Strykers Get The Job Done

Letter to Editor from the Early Bird ^ | April 5th, 2005 | Stryker Battalion Commander

[mark502inf]

I am with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, which has operated in Mosul, Iraq, since last October with 75 Strykers.

A March 31 article ["Study Faults Army Vehicle," front page] cites the Stryker's substandard survivability and maintenance as putting soldiers' lives at risk. I strongly disagree.

Since October our battalion's Strykers have been engaged with 122 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 186 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), 33 car bombs (10 of which were suicide car bombs) and much mortar and small-arms fire. In November and December, we fought as many as 70 insurgents during attacks. As a result, the battalion had seven soldiers killed in action and 102 wounded (81 of whom returned to duty within 21 days). Most casualties came during dismounted infantry operations.

The insurgents' most lethal weapon is the suicide car bomb. When these car bombs slam into Strykers, they create explosions that are equivalent to a 500-pound bomb. Yet in all 10 suicide car bomb attacks, no soldier on the Strykers was killed or lost a limb or eyesight.

During the past six months, one Stryker, C21, has been hit by a suicide car bomb, nine IEDs, eight RPG direct hits and a lot of small arms fire. Its crew had six wounded, but all of its soldiers are still in Iraq and fighting. After each attack, the Stryker either stayed in the fight or was repaired in less than 48 hours.

Not only is the Stryker survivable, it is reliable. Our 75 Strykers each have at least 20,000 miles on them. We average more than 1,000 miles a month, yet we have maintained, on average, a 96 percent operational readiness rate. That means that only three or four Strykers are down at any given time. This is the best operational readiness rate of any armored vehicle in the Army. We also average less than 24 hours to refit a vehicle after it has been damaged.

In urban combat, no better vehicle exists for delivering a squad of infantrymen to close in and destroy the enemy. The Stryker is fast, quiet, survivable, reliable and lethal. Most important, it delivers the most valuable weapon to the battlefield: a soldier.

MICHAEL E. KURILLA, Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Mosul, Iraq

[mark502inf]

one Stryker, C21, has been hit by a suicide car bomb, nine IEDs, eight RPG direct hits and a lot of small arms fire.

Tip for anyone visiting Iraq: do NOT ride with the 1st Squad of 2d Platoon of Charlie Company!

[mark502inf]

From the horse's mouth--an excellent rebuttal by a combat commander to the nay-sayers.

[DCBryan1]

ping

BANG!

[RockinRight]

Almost thought the headline said "Stryper..."

For the unenlightened, Stryper was a Christian heavy metal band in the 80s.

But this is better news.

[angkor]

And here I thought the suicide bombing in the Mosul DFAC was an aberration. It looks like Mosul is HOT.

[TMSuchman]

GOD Bless you sir! Keep up the hunt, and keep us informed on the service of your vehicles.

[mcshot]

Enjoyable article from somewhere who is there. Except for explosive/bullet magnet #C21 which is still operational sounds like the vehicle is getting the job done. Although I cringe reading about casualties there is nothing better to refine your equipment and troops than actual combat.

mc

[fireforeffect]

As one of the "nay sayers".

My argument has never been that the striker was not effective.

My argument has always been, is it the best? It was the only alternative considered. When you design the test to pick what you want, thats what you get. Especially if you make sure the evaluators know what you want. GEN Shessinki (sp?) made sure every one knew he wanted wheels.

As to the OR rate. How much of this is due to the civilian contractors attached to the SBCT? And at what cost? What is the Total Cost of Ownership? Is this accomplished with only organic maintenance?

As I have posted before, another brigade or two should be equipped with an alternate vehicle and a competitive trial conducted. Not the current one choice only method.

[2banana]

During the past six months, one Stryker, C21, has been hit by a suicide car bomb, nine IEDs, eight RPG direct hits and a lot of small arms fire. Its crew had six wounded, but all of its soldiers are still in Iraq and fighting. After each attack, the Stryker either stayed in the fight or was repaired in less than 48 hours.

What did they do, paint a target on it?

[iso]

Good article.

[WilliamWallace1999]

Nope, they keep taking the Stryker to were "the shit" is. That's what we as taxpayers and citizens asked them to do with our investment. I hope each and every Stryker sends a whole cadre of Mohammedeans to meet the promised virgins (which must be running short by now.)

WW

[WilliamWallace1999]

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.....

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[GreyFriar]

More proof of the Wash comPost's anti-US military agenda.

Ping.

[mark502inf]

Sorry, didn't mean to include those, like you, who contribute to a substantive debate over the best vehicle and have well-thought out positions. I meant those, like the Washington Post, who eagerly leap on any piece of negative info they can find in order to further their political agenda.

(spelled Shinseki)

[centurion316]

As I have posted before, another brigade or two should be equipped with an alternate vehicle and a competitive trial conducted. Not the current one choice only method.

I hear this argument frequently, it is part of the mantra of our acquisition system. More testing, more development, more money, more time. All of this will produce effective weapons systems and I'm sure that we will have a fine Future Combat System by 2014, or perhaps later, but eventually.

The problem, of course, is that all of this does nothing for the men of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry and the others currently engaged in the fight. If you and the other naysayers had won the argument, there would be no Strykers in Iraq and more soldiers would be dead. Be careful what you ask for.

This argument has been ongoing for several years now - point, counterpoint. While many of the opinions have been formed by ignorance or colored by agendas, some on both sides of the issue have been made by people who know something of combat and of armored vehicles. I'm just glad to see the opinions of soldiers who have some actual combat experience with Stryker. They have some real credibility and trump all of the rest of us.

[El Gato]

What did they do, paint a target on it?

I imagine they aggressively went after the bad guys. They do tend to take offense when you do that.

[El Gato]

would be no Strykers in Iraq and more soldiers would be dead. Be careful what you ask for.

Not necessarily, they might have been riding around in Bradley's instead.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Stryker Brigade Combat Team Tactical Studies Group (Chairborne)

[fireforeffect]

Infantry, Field Artillery, 22 years and counting.

Why not filed an alternative simultaneously? The united Defense M113A4 with the Striker electronics suite? The Marine LAV with same? Now, in soldiers hands today? Screw the procurement process, I've used the obsolete stuff while other units were upgraded. No fun. Remember, the striker is the INTERIM combat vehicle. It is a test bed, not a finished product. Why not test other platforms?

As more data becomes available a more informed opinion will be reached. O&M cost and OR rates with organic, DS, and GS maintenance (not civilian contractors); Soldier (both enlisted and officer) evaluations; and third party observations (not influenced by I want to get promoted) should be used.

Prove more soldiers would be dead. Do not make spurious accusations without data. Flaming without cause is not civil. Hyperbole is not a discussion.

Out.

[Calpernia]

I am with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, which has operated in Mosul, Iraq, since last October with 75 Strykers.

A March 31 article ["Study Faults Army Vehicle," front page] cites the Stryker's substandard survivability and maintenance as putting soldiers' lives at risk. I strongly disagree.