Posted on 05/26/2004 6:53:33 PM PDT by NCjim
Even in the age of unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite-guided bombs and night-vision goggles, the US army cannot fight a war without its most basic necessity: bullets.
And with more troops in Iraq, more intense combat than expected and the need for almost every soldier from frontline infantryman to rearguard logistician to be prepared for an ambush, the army suddenly finds itself in a bullet crunch.
According to a requisition last week by the Army Field Support Command, the service will need 300m to 500m more bullets a year for at least five years, or more than 1.5m a year for combat and training. And because the single army-owned, small-calibre ammunition factory in Lake City, Missouri, can produce only 1.2m bullets annually, the army is suddenly scrambling to get private defence contractors to help fill the gap.
The bullet problem has its roots in a Pentagon effort to restock its depleted war materiel reserve. But it has been exacerbated by the ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where rearguard and supply units have been thinly-stretched throughout the countryside, occasionally without active duty combat soldiers to protect them.
The army's formal solicitation acknowledges that its current m anufacturing abilities have been all but exhausted. "Increasing military contingencies have created a situation where the capability to produce small calibre ammunition through conventional methods has been fully exercised," it said.
Specifically, the army is looking for 300m more bullets annually, potentially rising to 500m a year.
Alliant Techsystems, which runs the army-owned factory in Lake City, is in talks with the military about remedying the bullet production shortage, insisting it could expand output by 200m to 300m a year.
General Dynamics, the US defence contractor which submitted its proposed solution on Tuesday, said it had pulled together several small bullet suppliers - including Winchester, a unit of Olin Corporation; Israel Military Industries; and Canada's SNC Technologies - to meet the army's gap.
"We're using so much ammunition in Iraq there isn't enough capacity around," said Eric Hugel, a defence industry analyst at Sephens Inc. "They have to go internationally."
I guess once they get to the point where they are willing to pay $1 per cartridge and China has overrun Asia since our troops didn't have ammo, the "capitalistic" system will kick in and rescue the Republic.
Until then, only a fool would add production lines (or start a new one) for a product they can *only* sell to the gov't (without a long-term contract in place).
The free market system doesn't work when it's not even close to being "free".
That would be true if we were are the end of the war instead of just finishing
the 2nd campaign of that war. We need to built up the inventory and troop strength
in preparation for the next campaign, (Syria,) and the one after that, (Iran.)
Sorry, I was an adviser to the King Abdhul Aziz Motorized Rifle Brigade and my weapon was provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dam thing got me in trouble at every PX and APO I went into. MP's want to see you clear your weapon before entering... FN won't drop the hammer unless the mag is in. Often looked like a Laurel and Hardy routine... "Clear you weapon" ... "No, remove the mag and clear your weapon"... "Clear your weapon" ... "No, remove..."
No. The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) has ramped up from a production level of 350,000,000 rounds per year to over 1.2 billion (the same as the peak during the Vietnam war). There is simply not enough equipment to produce more ammunition at this time. More capacity is being added, but it will not be on line soon enough to supply the current shortfall,
During the Vietnam war the government had another Government Owned, contractor operated (GOCO) plant at the Twin Cities Arsenal. It was operated by Federal Cartridge Company. It was dismantled in the late 1970's.
During the Vietnam war Remington, Winchester and Federal produced the extra ammunition needed. It takes time and money to convert commercial production to meet military needs. By the time such production could be on-line, the need may evaporate. Patriotism only goes so far. Without the prospect of a fair return on investment, why would a commercial business risk the investment? The contracts are awarded to the low bidder. At the same time, commercial ammunition offers greater profits. Commercial businesses have an obligation to their stock owners.
What on earth do you base your "thinking" on?
Please see ny previous post about incorrect terminology.
No it hasn't. Please get your facts straight.
I just got to thinking about what would have happened of if signed the UN gun agreement where we could have only gotten the rare metal they want to use for the bullets from mines in China.
No kidding, I saw a special on TV where the army was looking for more enviromentally friendly ammo for target ranges. Developmental at this time, or then again maybe past that. Anti-lead crowd.
Or how about the end run on clintons ban on selling US surplus ammo to the pesants as mentioned on a previous post. One company takes the surplus ammo apart and basically puts it back together and then sells it as remanufactured. Is that (clinton ban) stupid or what.
The surplus ammo you can buy is made overseas.
<P< That dream has absolutely nothing to do with todays shortage of combat ammunition.
I know it doesn't. You had asked where he got the idea about that type of ammo.
Myself, I'd like some depleted uranium in 7.62.
Except for one tiny little detail. The civilian companies can make cases just like they always do and the only change may be the headstamp.
The major difference between the civilian and military cartridges would be that little thing on the end again. The bullet.
The problem at Lake City still may not be complete cartridges. The problem could still be just one of the steps in creating the cartridges. The bullet.
FN Hipower? I guess the authorities frowned on removing that stupid magazine safety, like most owners of that otherwise outstanding firearm do.
Better yet issue our guys captured AK's and let them go at it. The 7.62mm x 39 is a better round for close in work anyway.
Exactly. Especially when you're banned by edict from selling any surplus ammo to the public.
Bush could fix this with a stroke of the pen.
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