[Brilliant]

Can anyone say "robot?"

[CHARLITE]

For your interest!

Char :)

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..Ammunition engineered to explode over the heads of enemy behind cover is the one new technology that offers the greatest killing advantage for soldiers in close combat. So, it's no wonder that this "air burst ammunition" is on the chopping block for elimination..."

I have been seeing this type of ammuntion on TV for some time and was under the impression that it would be deployed in the future. There is no excuse to not provide the best equipment to the infantry and support troops who do most of the bleeding in war.

[Paul_Denton]

self ping for later reading.

[USNBandit]

The numbers are inexact, but recent experience suggests that Army and Marine ratios are at about six to one when engaging an enemy with help from artillery and air power. They compress to about parity when the enemy is able to draw our soldiers into the close fight in places like Fallujah.>/I>

I wonder a bit about these numbers. They may make the general's point better, but I believe we are doing better than that.

[gandalftb]

It's hard to argue with Bob Scales. He was the direct support battery commander at Dong Ap Bia Mountain. Today is the 36th anniversary of the beginning of that battle now called Hamburger Hill. What he said about those men is still true of our warriors today:

"I guess the last thing that struck me about the thing is the enormous tenacity of the American soldier when he's put in these situations. There was no reason viscerally for the soldiers to do the things they did. It made me think, frankly, "What makes people do this? What are the motives? Is it money? No. Is it the commander? No. Is it national pride? I don't think so." Many of the soldiers that came back from those assaults came back disenchanted, complaining, "This is a terrible thing. I don't know why we're doing this." And yet when you put a rifle in their hands and you put them back on the hill, they did it again."

I think we tend to over focus on armaments and armor. Of course they are essential, but finding and training warriors to close with and kill the enemy in a very personal and direct way is what will always create our greatest advantage in battle. Our willingness and ability to do so will always create the greatest chaos and fear in our enemies.