they want us to see. The F117 was unknown to the public for several years until it was made known. The Black projects are out there being worked on right now.

[Pelham]

bump

[verity]

Seems that Pyne has committed the sin of Pride - and is also an a**hole.

[Poohbah]

Very astute summary.

[Chief_Joe]

I'm sorry, but I don't think getting rid of tanks and other "heavy" weapons systems is very far-sighted. Pyne is right

He' more than right: he's absolutely right. Anybody with soldiering experience and has been following the Iraqi Operation knows we need more not less heavy mech. Just go ask those that are fighting if they if they'd rather be in Bradleys and M1s or HUMVEES.