[Larry Lucido]

Those who know more about the 4th ID than me, is all this talk about "elite" and "high-tech" just another media setup to raise expectations, so that they can once again yell "quagmire" if any battle takes over an hour? What does the 4th ID have that the 3rd doesn't already have access to?

[Iwentsouth]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/4id.htm

Here is a page that explains quite well.

[Poohbah]

The 4th ID is the first division to receive the full Army XXI package of Command and Control (C2) systems.

The net result is that processes that take a few days in the 3rd ID only take a few hours in the 4th.

That means that they can conduct operations at a faster tempo than the enemy can cope with.

[Mr.Clark]

I believe they are equipped with two things that the 3rd doesnt have. They have M1A2 tanks, and they have some kind of new computer system, that tracks everyones motions and the like. It's called battlefield integration or something. Everyone eventually will get it, but the 4th is the first to be equipped with the system.

[peeve23]

The 4th ID is the most modern of our mech/heavy divisions. They have realtime knowledge of each other's locations through digital uplinking. This gives them a massive advantage on the battlefield because they know where all the eaches of their units are. When they locate an enemy target via other information technologies, then can move their closest, most useful assets to immediately counteract it.

The other division commanders work with radio and/or landline knowledge of where their units are.

It would be like a quarterback having precise knowledge of where all eligible receivers were at all times. He would know instantly who should get the ball when someone breaks open.

[Clean_Sweep]

"What does the 4th ID have that the 3rd doesn't already have access to? "

They have computer imaging of the battle field displaying all the positions of friendly troops and I think the bad guys for coordinated attacks.

[WhiskeyPapa]

What does the 4th ID have that the 3rd doesn't already have access to?

A fancy digital battlefield kit in each tank:

1] "The M1A1 has been the main battle tank of the US Army since the 1980's. There are a number of variants, with the armor protection being the reason for the different variants. The M1A1, or "slick" does not have depleted uranium armor. 1-68 Armor, 3 BDE, 4th Infantry Division, is one of these units. The M1A1HA, or "Heavy Armor" is the main battle tank of the US Army today. This tank has depleted uranium armor, but in all other aspects is the same as the M1A1. There are also M1A1HA+, and M1A1HA++, which are M1A1HA tanks with additional armor protection. Every unit outside of III Corps (3rd ACR/4th ID/1st CAV) are equipped with some variant of the M1A1 tank.

[2] The M1A1D, or "Delta" tank, is a M1A1HA tank with digital communication capability. The Force Twenty-One Brigade and Below (FBCB2) digital overlay system is the main addition to this series of tank. This system is critical, as it allows commanders to visually track units over the digital map, and also allows the dissemination of information between echelons. The M1A1D tank is in use by 1 BDE, 4th ID only. There was a plan to equip more units with M1A1D's a while back, but budget adjustments and cuts have limited this purchase.

> [3] The M1A2 is the first tank to incorporate a number of new technologies. This tank first came into the inventory in the early 1990's, and the Saudi Arabians also purchased a number of these tanks. The major differences between the M1A1 and the M1A2 are second generation armor protection, the Commanders Independent Thermal Viewer (This allows the tank commander to identify and acquire targets, then he can slew the sight to the gunner, who then picks up the scan. The tank commander then continues to scan for more targets. This is known as the hunter-killer concept.), the Inter-Vehicular Information System (a pre-cursor to the FBCB2) and some other minor additions such as a digital compass. The M1A2 is used by the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, but the Army has been trying to get rid of the tank as many components are not compatible with the latest technologies or the vendor support has disappeared.

[4] The M1A2SEP is the latest Main Battle Tank the Army has procured. It was first introduced to the Army in the mid-1990's. The M1A2SEP features a number of improvements over the M1A2, such as improved and additional armor, a 2nd Generation CITV (it has 2nd Generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sights), and a new engine. The engine is more fuel efficient, but is still a turbine. The 2nd Generation FLIR is amazing. It is a great piece of equipment that is light years ahead of the 1st Generation equipment. There is additional, and improved armor, which increases both the protection of the crew and the weight of the vehicle."

http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/comments/c477.htm

Walt