Army could have bought more armored Humvees

May 7, 2004 | Ted Evanoff

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Military understated how many can be made

The secretary of the Army said in November that the military was buying every armored Humvee that could be made.

Politicians and parents pointed out that the factories could turn out thousands more of the steel-plated trucks.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

This is why a purpose-built armored vehicle with a V-shaped, blast deflecting hull is better than a flat bottomed armored limousine. The M1114 takes that right up through the floor boards.

[Khurkris]

No word on my part re:archy. Him being 'banned' is rather strange news. Can't imagine him doing anything even remotely 'bannable.' Oh well, this should get sorted out. He may just be on a jaunt.

Re:Mambas, Damn the pork - Get the troops what they need!

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks KP, we'd really like to hear from him.

[Darksheare]

No.
Haven't heard a peep.
Will search for his last post before disappearing.

[exnavy]

HMMMMM, must have run afoul of the host somehow.

[Darksheare]

I don't see any threads that would indicate what might have transpired.

[gunnedah]

Politicians whether the be Democrat or Republican should have to answer for this. The politicians not only waste money they are wasting lives in circumstances like this.
In the 9-11 hearings I believe it was the FBI director said the FBI consisted of only 3% of the terrorist budget.
Under Clinton the FBI had requested $3.5 Billion and got $360 Million when they knew there was a hiring freeze for the FBI and CIA. 46% of the FBI agents were not even qualified.They requested 200 agents and got 60.
Now our friends Ted Kennedy and John Kerry got $16 Billion to dig a hole in Boston.
Janet Reno said they knew about terrorism from the beginning but had budget difficulties. I would like to know how with the largest tax increase in history and the brillance of Clinton how this happened and where that money went.
We need a real accounting of all the money that is just missplaced and cant be accounted for or traced in DC.

[yhwhsman]

rumor of his banning

I was shocked when I heard about this. Can't imagine anything archy would do that would cause him to get banned.

[Ranger]

I heard from Archy about a week ago. Nothing to indicate a problem then. I appreciate his commentary.

[Ranger]

It seems entirely reasonable to seek specialty vehicles that offer protection as you propose. Have you probed to see why this isn't occurring besides obvious reasons such as maintenance and so on? Noted that some Textron vehicles were purchased recently. Speaking out of school, it would seem common sense would have mine resistant vehicles at the front of a convoy as you propose and rpg resistant vehices with some serious firepower bringing up the rear. Finally from a flat out practical standpoint, it seems we ought to be getting the M113s and Bradley's back in the fight asap.

[Darksheare]

Same here.
Haven't seen anything that would indicate any problems myself.
Still, haven't heard back fron KP if he's gotten a ring back to his e-mail yet.
Whatever happened, we'll eventually hear.
Thanks for 'your piece of the puzzle', so to speak.
Makes this seem truly odd.

[Travis McGee]

I haven't heard from archy since he was suspended/banned. Not a word.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

But who determines what the troops need? Obviously the men and women doing the job should be listened to, "end user input" is important, but they are usually too busy doing and too junior to be the people deciding what is available and what could be developed, tested and fielded in time to make a difference. That's what proponents and project managers are for. Instead we let our procurement be driven by emotion, media blitzes, and political pressure.

[Khurkris]

There it is. Send them AA reports. I honestly don't know how to correct this. In my Govt'al experiences I was always end user. Fortunately, if I needed something and did not have it I requisitioned, bought, borrowed or otherwise procurred what was deemed needed.
Today, sitreps are almost instantaneous. Ignorance of needs is not an excuse.
In the areas being shown on your threads, the right equiptment is already available and proven. Trouble is, its off shelf by a foreign manufacturer and US pols won't authorize purchase.
It ain't their kids out there. Just more partisan politics.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks. If I hear anything I'll let you know.

[Travis McGee]

Likewise.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Why was he banned?

[Thunder 6]

It hasn't...yet.

regards,

[Cannoneer No. 4]

That is not smart.

The war you pack up to go to might not be the war you end up fighting. All those units that have been converted into provisional MP and motorized rifle companies might need their tanks and howitzers and Stingers if the present war expands into Syria and/or Iran.

20 years ago First Tank kept each tank's basic load of main gun ammo in the racks on the tanks, all the time. We parked them in the Motor Pool loaded, we went to the field loaded, and we went to gunnery loaded and had to download the service ammo onto tarps, upload the training ammo, and when we got done for the day we had to upload service ammo again and do it all over the next day. The point being we never knew when the war might start so we minimized the amount of time it would take us to be ready for it.

I really wish these units were taking everything they need to perform their primary mission. A bunch of people will have to be retrained when they get back if they go a year without doing or training to do their MOS job.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Armor Holdings Receives $16.6 Million to Increase Up-Armored HMMWV Production in 2004 and 2005