How about some development on that humungous armored carrier from the movie "Soldier"(Kurt Russell)...you know, the one with the massive road wheels and super high ground clearance. That would be awesome and probably hard to destroy. Aside of that, whadda ya gonna do?!?
Originally posted by godawgz: An up-armored Prius....
Maybe we are going to have to realize that vehicles are going to get destroyed, so we should turn our Soldiers and Marines loose...go after the providers of these weapons. All of these patrols and putting rounds downrange AFTER something gets hit is not working. All of this and that about Iran, lets him them once or twice, rattle their cage and see what shakes loose. No matter you put on the ground, a determined enemy will find a way to destroy it...unless you destroy their weapons capabilities first. Iran is hitting us by proxy and its getting a lil tired.
So instead of making a heavy vehicle that can take the blast of an IED, they're making a vehicle that is lighter, and more fuel effiecient... Reminds me of "Here's Your Sign" for some reason...
Anyone remember the Jeep vs. Humvee trials? Why not do it again? We need one vehicle for this requirement, not three (humvee, MRAP, ULTRA AP). Creates a logistical nightmare and more $$.
If we have the technology to go 'green' with these vehicles, why not? We could drive longer, larger loadout, etc, allowing troops further away from the supply lines. Take the fight deeper and faster than before. Seems like a good reason to have a 'face off' to me!!!
Nothing wrong with going green as long as your not sacrificing in other areas. Sounds like that's what this Badenoch truck has accomplished. Hummvee's are NOT the best that could be provided. So let's get something else. And yes, we need ONE new truck, not 3 or 4.
Originally posted by armywifefigueroa: So instead of making a heavy vehicle that can take the blast of an IED, they're making a vehicle that is lighter, and more fuel effiecient... Reminds me of "Here's Your Sign" for some reason...
Has anybody heard of the new invention they are working on? It has tracks and heavy armor, a big gun and a couple machine guns? I think the crew can button the thing up and be protected inside. I think it's going to be called .......... A TANK!!! Believe it or not they even have some tracked vehicles DESIGNED to take out mines that might work pretty nice on roadside explosives! Quit trying to reinvent the wheel, or wheeled vehicle. Bring in some tanks.
Unfortunately the Badenoch vehicle is not designed to meet the need it hopes to solve. The problem with the up armored Humvee is that it's max weight is still too light to avoid being lifted and thrown by a large IED. That is where the rollovers and most of the casualties occur. The MRAP meets this need three ways. The hull is higher off the ground, giving a little more space for the blast to expand before hitting the hull. The hull is boat shaped which reduces lift by allowing the blast to curve around the hull. The vehicle is twice or more heavier making it much harder to flip. This is why the MRAP works. Less penetration and fewer flips, not so much purely heavier armor.
What I think is really interesting is that biofuels is considered green. they are worse than the fossil fuel they replaces. Corn ethenol apparently produces 75% more greenhouse gases. The ethenol will result in less forest to grow all that additional corn (not to mention our food prices will go up more) and some studies show that corn ethenol uses almost as much energy to produce as produces. The additional land for corn will require more fertilizer which poisons the Gulf of Mexico. Congress and the president have fed us a lot of bull about biofuels. Now Hydrogen might be a good idea.
One soldier said it best; go destroy the IED makers; make it a priority to go on the offensive-break the will of the hydra headed beast. Get rid of the too heavy vest. Stop overloading warriors; " Light infantry." Find the EPP makers and if they are from Iran, as alluded to, drop leaflets over teharan, " EVACUATE immediately," check with Bush and joint chiefs. The tank is a good idea, for offensive use. Lead convoys with tanks in front, middle and rear. If fired on fire back, if they are mixed in with civilians---well war is hell. Maybe non-hostiles will quit hanging with the dead. I like what Sen. B. Goldwater said:::::::::: " Extremism in def of lib is no vice." Plan convoys using helo's---with high flying cobra's Apachees and escort bombers. In any case, all ground vehicles, no matter the cost--can always be destroyed for less money. Destroy the will of those looking at the dead---nuff said!
The Georgia Tech vehicle is not the answer. The vehicle weighs too little for countermine/IED applications and will be easily flipped causing serious injury or death, not to mention it lacks other critical protections. Even if the blast bucket worked, the vehicle doesn't fit the role. This was a good effort to spur other new ideas, but this vehicle is not the one you want to take to combat. This effort is inferior to others within the JLTV and other programs...
