'Widow maker' Lav3 in army budget blowout

National Business Review ^ | June 10, 2004 | Nick Bryant

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Other way around. The Stryker is built around an LAV III hull, suspension and drive train. The LAV II was invented first.

[VaBthang4]

Alright now you've confused me. Those systems/versions are the exact same systems/version that the Stryker comes in.

Now either they are one and the same or they arent. I dont see General Dynamics creating two separate armoured vehicle systems that so overlap.

I must still be missing something.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Stryker is based on the GDLS Canada LAV III 8x8 light armoured vehicle, in service since early 2001. The LAV III is itself a version of the Piranha III built by Mowag of Switzerland, now part of GDLS - Europe. Fabrication and final assembly of the vehicles is being shared among plants at Anniston, Alabama; Lima, Ohio; and London, Ontario.

[VaBthang4]

Other than giving credit to which came first, what is the difference between an LAVIII in Canadian service and a Stryker in American service?

[VaBthang4]

Okay now I am starting to get it.

Stryker is the latest in a line of Armoured Vehicles deriving from the Piranha?

[EternalVigilance]

The Lav3:

Shoulda just dug the latrine pit and left it at that...

[sauropod]

Ain't transformation fun?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The turret is the primary difference. automotively they are very similar

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Correct.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

[EternalVigilance]

Sheesh, that thing looks like an unwieldy beast.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

More than meets the eye.

[Jonah Hex]

Actually, it's fairly fun to drive. It uses the same Caterpillar powerpack as the FMTV cargo truck, so it's relatively quiet and doesn't put out much visible exhaust (nice for setting up ambushes and sneaking up around corners on snipers).

Just try to stay out of deep sand and mud.

[VaBthang4]

Goodness.

All them friggin antennas.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

General Dynamics and the Stryker Brigades would have you think everything is peachy keen with the Stryker. Lonnie Schoultz and Mike Sparks would have you think the Stryker is a POS.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Have you driven one?

[VeniVidiVici]

Wow! Look at the antennas on that thing! (pick me! pick me!)

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Rumor has it that there has been more than one combat refusal to go out the gate in the Stryker.

[VaBthang4]

From what I understand, the Stryker has like all weapon systems fielded, had to have some small kinks worked out. The Soldiers had to get used to employing it properly and get a feel for what it can and cannot do.

This was to be expected.

Other than the fencing added in order to defeat RPG rounds I have heard no qualms from the people who know [The actual troops employing the system]. As a matter of fact I have heard nothing but good things about it's capabilities on the field in Iraq. Especially the quiet engine and tires and the advantage gained when sneeking up on the enemy [and the fear terrorists have at knowing it is so quiet].
I completely discount this article as it is not discussing an American weapon system or Americans period. I find it quite sad that any anti-Stryker whiner would want to use the criticism coming from such a limp wristed natio...err...source.

We'll always have the contrarians and the naysayers...