[ExSoldier]

"If this nation was mobilized for war there would be no Hummer H1's available for civilian sale. The entire manufacturer's output would be bought up by DOD."

LOL My buddy was telling me that during first Gulf War, back in '91, when his SpecOps unit hit the desert the first thing they did was go over and buy about 70 Range Rovers and Toyota Land Cruisers for the SOF guys to do recons. An H-1 is the most recognizable piece of American battle equipment in the world. The feeling was at the time that a Range Rover or Land Cruiser tooling across the desert could be a wandering sheik instead of an American patrol and would therefore be less likely to become an "rpg magnet." But he was telling me they bought SUV's off the lot via "local purchase" and they were fully loaded. I just have this hilarious image of a bunch of SOF guys rolling across the sand with the AC blasting and the stereo pounding with (take your pick) Charlie Daniels or Steppenwolf.

[archy]

LOL My buddy was telling me that during first Gulf War, back in '91, when his SpecOps unit hit the desert the first thing they did was go over and buy about 70 Range Rovers and Toyota Land Cruisers for the SOF guys to do recons.

That's part of the story. The other half is that a Land Rover will fit the drive-in ramp of a CH47 Chinook helicopter, a HUMVEE is too wide to be carried aboard. For the same reason, the Army's Ranger battallions are going to the Landy as well.

Should American forces come to a bridgeless river, they come to a screeching halt. The Rangers, at least, may be able to get across with their vehicles; if regular Infantry units cross via Helo inserts, they do so as leg infantry without their vehicles.

And as for being accompanied by Strykers, forget it. They won't even fit in a C130, and only mount a .50 Browning MG.