[Cannoneer No. 4]

How long does a Stryker take to drive off a C-130, "reconfigure", upload ammo and gear, refuel, bore sight and zero, perform pre-combat checks and drive off to the war? Can the Remote Weapons Station be "reconfigured" by the gunner with on board tools? What kind of reception committee do they need? Seems like a lot of planes are going to have to come into that recently captured airfield before the Airborne sees any Strykers do something useful.

[historian1944]

What you are describing is why the C-130 requirement was stupid to begin with. The reason it was put in there (same with why one of the Brigades is going to be an Army National Guard one in Pennsylvania) is that it was easier to sell the idea if the Air Force could get money to upgrade C-130s everyone was happier. The ANG was happy because that way they get more money, also. There is no way that an entire brigade is going to be moved by C-130, and not just because of the time required to put the vehicle back together. You're talking about at least 300 sorties for the vehicles alone, plus .5 to 1 plane per vehicle for the stuff that has to be removed, plus crew. Add the other brigade vehicles, and you're talking somewhere near a thousand sorties necessary. There aren't going to be that many planes available anyway. If we did things like the Marines do, and deployed companies, or even battalions alone, it would be more realistic.