Posted on 11/12/2012 1:49:28 PM PST by JerseyanExile
What may weigh more than an M1 Abrams tank and carry 12 soldiers? The Army's Ground Combat Vehicle. New weight estimates for GCV, released this week by the Congressional Budget Office, will likely go over like a lead ballon with the program's critics in Congress and in the Army itself.
Depending on the model and add-on armor package, an M1 weighs 60 to 75.5 tons. According to the CBO report, the General Dynamics design for the GCV weighs 64 to 70 tons. BAE s proposal is still heavier, at 70 to 84.
Two years ago, when the Army withdrew its original Request for Proposals for the GCV and revised its requirements, part of the reason for the change was shock at the sheer weight of the proposed designs: 50 tons for just the basic vehicle, up to 70 with all the optional add-on armor packages for the most dangerous missions. "You're telling me this is going to be 70 tons, which is the same as an Abrams," Gen. George Casey, then Army Chief of Staff, said incredulously at the time, in an interview with Defense News. Now it looks like the revised requirements have led to a vehicle that's even heavier.
(Excerpt) Read more at defense.aol.com ...
“It was more of the wear and tear on the tank tracks and track pads that requires HETT units. The M1 meets the required 300 mile range, but that’s still a lot of movement on the tracks.”
agreed. the turbine sucks more fuel at idle but is more efficient at higher speeds.
have they even looked at shipping requirements for this POS GCV? one of the reasons the sherman was the size it was was due to cargo handling capacities of current era freighters.
crew from enemy attack. This configuration also cleared room at the rear section for a safe exit and enough space to carry a few fully armed infantrymen, in addition to the crew. The rear access hatch allows for the quick and safe exit of injured crewmen or pickup of wounded soldiers f
crew from enemy attack. This configuration also cleared room at the rear section for a safe exit and enough space to carry a few fully armed infantrymen, in addition to the crew. The rear access hatch allows for the quick and safe exit of injured crewmen or pickup of wounded soldiers f
I wonder if the Chinese will provide financing for these “investments?”
The problem is that the enemy is now in your own midst. Nuking them will be difficult, except maybe for DC itself.
The Abrams uses a fuel sucking gas turbine.
Chrysler basically got the contract for political reasons back in the late 70s.
The GM version had a diesel and was a better performer in most all respects.
Actually the turbine engine was from Lycoming, and is now Honeywell.
True, true.
So tell me again, who won the last world war?
Bridges are a real issue here.
I suspect what is driving the weight is protection from IEDs.
The Pentagon Papers. It needs reviewed by all who posted here. It was the first thing I thought of when I just now saw this.
Looks like that movie came true.
Of course with new technologies, you never know.
No matter how thick the armor, there will be a missile or IED which will kill it. The name of the game is being able to get there first with the most. That means being easily transportable into theater, and being able to cross available bridges and roads without wrecking them.
What's the point of having an invulnerable troop transport, when you can only afford to buy a few dozen, and the rest of the troops have to arrive on foot?
Tanks are primarily hauled to their FOBs and combat areas to keep the wear and tear down on their drive trains.
might's well build this one and be done with it... 
I thought that too.
Another case of designing a future weapon to fight the previous enemy. Right now protecting crews from IED blasts has lead to massive armor. But future attacks may well come from other directions, and we might end up fighting a technologically sophisticated adversary. Against a sophisticated enemy with intelligent, guided air to ground missiles or 30mm or larger cannons the GCV looks like a rolling coffin.
84 tons?? It wouldn't stand a chance against the Nazi "ratte" -- 10000 metric tons, baby!
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