Fate Of Stryker, Army's New Combat Vehicle, Will Be Set In Iraq

Post-Gazette ^ | September 28, 2003 | Jack Kelly

[Ex-Dem]

The Army is scrambling to fix a flaw in its newest armored vehicle -- the already troubled Stryker -- before sending it to Iraq next month for its first test in real combat conditions.

The Stryker is a 19-ton armored car that was supposed to combine the speed and quick deployability of light forces with considerable firepower and armor protection.

[razorback-bert]

Sounds great for a SWAT team.

[11B3]

When I was stationed at Ft Lewis, we were the test brigade for the "motorized light infantry" concept that is used by the Army today in HMMV units. At the time, it seemed silly. It seemed damned ridiculous when we watched the HQ pukes driving them back from Yakima while we walked back to Ft Lewis.

The Foot Cav is unfortunately the safest (and least comfortable) place to be in combat. Armored vehicles (well, any vehicles) instantly draw all of the incoming fire. I can't recall any dismounted troops ever being engaged by a Sagger, for instance. Even the Abrams was found to have weak spots this time. I can think of very few ways to die that would be more violent than being inside an armored vehicle when it is impacted by a round that pierces the hull, purees the crew, and takes their remains out the exit hole. Like what the Javelin does to a tank. (Shudder.....)

[Ex-Dem]

The shockwave from one of those Javelins on the human body must be killer.

I've heard some stories about how impressive shockwave effect can be, even from a Deagle. And there was a report from this Iraq War about an Abrams tank firing a round down a street to suck Iraqi Fedayeen out of the adjoining alleys.

[Hugin]

I always take the critics of weapons systems with a big grain of salt. I remember the same kind of things being said about the M1 Abrams, Bradley, Apache, and just about every weapons system used today.

[upchuck]

Looking "Stryker" up in the dictionary, I find it means "boondogle" and "death trap". Is that bad?

[river rat]

Gen. Eric Shinseki should be given a black beret, and assigned the point Stryker in a reconnaissance / draw fire run through Indian Country....

Semper Fi

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Stryker Brigade Combat Team Bump

[Squantos]

Thats exactly where they will wind up when Uncle Sugar gets tired of em....LA , DC, NYC ect ect. Hopefully the troops at Ft Lewis are driving the wheels off of em to ensure what will break or fail "mechanically" will before they deploy. And they remember it's a ride to the fight....not a ride through the fight.

Stay Safe Bert !

[Gringo1]

2nd I.D. howdies!

2/72 Armor....Firebreathers!

[Tailback]

I always take the critics of weapons systems with a big grain of salt.

The difference is the critics of the Stryker are 19-Kilos, 19-Deltas, 11-Mikes, 11-Charlies, and 11-Hotels instead of 60 minutes.

[Squantos]

http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1960_vn/stryker_robert.html

Named in Honor of this Medal of Honor recipent I believe...............Stay Safe !

[Poohbah]

I heard a story from Panama and Operatation Just Because--seems that a platoon from the 82nd had a problem with a "dingbat" (member of Noriegia's "Dignity Battalion" irregulars) holed up in an upper floor of a building.

A Sheridan arrives, they load HEAT into the breach, and let fly.

KABOOM!

They never did find the sniper, just what was left of his AK-47, and that looked like a modern art masterpiece.

Two blocks later, a sniper actually shoots at the Sheridan, and scratches the paint.

The commander loads another HEAT round and fires it into the base of the building (four-story). The entire damn building just kind of shivers, and then collapses.

[Ex-Dem]

LOL!

Thanks for the great story. That's going to be one I remember for a while.

[Fred Mertz]

2/72 Armor....Firebreathers!

I was a Firebrother back in '85. Greetings!

[Thunder 6]

It can be done with an MPAT round set a certain way. Fire it strait down the street and it would concuss the hell out of any sniper/RPG bubbas in the surrounding bildings. Then you are just looking for all the guys with blood coming out the ears. There is a challenge with that: it targets everyone in the area, bad guys and any civilians left.
regards,

[Cannoneer No. 4]

First Tank

[TD911]

"Send in the car,
Send in the CAR!"

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The Stryker was supposed to be an "interim" vehicle utilizing "off the shelf" technology. But it rapidly gained size, weight and expense. The average cost of a Stryker variant now exceeds $3 million. The LAV III, on which the Stryker is based, weighs far less and costs only $900,000, despite carrying more powerful weapons.

The LAV III in service with the Canadians, Swedes, Norwegians and New Zealanders is a useful vehicle. The Canadians are running them in Kabul right now. If the US Army had left well enough alone they would have come out ahead.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Canadian LAV III's in Kabul