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Hi Folks!

Ran acrossed this photo over at the US Army images site. Check out the glass plate now mounted in front of the VC's hatch.

After looking at those vehicles a second time, they remind me of WW II halftracks and some General's complaint that they
didn't look military. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

They had the driver's glass on display at the Armor Conference, one that was complete and one that had saved a driver's life and was all spider webbed.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Hey Roy,

Thought you might be interested in this Military.com article:

Stryker Losses Raise Questions

- Roy_A_Lingle

Check out the glass plate now mounted in front of the VC's hatch.

The Canadian experience in AFG has been that airburst RPGs and flash from IEDS are dangerous to troops in the hatches. The female KIA was an arty FOO whose vehicle had several RPGs skipping off the armour of the LAVIII. She was hit by the splash. Vehicle crewmembers have been hit while sitting in their holes observing or directing fire. Two grunts were KIA when one of a volley of RPGs airburst on the crosswind sensor of their LAVIII turret. The Private in his OP about 20yds away was awarded the Star of Military Valour (second only to the Victoria Cross) for almost single handedly beating off the attack until the platoon could respond to the casualties and losing its LAV firepower.

Other KIAs have been air-sentries on road-moves when the convoy hits an SVBIED or IED. I read a newspaper story about naval dockyard welders making a straight lip protection screeen so guys can stay lower in the family hatch.

As much as the Stykers look like overgrown and overloaded shopping carts, anything thicker than a shirt or body armour is better than nothing.

Hi Dennis! Hi Folks!

- Dennis_Smith

Hey Roy,
Thought you might be interested in this Military.com article:
Stryker Losses Raise Questions

Interesting article, thanks Dennis. I don't think the amount of armor a vehicle has is going to make a big difference in the long run. The more protection you add, the more HE the other guys will add to their IEDs. I have read reports that claim the size of IEDs have grown to counter the heavier armor that has been added to Hummers and cargo trucks.

In Vietnam, Charlie and the NVA wanted to hurt someone more that kill us. Someone who is injuried needs two or more guys to help move them out of the way. Complete units stop while waiting for a dust off copter. In time that worked for them.

In Iraqi, the other guys are more interested in killing rather that wounding. So, we up the protection level, they up the number of artillery rounds they add together to make up the their next IED.

The Stryker is just another tool in the military tool box. It is not the prefect system for all events.
Sgt, Scouts Out!