Army rushing more armored Humvees to Iraq

NJ.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

NAJAF, Iraq (AP)

[archy]

Sounds like a job for the HEMAT gun truck

Possibly. I've given some thought to a modular fighting package based on a 20-foot shipping container, that could be dropped on behind a HETT or other 20-foot flatbed. There's still the limitation of the unarmoured cab, but I bet something reasonably effective could be improvised pretty quickly.

The *Alabama Slammer* is a possibility, too: a scrapped out M113 body on a 10-ton truck chassis.

[archy]

Wonder who'd be stupid enough to mess with a convoy thus armed?

1. The suicidal. There are such in that region, dedicated and equipped. And fuel convoy tankers make a spectacular target.

2. Those who don't know that such escorts are along... Surprise, surprise.

3. Them with mortars. Thus, the rocket pods with an equivalent range....

[archy]

"Then we started checking whether we still had our 10 fingers on," Monti recalled of the recent ambush south of Baghdad.

Not only had all four soldiers escaped injury, but the vehicle — which had been fortified by armor plating and bulletproof glass — came through with just a few dents and a cracked windshield.

"There probably would have been wounds, maybe mortal ones, in your basic Humvee," said Monti, of St. Louis. "Every vehicle that goes out on the road should be 'up-armored.' Your safety is dramatically increased."

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Contractor vehicles will be marked to allow clear identification by Coalition Forces.

[Darksheare]

Heck, I'd go as well.
payscale?
I was in artillery, pay means nothing!
*chuckle*

[Darksheare]

Sounds like fun.
Target rich environment.

And did I see mentioned a package based on the 20 foot modular cargo container with all kinds of goodies involved?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Additionally, each security person in the vehicle shall have a personal automatic rifle that is approved by the Government.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Each vehicle will be manned by three personnel.

Does that mean you can't have more than three in the same vehicle?

[in the Arena]

Not a bad plan...develop some CAS, like a Skyraider for each convoy...too bad those old birds are all but gone...

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Fox Armored Car

[Cannoneer No. 4]

guntruck

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

....it could probably be fitted to the Czech OT-62 *Scot*...or the Israeli Machbet could be fitted, very similar to the Avenger, and now replacing the weapons station on all the Israeli M163 Vulcan AA M113A1 tracks. Just replace the Stinger missile with a helicopter pod full of Hydra missiles with a tasteful mix of flechette and HE rockets, and you'd have the functional equivalent of the old *Slammer VI* mini-MLRS system that the 82nd Airborne experimented with in the late 1970s    ~ archy

Knowledgeable FReeper good guys looking out for the welfare of their fellow good guys - willing to escort convoys (see above + other suggested improvements) in Iraq for little money (with the fringe benefit of taking out some bad guys).

Plus an article - one of many from the press pushing the Dems current campaign to convince America that they care about the troops (after endangering them with their votes, reckless rhetoric, appeasing Saddam, siding with Chirac - and just plain lying - repeatedly (ping!)).

[Criminal Number 18F]

Archy, and other interested personnel.

Paul Vallely is a retired general who does military color reporting for Fox. His son was a student in the 18X program. This is the "SF Baby" program that accepts exceptional recruits off the street for training in the more rapidly acquired SF specialties (weapons and engineer).

The son's death was not in training or a result of training. I do not know the son's name, whether he was General Vallely's only son, or the exact cause of death.

General Vallely and his wife did visit the HQ of the Special Warfare Center last week in the aftermath of the incident and were received by the CG.

I'm sorry that I do not have more information. I assume that the Vallelys have decided to deal with their grief privately. My heart goes out to them in this difficult time, and I salute their son for daring to attempt this challenge. "The only failure is the failure to try."

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[xone]

Flew frogs, get some FAM on the weapons, sign me up! Good $$$ better ROE. I'll hang with the Army guys here.

[Criminal Number 18F]

That newsweek study is a crock. I commented in the thread, but look at their numbers: "1 in 4" assumed that all who were killed were not in "properly armored vehicles" and assumed that had they been in stouter vehicles they ALL would have been saved -- both false assumptions.

Also, the story didn't ID the authors of the study but I believe it to be one that has been making the email rounds that was written by a flunky/consultant for FMC (the guys that lost out on Stryker and want their Viietnam-era M113 to replace it. Som eof the KIAs have been in M113s, too!)

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Darksheare]

I like the ideas expressed here.
We could have some flags and insignia.. a few Jolly Rogers with some various embellishments maybe?
Like archy's crossed wrenches?
Maybe a set of crossed cannons on one?

[archy]

I like the ideas expressed here.
We could have some flags and insignia.. a few Jolly Rogers with some various embellishments maybe?
Like archy's crossed wrenches?
Maybe a set of crossed cannons on one?

On a red background to match the stripes on your legs, no doubt. I smell a cannon-cocker in our midst, though not necessarily a bad thing to have around when the bad guys would bring us grief in the dark.

If you count tube mortars, recoilless rifles and light MLRS barrage rockets as within the artillery purview, I shouldn't be surprised if there's a place for a couple of gunbunnies with poor hearing and strong backs. Like I said, a couple of nasty surprises under canvas might be a useful part of the package. You familiar with the activities of Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba at Mirbat in 1972?

[Jimmy Valentine]

I swear that looks like the old White Half Track from WW-2

[Darksheare]

Not really familiar with his activities, but I'm sure it's quite an interesting and extremely informative read.
(And full of other ideas!)

And yup, guilty as charged on the 13B part.
That would be myself, and one or two others with extremely bad ideas to give the other guys nightmares for months with.

"Like I said, a couple of nasty surprises under canvas might be a useful part of the package."
I like ALOT of nasty surprises, but that's me.
*chuckle*
(I hate surprises when they're directed at me, but if they work in my favor, the more the better!)
I was thinking more of a subdued grey background.
Kinda like a subdued Gadsen flag, black rattlesnake on a ghost grey background.


Found the Sarge:
Sgt. Talaiasi Labalaba - BEM & MiD
B Squadron 22nd. Special Air Service Regiment.


17th. July 1972

We remember Laba who fell mortally wounded in the Gun Pit at Mirbat in southern Oman during the Dhofar Insurgency Campaign whilst defending the town from an invasion of nearly 400 communist insurgents.

Laba repeatedly loaded the 25 Pounder and kept firing over open sights until a bullet struck him in the neck.

His action and that of the other members of the B Squadron BATT team kept the Adoo pinned at the Towns perimeter defences whilst a relief force from G Squadron was on the way by helicopter from Salalah.


That's guts.
25 pounder?
And no flechette rounds?
Oooge.

[archy]

Flew frogs, get some FAM on the weapons, sign me up! Good $$$ better ROE. I'll hang with the Army guys here.

We're talking about a fairly small unit with literally a handful of platoons- better called *patrols* I think- probably less than a hundred personnel plus base station vehicle maintenance, commo, logistics and staff, and the best durned food service/cooks we can find and hire.

But wouldn't it be interesting if such a unit had its own small but lethal air support section, say a couple of old leftover Hughes 500D *loaches*...and maybe a couple of more recent two-seaters.