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Posted on 08/30/2004 11:20:12 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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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 :
 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. 
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Thanks.
Once and awhile we get a chance to check in. We've been very busy otherwise. We are reading all about it on FR though.
Hiya radu.
Yeah. I've been noticing more W04 bumper stickers out here. Not many yard signs on either side just yet.
Good evening ct.
Hiya Darksheare.
Wonderful idea for a thread Matthew. We will all look forward to it.
I was wondering what happened to you. Thanks for the kind words. Even when we aren't around we always think about our Foxhole family in everyday things we say and do. ;-)
We? No wonder he's busy, LOL! Just kidding.
Thank You.
Oh my gosh. If my laughing woke up the hobbit lass it's your fault! That is so funny!
I also opposed the Abrams, the Patriot, the Aegis, allll the carriers proposed, the B-1, the B-2, the F-14, the F-15, the F-16, the F-117, the MX, and the meal from Wendy's. I felt--and still feel--the armed forces of the United States should only be deployed with the express consent of whatever hate-America organ-grinder monkey is Secretary General of the Yoonited Nations. I am proud to have opposed Ronald Reagan's eight-year Moral Darkness, proud to have traveled with Senator Harkin to present Dear Commandante Daniel Ortega with Mrs. Harkin. I inherited from my father a vast distaste for America and a closet lust for all things bearing the bright and shining yellow star of Marxism-Leninism. I betrayed this country as a young man and my defeat in November will be proof of a benevolent God, and relegate me to one of five couches in the mansions of the Queen of Diamonds.
OMG you're hilarious!!!!
That opening pic just cracks me up!!!
Thanks Grzegorz 246
Yep. We covered the BMPs a few weeks back.
Evening Radu.
I'd really like to see that story from a Pole's perspective.
How long before they can fly?
They're probably working on one as we speak.
I might be a little light on my responses this week with the Republican Convention but you guys are always in my thoughts.
Thanks w_over_w. Snippy and I have been rather scarce lately too and it looks like things are gonna get busier over the next month. :-(
Evening Victoria. We've been watching "Law And Order"
HI Samwise. I'm trying to meomorize it already.;-)
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