The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - M2/M3 Bradley - Aug. 31st, 2004

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[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

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M2 and M3
Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems
(BFVS)

The M2/M3 BFVS family consists of the M2/M2A1/M2A2/M2A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, the M3/M3A1/M3A2/M3A3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle and derivatives of these vehicles including: manpads under armor - the integration of the STINGER Missile System into the M2A2/M3A3 vehicles; Bradley fire support team vehicles and the command group vehicle variants.


M2 "Bradley" Prototype

The mission of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle [BFV] is to provide mobile protected transport of an infantry squad to critical points on the battlefield and to perform cavalry scout missions. The BFVS will also provide overwatching fires to support dismounted infantry and to suppress or defeat enemy tanks and other fighting vehicles. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is a fully armored, fully tracked vehicle designed to carry Mechanized Infantry into close contact with the enemy. It possesses sufficient cross-country mobility to keep up with the Abrams Main Battle Tank, medium and long-range firepower capable of defeating any vehicle on the battlefield, and is adequately armored to protect the crew from artillery and small arms threats. During World War II, the vehicle's namesake, General Omar Bradley, was known as the "GI General".


M2 Bradley

The Bradley is able to close with and destroy enemy forces in support of mounted and dismounted Infantry and Cavalry combat operations. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle family currently consists of two vehicles: the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. Just as with its predecessor, the M113 family, the Bradley will eventually be the platform for a wide range of support vehicles.


M2A2 Bradley

Unlike the M113 family of vehicles the Bradley replaces, this is not simply a "battle taxi". The Bradley is a sophisticated weapons platform capable of providing tremendous firepower in direct support of the Infantry it carries. The role of the Bradley is to :

• Safely transport Infantry to critical locations on the battlefield;
• Provide fire support to cover their dismounted operations,
• Destroy enemy tanks and other vehicles that may threaten the Infantry it carries

The Bradley’s main armament is the M242 25mm "Bushmaster" Chain Gun, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The M242 has a single barrel with an integrated dual-feed mechanism and remote ammunition selection. Either armor piercing (AP) or high explosive (HE) ammunition may be selected with the flick of a switch. The Gunner may select from single or multiple shot modes. The standard rate of fire is 200 rounds per minute, and has a range of 2,000 meters (depending on the ammunition used). A wide range of ammunition has been developed for this weapon, making it capable of defeating the majority of armored vehicles it is likely to encounter, up to and including some main battle tanks. The M240C machine gun, mounted to right of the Bushmaster, fires 7.62mm rounds.



When facing heavier enemy armor the Bradley relies on the TOW Anti-Tank Missile, manufactured by the Hughes Aircraft. Launched from a smooth tube launcher, the missile’s wings and tail fins are folded inside its body until launch. Two of these missiles are carried ready to fire in a collapsible, armored launch rack on the left of the turret. The Bradley must stop in order to fire these missiles, which are them reloaded by the Infantrymen in the back of the vehicle, using a special hatch which provides armor protection during the reload operation. The missile is equipped with a massive shaped charge, high explosive warhead and is propelled by a two-stage solid propellant motor. The range of the TOW missile is nearly 4 kilometers and the missile will reach a speed of almost Mach 1 on its way to the target. This weapon is capable of destroying any armored vehicle in existence today and is deadly accurate.


Maximum ground speed is 66km/h.

The wide tracks and 600 horsepower turbo-diesel power plant give the vehicle the mobility it needs to keep up with the Abrams, and keep the soldiers it carries out of harms way. In order to fulfil the requirement for rapid worldwide deployability, the Bradley can be transported by truck, rail, ship and transporter aircraft. In addition, all Bradleys are amphibious. Early models were equipped with a water barrier, which is erected by the crew before entering the water – a procedure that takes about 30 minutes. Later models have an inflatable pontoon, which fits on the front and sides of the vehicle. This pontoon is inflated in about 15 minutes, and is continuously pressurized during operation. The pontoon is compartmentalized to provide protection against sinking in the event of rupture of the pontoon. Water propulsion is provided by tracks which propel the vehicle at about 4 MPH.

[SAMWolf]

Running For Senate In 1984, Kerry Promised Massive Defense Cuts.

“Kerry in 1984 said he would have voted to cancel … the B-1 bomber, B-2 stealth bomber, AH-64 Apache helicopter, Patriot missile, the F-15, F-14A and F-14D jets, the AV-8B Harrier jet, the Aegis air-defense cruiser, and the Trident missile system. He also advocated reductions in many other systems, such as the M1 Abrams tank, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the Tomahawk cruise missile, and the F-16 jet.”

(Brian C. Mooney, “Taking One Prize, Then A Bigger One,” The Boston Globe, 6/19/03)

[PsyOp]

I can't speak to it's speed and manueverability. But one of the stock responses to the armor criticism I spoke of was that "it won't get hit because it's too fast and nimble" (or words to that effect). Shoot and scoot, in other words.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for sharing PsyOp.

So, I asked about it ans stated some of the criticisms I had heard, thinking they would welcome a chance to convince a soon-to-be officer that it was not in fact a "death trap" or mere "tank & RPG bait."

I agree, that was handled badly. He had a chance to refute those claims.

[GailA]

Volunteered at our county GOP HQ today from 10-2, lots of signs going out the door.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Matt for the excellent photo essay and for sharing your comments and feelings.

[SAMWolf]

The oly Bradley I've seen have been on static displays. Only got to see M-113's in action

[colorado tanker]

Had Kerry's 1984 plan been adopted, we would have had little deterrent with which to win the Cold War and an obsolete Army to fight Gulf War I.

And that POS says he's "reporting for duty."

I suspect the Bushies will be educating the people about this history after Labor Day, when people start focusing on the election.

[Darksheare]

Okers.
Thanks!

[Darksheare]

Understood.

Only had them drive past our position at Drum during AT, but never got to chat with the crews.
*rats*

[SAMWolf]

I suspect the Bushies will be educating the people about this history after Labor Day, when people start focusing on the election

I sure hope so.

[Grzegorz 246]

Great post Mr. Wolf :-)

[PsyOp]

I agree, that was handled badly. He had a chance to refute those claims.

Yeah. He pretty much convinced me that there was fire to go along with the smoke. After that you couldn't have paid me to get into one going into combat. I've seen the effect of an RPG on an aluminum skinned M113. I'd rather walk into combat.

[Grzegorz 246]

"I remember the few years before deployment of the Bradley the Army got the idea that P.C.'s should be more than battle taxis and should be fighting vehicles..."

However the first real IFV was Russian BMP1 constructed in early 60's.

[colorado tanker]

We really needed the Bradley to counter the Sov IFV's.

[radu]

Good afternoon everyone!

To all our military men and women, past and present, and to our allies who stand with us,
THANK YOU!

I hope everyone's doing well and having a grand day! (((HUGZ))) all 'round!

[Darksheare]

Good evening!

[w_over_w]

Evening Grace Snip & Sam~

Happy "Treadhead Tuesday"! Man we can build some tanks. How long before they can fly?

I might be a little light on my responses this week with the Republican Convention but you guys are always in my thoughts. God bless.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Evening all. Are you guys watching the Convention?

[Grzegorz 246]

Nice bear :-)