Army Seeks Short-Term Payoff From Future Combat Systems

National Defense Magazine ^ | December 2003 | Sandra I. Erwin

[R. Scott]

It’s often the case that the grunt in the field can come up with better and cheaper solutions than the defense contractors – and a whole lot quicker.
We used the M-2 Browning .50s with 500 round belts fed from a can on the deck about four feet below the gun. The Browning had enough power to feed with no problem.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Whatever happened to all those M-85's and M60A1/3 cupolas?

When they finally admit defeat on the Stryker Remote Weapons Station, how hard would it be to mount an old tank cupola in that spot?

The M-85 was a good gun. I vaguely recall a TC's 105 Delta sight that worked real good once you learned how to use it. Do they still make those links? Aggravating to be expecting ammo resupply and you get it and it's Ma Deuce ammo.

[archy]

Whatever happened to all those M-85's and M60A1/3 cupolas?

The Israelis found out that when a turret is hit with a 125mm HEAT round or ATGM HEAT warhead, enough force is transmitted to shear the cupola's mounting bolts, and the assembly goes flying. It the TC happens to be in it at the time, the top half of him goes flying with it, and the bottom half drops on down into the turret and generally messes things up inside. Of course with a Stryker, that'd be the least of anyone's worries in the event of a hit from an ATGM.

When they finally admit defeat on the Stryker Remote Weapons Station, how hard would it be to mount an old tank cupola in that spot?

A couple of possible better ideas come to mind, one being the 25mm Bushmaster mount from the M1025 Bushmaster Humvee. The M230 chain gun of the Apache has also been fitted to Special Forces Humvees. And the XM293 (FN M3P) .50-cal Gatling from the GE Avenger turret is another possibility.

The M-85 was a good gun. I vaguely recall a TC's 105 Delta sight that worked real good once you learned how to use it. Do they still make those links? Aggravating to be expecting ammo resupply and you get it and it's Ma Deuce ammo.

Yep, they're the M15 link, not the M9. They look like an overgrown M60 MG link scaled up to .50 size. I think maybe they're used with the XM 293 .50 Gatling.

You think gettin .50 ammo in the wrong links is unhandy, which is at least survivable if you've got a 20mm can full of used links and some time, you oughta try being in a base camp with four hungry M2 .50s to feed and getting a supply of .50x77mm spotter tracer ammo for the M8c semiauto rifle mounted above a 106mm recoilless rifle....

-archy-/-

[PsyOp]

Can she shoot and keep her weapon clean, Daddy?

She Qualified expert last month. 38/40 on the Army pop-up range. My best was 37/40. If those jehadis know what's good for them, they'll steer clear of her.

She did JROTC in HS and is loving the Army. And yes, I am very proud of her.

[PsyOp]

"MP machinegunner."

Great article. Thanks.

[R. Scott]

I’m afraid I’m not current on a lot of the modern stuff – I’ve been retired for over seventeen years. I pick up a little here and there – and that’s about it.
Seventeen years? It doesn’t seem that long!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

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[Cannoneer No. 4]

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[Cannoneer No. 4]

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[Cannoneer No. 4]

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[Cannoneer No. 4]

ranger will be on O'Reilly Factor's radio show on Friday. 12-2PM live and replayed afterward. He's going to talk about the lack of uparmored humvees and the need to make modifications as needed to vehicles in the field, etc. Anything you want him to put forward that would be constructive toward protecting our troops would be appreciated, but he'll need it before the end of thursday to prepare. Perhaps we can yet get something done about this situation which is constructive.

[sauropod]

"While the FCS previously was viewed as a long-term modernization effort, now the chief wants FCS to begin delivering technologies as soon as possible."

The FCS has just got bitten by the Crusader disease.

I fault Rumsfeld partly for this. He should NEVER have put an Air Force General as CSA. I believe this to be a direct result.

[sauropod]

"An expected higher price for the LV100 (as a result of a smaller order) and technical problems experienced in the program have prompted the Army to reassess whether it should cancel the project and start over."

Oh GOD this is stupid!

The LV100 engine in some form was around in at least 1994. They should develop the damn thing. Already a lot of sunk cost in it.

[Archangelsk]

One of the problems with putting additional armor on thin-skinned vehicles is the increase in weight. A stateside brigade would have to sacrifice its reactive ability because the USAF cannot add lift capability at the same pace of applying armor.

I think that's probably one of the reasons why the poobahs in the Army have nixed fabrications done on the economy. Also, it's probably likely that the U.S. is negotiating with several middle-east states to create POMCUS stocks in their region.

[SLB]

I fault Rumsfeld partly for this. He should NEVER have put an Air Force General as CSA. I believe this to be a direct result.

One of the latest spin offs from FCS is a "joint" Air Force and Army program, JEFX04. Although sold to the Army leadership as an FCS program and using some limited FCS technology, the lead is most assuredly with the Air Force and they are quick to point out that funding is coming from them. It is the major Air Force experiment for 2004 and we just sort of got sucked into it as a way to keep FCS moving along. Go have a look at JEFX04 and read between the lines.

[sauropod]

"Do they never learn? The Army wants it fast, cheap, and good. They can only get two out of three... "

No they don't. Its endemic in the perfumed prince mindset.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

General Schoomaker is not an Air Force General.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

On the subject of M1114 Armored Humvees and the shortage thereof in Iraq: y'all have anything you would like ranger to mention on O'Reilly's radio show?