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ARMORED WARFARE: Gun-Vees Appear in Iraq
StrategyPage.com ^
| August 4, 2003
| Adam Geibel
Posted on 08/04/2003 7:23:28 AM PDT by overtaxed_canadian
August 4, 2003: August 2, 2003: At least two battalions in the 4th Infantry Division have modified their equipment to help them adjust to urban warfare by mounting .50 caliber M2 heavy machine guns on the back of their Humvees. These vehicles are now nicknamed "Gun-Vees" and resemble the "technicals" used by Somali fighters first encountered by Americans in Mogadishu ten years ago.
These up gunned vehicles are especially useful in battling the Islamic fighters in alleys and other tight urban spaces, where tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles cannot maneuver. The modified vehicle also provide an element of surprise, being far quieter than the tracked M1 Abrams or M2 Bradley's.
TOPICS: Extended News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 4thid; gunvees; humvees; iraq; miltech; technicals; urbanwarfare
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To: overtaxed_canadian
I'm wondering why mounting a machine gun on a humvee is considered "news" but it's a good excuse to post a picture...
2
posted on
08/04/2003 7:32:22 AM PDT
by
jriemer
(We are a Republic not a Democracy)
To: overtaxed_canadian
We heard from our son over the weekend, they are getting belt fed grenade launchers put on their truck along with 40mm GAFTI's (go ahead
f*@#ing try it) guns
3
posted on
08/04/2003 7:34:47 AM PDT
by
boxerblues
(God Bless the 101st, stay safe, stay alert and watch your backs)
To: jriemer
I think what they mean is there is the standard turrent, and the cargo bay now has a weapon. A Browning pointed in each direction could pose a serious punch.
To: jriemer
I'm wondering why mounting a machine gun on a humvee is considered "news" It's a 50-cal, Jim. It'll outgun anything an urban guerilla is likely to sport, it'll knock down a cinderblock wall. I think taking potshots at US troops is going to become a whole lot less fun.
To: overtaxed_canadian
Modern Desert Rats. I like it!
6
posted on
08/04/2003 7:38:57 AM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
And they are rapidly finding that there are fewer and fewer volunteers to go shoot at the Americans.
7
posted on
08/04/2003 7:40:31 AM PDT
by
Blood of Tyrants
(Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
To: Blood of Tyrants
The Rat Patrol rides again!
8
posted on
08/04/2003 7:41:09 AM PDT
by
randog
(Everything works great 'til the current flows.)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
All that is true, but it is also standard equipment. For example, light scouts (battalion and brigade level) and 2ACR all have hummvees with .50 cals, automatic grenade launchers and in the case of the 2ACR, TOW IIb anti-tank missiles. This is not new...maybe more people have the equipment, but it has been around for quite a while.
To: jriemer
You're right, this isn't news. The USMC used these in Somalia in early 1993 when it was "cowboys and indians" and the main mission was simply to get the armed militias off the streets. In addition to the 50bmg having considerably more killing power than the .30cals commonly mounted on "technicals", the Humvee can and did go right up and over the bad guy's vehicles on occasion.
10
posted on
08/04/2003 7:44:24 AM PDT
by
Joe Brower
("Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." -- Ronald Reagan)
To: overtaxed_canadian
Whack-a-Raghead Bump.
11
posted on
08/04/2003 7:44:59 AM PDT
by
DoctorMichael
(>>>>>Liberals Suk. Liberalism Sukz.<<<<<)
To: jriemer; g'nad; JenB; rugerman
And it's a nice picture!
I wish I had one of these...
12
posted on
08/04/2003 7:47:13 AM PDT
by
2Jedismom
(HHD with 4 Chickens)
To: overtaxed_canadian
Ma Deuce / JMB bump!
A true American genius.
13
posted on
08/04/2003 7:50:20 AM PDT
by
FreedomPoster
(this space intentionally blank)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
I'd rather have a .50 and a .30. Shoot, a gatling gun would be cool.
14
posted on
08/04/2003 7:50:36 AM PDT
by
AppyPappy
(If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
Comment #15 Removed by Moderator
To: overtaxed_canadian
hmmm
The Marines have had these configurations for years. Mounting not only the .50 call but the Mark 19 40MM Grenade Launcher as well. That's a sweet piece of machinery. 240 Grenades a minute down range :)
16
posted on
08/04/2003 7:56:53 AM PDT
by
Leatherneck_MT
(If you continue to do what you've always done, you will continue to get what you've always got.)
To: AppyPappy
This is a variation of the "quad 50s" from the VietNam era. Those, however, were heavily armored, usually mounted on 2-ton trucks. They were used to protect convoys from attacks by the VC and would devastate the muslims - much more firepower than anything available short of tanks. Mounting the 50 cal weapons on Humvees makes them more maneuverable than the 2-tons, however. How are they armoring them - sandbags and kevlar panels from Blackhawks? I would like to see how a 7.62 minigun from a Blackhawk or Little Bird mounted on a HumVee would work - that would make for some real sporting contests...
To: astounded
Wouldn't sandbags add too much weight?
18
posted on
08/04/2003 8:04:34 AM PDT
by
bagman
To: overtaxed_canadian
There's a company in Pennsylvania that mounts 50 caliber machine in guns in SUV's. I think the story was posted about a year ago.
To: jriemer
The Rat Patrol is loose... :)
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