Free Republic

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(March 4, 2004) -- Heavily armed humvees are in the Marine Corps' future — but will they come soon enough to help Marines in Operation Iraqi Freedom? If Maj. Gregory G. Frich has his way, they will. "Our intent is to make this mount available for OIF II as soon as possible," Frich, 1st Marine Division's ordnance officer, said about a prototype mount that allows attachment of several crew-served machine guns on vehicle doors. The idea for the mount was spawned during Operation Iraqi Freedom, when Marines riding through Iraqi towns in humvees at times...

August 4, 2003: August 2, 2003: At least two battalions in the 4th Infantry Division have modified their equipment to help them adjust to urban warfare by mounting .50 caliber M2 heavy machine guns on the back of their Humvees. These vehicles are now nicknamed "Gun-Vees" and resemble the "technicals" used by Somali fighters first encountered by Americans in Mogadishu ten years ago. These up gunned vehicles are especially useful in battling the Islamic fighters in alleys and other tight urban spaces, where tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles cannot maneuver. The modified vehicle also provide an element of surprise, being...