Free Republic

<p>Eight versions of the Stryker infantry carrier are to be evaluated at Fort Knox.</p> <p>FORT KNOX, Ky. -- A new generation of light armored vehicles will soon be rumbling across Fort Knox's rolling terrain as the Army transforms itself into a more mobile fighting force.</p>

The U.S. Army's bold program to equip several "medium" (or IBCT) brigades with wheeled, light armored vehicles (the Stryker family of LAVs) is faltering. The LAV's kept growing in size to the point where most models have to be partially disassembled to get into a C-130 tactical transport (a primary requirement.) The tracked M-113, a half century old armored carrier still in wide use, was supposed to be left in the dust of the Stryker. This is not happening. New models of the M-113 keep appears, many of them more mobile, reliable and better protected than the Stryker. Perhaps the...

For 20 years the Abrams tank has been the undisputed king of the battlefield. Over this time the tank has undergone several modifications. The 105 mm cannon was upgraded to 120mm. The armor was changed from Chobram to steel encased depleted uranium. After almost 20 years in operation, two Abrams have been disabled/destroyed in Iraq. Reports were that technicals using a Kornet AT-14 antitank weapon shot the Abrams in the rear, penetrating the tanks. The exact situation remains unknown. Some reports were that the missile penetrated the engine vents, while others stated that the engines were fine but the back...