Posted on 05/14/2007 4:46:59 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
BAGHDAD — A string of heavy losses from powerful roadside bombs has raised new questions about the vulnerability of the Stryker, the Army's troop-carrying vehicle hailed by supporters as the key to a leaner, more mobile force.
Since the Strykers went into action in violent Diyala province north of Baghdad two months ago, losses of the vehicles have been rising steadily, U.S. officials said.
A single infantry company in Diyala lost five Strykers this month in less than a week, according to soldiers familiar with the losses, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to release the information. The overall number of Strykers lost recently is classified.
In one of the biggest hits, six American soldiers and a journalist were killed when a huge bomb exploded beneath their Stryker on May 6. It was the biggest one-day loss for the battalion in more than two years.
(Excerpt) Read more at spokesmanreview.com ...
My son was an army scout in Iraq for more than a year. He worried about the vulnerability of his hummer. That is until he saw what a roadside bomb did to an MI. The turret landed more than a hundred feet away. An armored vehicle is like a bullet profess vest or a helmet: Gives you an edge against the guy who has none. But remember that many an unhorsed medieval knight had his throat slit by a peasant with a knife.
What DID the Lone Ranger carry silver bullets? They are lighter than lead ones , right?
This story is so full of it.
My Nephew, a sergeant with a Stryker Unit out of Fort Lewis who has served one tour in Afghanistan and one tour in Mosul Iraq, says they would not want to be in any other vehicle but the Stryker. They trust it and like it – and despite what the MSM says the Stryker has saved countless lives. How many sons and fathers lives were saved because of the Stryker?
No amount of armor will protect any of our vehicles from IED’s. We add more armor, and the enemy just adapts their weapons and tactics. Instead of one Artillery shell in the IED they use two or three. The most heavily armored vehicles we have in Iraq, the M1 and the Iron Claw used by EOD are not even safe. In fact the enemy often use traps (obvious IED’s) to attract in Iron Claw and then they blow up a much bigger EID they had hidden. The Navy EOD personnel killed just a few weeks ago died in such a trap.
Oh this oughta make some of the anti-Stryker dimwitted FReepers feel better...but the fact is, no troop transporting vehicle could survive the type of IEDs that are taking out these Strykers.
If we uparmor them, then they will use more fuel and only be able to patrol a smaller area. They will also be less maneuverable, taking longer to respond to others in need and able to go into fewer places.
Whatever we do, there is no perfect answer.
The Stryker bloated in weight (19 tons) and height, but it can be squatted to fit in a C-130. However, the weight of support and “associated” equipment means another C-130 is required. Personally, we ought to be regoranizing around the C-17, but we’ve got so many C-130s it may never be a reality. The C-130 will probably still be flying when the C-17s replacement arrives.
The South African “Buffalo” and variants isn’t really a fighting vehicle. It’s mainly a troop transport/EOD vehicle with an enhanced suspension for mine damage, but wouldn’t do so well against other weapons. I don’t think it will fit in a C-130 because it’s very tall. The good thing is that the suspension is designed to sacrifice to impact and be readily replaced in a short period of time.
You’re right.
There isn’t a silver bullet, and probably will never be.
They act, we react, and the cycle continues.
Remember that Stryker is/was officially known as an “interim” vehicle. The FCS family was supposed to follow-on, but that program’s in the grave (for now).
We’ve erroneously overe-extended both the mission and the platform of the HMMWV. We used them as pickup trucks in the mid-1980s and now they’re being used in roles never intended or even wildly imagined. We (The Army) should have had a better post-Cold War option in the works.
I’m a Bradley fan (armor, firepower and TRACKS), as a large vehicle in a confined area needs PIVOT STEER. However, the Stryker has been fairly successful and is our best technology demonstrator for enhanced combat control systems.
Post of the day candidate.
We learn nothing from history. We could win this war in short order if we were willing to actually fight it.
Not even close.
The Marines aren’t employing the Stryker in the same applications or numbers as The Army.
During the intial phase, it wasn’t wheeled vehicles leading the way because everybody, even Marines, understood the limited nature of the platform (and armor).
Thank you for your service.
I meant “was” designed to...
“I am inclined to think that the concept works better for peacekeeping. But based on data the Army has made available to date, it’s hard to be sure.”
“Translation: It looked good on paper. Oh well.”
Additional translation - it briefed well......
Mine-resistant 'MRAP's called 'four-to-five' times safer than Humvees for U.S. forces
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We have several hundred M113s in inventory, many of them he A3 variant.
The M113 was a true “battle taxi”.
Light (relatively), maneuverable and no-frills.
I spent a good chunk of my career in th M577 variant.
Relatively reliable and simple.
When the Stryker was first fielded, the size and cost drove many to long for their return. However, the simple aluminum “armor” would have been disastrous. Marine AAVs of similar construction have been literally peeled apart from IEDs, taking the entire compliment with them.
Back in 1985, I had long, heated debates with fellow soldiers about the need for the Bradley. I’m glad to see that it’s proven to be very effective and reliable on the battlefield (as I knew it would be). Bradley’s have been called into action to support Marine operations (Fallujah) when the LAV was proved inferior.
FRPT
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