Posted on 04/01/2012 1:06:16 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
That M113 series vehicles were perfect for that. It is the ultimate modifiable chassis, and it will handle the extra weight.
I loved those things, but all I got was a Kawasaki Mule. It didn't have the 6-wheel cool factor.
I want one. I also would like to have a pinzgauer.
The M113 has had a number of customers. IIRC, Aussies have used them as have the Israelis.
Humvees along with trucks, trailers, etc. have been and are available as military surplus. Usually, it is a flat rate purchase and not an auction. An acquaintance of mine has been buying surplus Humvees for years to rebuild then flip for a profit.
From his description, most Humvees are driven until they are junk then are sent to a central depot (Maine or New England I think he said) where they are stripped with the used parts used to rebuild other junkers back to standard or forwarded into the military logistics supply. Bottom line is that Humvees released for surplus sale right now are usually in pretty sad shape and take quite a few $$$ to get functional.
Jerry Pournelle has been saying similar things since 9/11. He makes a strong distinction between the Legions, and what they ought and ought not to be doing, and the Auxiliaries that we don’t have.
The Legions were needed to take down Saddam, if it really needed to be done. They should not have been used for occupation of Iraq. Auxiliaries should have been used for that, with a small contingent of Legionnaires kept nearby, but not participating in the occupation efforts, to keep the Auxiliaries honest.
About a dozen years ago there was a group on an FAL forum I was on that was working on a group buy for some milsurp Pinzgauers. Not sure if it ever went anywhere, but they sure were neat vehicles for off road / in the woods.
Here is a surplus government website to get you started:
http://www.govliquidation.com/vehicles.html
Love it.
I think a hot rodded Prius, complete with Lake pipes, would be just the thing to p*ss off the tree huggers.
Mines.
Thankfully, the Dodge M880 is pretty well out of the system, though a few still soldier on as base support vehicles.
And won't fit inside or drive up the ramp of a CH-47 $hithook cargo helicopter, or USMC equivalent. The Brit Landies, the German G290s and tracked Wiesel heavy weapons carrier will.
Fair enough. Why not a vehicle like the Dingo with a modular armour kit?
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