LAV III's are too much like Marine LAV's. The Army will never buy them.
The M1114 was okay for most missions we did. I would have preferred the Strykers the guys north of me had. We did use M113's for some missions too (Engineer route clearance), but got those guys into M1114's and M1025 AOA's as soon as we could. I would have liked the Buffalo's and Cougar's the Engineer (Division and Corps Level) route clearace units were using.
The Stryker could be fielded alot quicker (disclaimer here, this is NOT official army thinking) if we didn't have to stick all the gee-whiz C4ISR stuff in them, or that goofy Koenigburg sight on top. Put the standard C3I Suite in them, and get them to the BDE's NOW. Or better yet, buy some LAV III's with the 25mm turrets from the Canucks. The damned things don't have to fly over there in a C130, to that excuse for not buying them is useless. Add on armor can be used for the same reason...not ONE Stryker vehicle has been moved into MNB-N sector via air.
LAV armor (which can be added to), a 25 mm turreted gun, and a squad of infantry in back.
It's a start.
Regards,
LAV III's are too much like Marine LAV's. The Army will never buy them.