Iraq Commanders Getting All Armor Needed to Do the Job

DoD-AFPS ^ | April 30, 2004 | Donna Miles

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Iraq Commanders Getting All Armor Needed to Do the Job

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2004 -- Commanders on the ground in Iraq are getting all the armored protection they determine necessary to do the job, the operations chief for U.S. Central Command told Pentagon reporters today.

Marine Maj. Gen. John F. Sattler, speaking via teleconference from U.S. Central Command's forward headquarters in Qatar, said ground commanders' requests for additional M1A1 tanks, "up-armored" humvees and kits to up-armor vehicles already in the theater are being filled quickly and completely.

The requests came from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force operating in western Iraq and the 1st Infantry Division in north-central Iraq.

The last of 28 additional M1A1 tanks requested in Iraq are expected to arrive within the next three days, Sattler said. "There is a time and place for those, and they send a very valuable message just by pulling one up to the front lines," he said.

But Sattler acknowledged during an April 29 teleconference that tracked vehicles aren't always the most appropriate vehicles to do the job. "Counterinsurgency requires you to get up to actually engage and work with the population, and that is tough to do from inside a tank or Bradley (fighting vehicle) or armored personnel carrier," he said.

In these situations, Sattler said wheeled vehicles and warriors on the ground provide the necessary "speed and agility."

Based on the current security situation, Sattler said commanders on the ground increased their initial request for 1,000 up-armored humvees to 2,500. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Larry DiRita said the Pentagon has "significantly surged production" to provide commanders in Iraq the additional 2,000 up-armored humvees they have requested. By December, Sattler said, the U.S. military will have 4,500 up-armored humvees in Iraq.

Commanders in Iraq also requested 8,000 up-armor kits to reinforce "soft-skin" humvees, he said. Up-armored humvees are used in higher-threat areas, primarily to conduct patrols and provide convoy security. Vehicles that travel exclusively on military compounds and other low-threat areas don't require the additional armored protection, Sattler said.

Sattler said the military is supporting all commanders' requests as quickly as possible. "They made the call, and we supported them based on the situation at the time," he said.

Biographies:
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Larry DiRita
Maj. Gen. John F. Sattler

Related Sites:
U.S. Central Command
M1A1 Abrams Tank
Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Humvee

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Military question, hypothetical - would our troops be better off with no armor and a strong leader who loved America, or a million armored HUMVEE'S under the leadership of UN-Clinton-Kerry?

[68skylark]

Does anyone else remember back in the late 70's when this tank was under development (back when it was called the XM-1)? I remember the lib media was just unmerciful -- it seems like they had a news story every day (it might have actually been one a week) about what a stupid design it was and what a bunch of morons the U. S. military must be for designing it.

This went on and on for years. The New York Times was the most critical. Of course, in the first Gulf War we've come to find out who the real morons are -- it was the reporters who said the XM-1 wouldn't work. It's the best tank in the world.

[TrueBeliever9]

BUMP and I am glad to see this!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

“An army of lions led by sheep will always lose to an army of sheep led by a lion.”

[Lee'sGhost]

Yeah, I remember. I happened to be in armor at the time. 60 Minutes did a piece on the contract competition. In this case they may have had a point. IIRC, the head to head tests at the Ft. Knox proving ground showed that the GM version was clearly a superior platform, while the Chrysler model had serious filtration problems, among many others. But the army selected the Chrysler model. Why? Well, it's was during the exact time that Chrysler was about to fold.

Now, that's a little different than just saying across the board that the M1 was a piece of junk. And maybe both things were being said by the media -- I don't recall that kind of detail.

But I do find it curious that we are sending the A1 version over there bec the tank has changed greatly since that version was produced.

[SAMWolf]

I'd rather fight barehanded than be under Kerry.

[Charles Martel]

I do find it curious that we are sending the A1 version over there bec the tank has changed greatly since that version was produced.

I thought that most of the Abrams tanks that saw "major combat operations" in Iraq were the A1 variant. IIRC, the 4th I.D. has the newer A2 model, but they were late in getting to the fray. If I'm incorrect, please let me know.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

“An army of lions led by sheep will always lose to an army of sheep led by a lion.”

Good quote, thanks. Adding to the tagline file. Whose?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Churchill's, I think.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

"I do not fear an army of lions, if they are led by a lamb. "I do fear an army of sheep, if they are led by a lion."
- Alexander the Great

[Lee'sGhost]

I think you are correct on all counts -- but do remember that GWI was more than 10 years ago. But more to the point, there was/is actually an M1 (no "A1" designation added on). That's the first production model and is actually what I was thinking of when I made my comment.

Thanks for helping to clear that up.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Tropicalwatcher]

I would rather have one hand behind my back, with the other guy, with a 12 inch knife running at me. In I would still not went that creep John Effin kerry, any where with in 10 miles of the white house.

[DMZFrank]

Would someone tell these guys that the HUMVEE is NOT an AFV? It is a utility truck, a replacement for the Jeep.

I was a tank commander in "Nam with the 1st Bde of the 5th Mech Inf. After initial skepticism the brass found out that heavy armor, such as 53 ton M48A3 medium tanks and light armor like M113 ACAV's could operate quite effectively in Vietnam, due in large measure to the ingenuity and innovation of the ordinary G.I. and his leaders.

The kind of fighting going on in Fallujah cries out for coordinated tank-infantry teams that can reduce the sniper nests with relatively little risk for the ground pounding grunts. High explosive rounds from 120MM tank main guns provide on station pin point immediate direct fire artillery support under the direction of the accompanying and protecting infantry. At present there is not even much rubble to impede AFV movement.
WE did a pretty good job with tank infantry teams in Hue in '68.

[JasonC]

But, but, if they admitted that tanks work every time they are tried, then how could they justify gutting the heavy army and giving all its funding and missions to everybody else?

[MonroeDNA]

Nobody's demanding Strykers?

Or whatever that "thing" is called?

[MonroeDNA]

Nobody's demanding Strykers?

Or whatever that "thing" is called?