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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Upgraded M113s Headed for Iraq |
| 2005-01-16 |
| The U.S. Army is upgrading the armor on 734 M113/A3s and M577s armored vehicles, at a cost of $115,000 each, and sending the vehicles into Iraq. The 16 foot long and 8.75 foot wide M113 is a 1960s vintage armored personnel carrier that was replaced, in the 1980s, by the larger and heavier M-2 Bradley. The army still has over 10,000 M113s, but they are used in secondary roles, or kept in storage. The M577 is a M113 modified (with a higher rear compartment) to serve as a command vehicle. The M113 served effectively during the Vietnam war, and was the main American APC (armored personnel carrier) throughout most of the Cold War. About 80,000 M113s were manufactured. At 13 tons (probably closer to 15 tons with the added armor), the M113 is lighter than the M-2 and Stryker. For many chores in Iraq, especially convoy protection, the M113 could be effective (despite its max speed of only 65 kilometers an hour, about a third less than what many convoys make). However, the M113 will be expensive to use in Iraq, because it is a tracked vehicle, and those tracks wear out quickly and have to be replaced at great expense (over $10,000) every 6,000 kilometers (or less, as traveling on roads wears out the tracks faster). However, the M113 has proved to be a very flexible platform, lending itself to modifications by many of the dozens of armed forces that still use it. Some countries have added turrets, mounting 25mm cannon. It's likely that some M113s would be equipped with the new remote control .50 caliber machine-gun turret (as is used in some Strykers). One advantage the Stryker has is its wheels, which make it quieter in action. This has proved to be a major advantage in Iraq. But on the convoy routes, it's armor and firepower that count most. I suspect that we are more than glad to use these vehicles, and the mountains of spare parts for them in storage, for something practical, rather than just scrap them. Then they will make a fine gift to the new Iraqi army. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #9 The 113's will do well there - they aren't really of much use to the US military in terms of fitting in with current doctrine and tactics, as well as the logistics stream. Putting these in use over there and equipping that Iraqi army wiht them and (each police station with 2 as well) would get rid of these out of inventory when we are done, give the Iraqis a servicable vehicle, and cut down on the effectiveness of the terrorist elements there. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-01-16 10:10:38 PM |
| #8 The 113's will do well there - they aren't really of much use to the US military in terms of fitting in with current doctrine and tactics, as well as the logistics stream. Putting these in use over there and equipping that Iraqi army wiht them and (each police station with 2 as well) would get rid of these out of inventory when we are done, give the Iraqis a servicable vehicle, and cut down on the effectiveness of the terrorist elements there. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-01-16 10:10:38 PM |
| #7 The 113's will do well there - they aren't really of much use to the US military in terms of fitting in with current doctrine and tactics, as well as the logistics stream. Putting these in use over there and equipping that Iraqi army wiht them and (each police station with 2 as well) would get rid of these out of inventory when we are done, give the Iraqis a servicable vehicle, and cut down on the effectiveness of the terrorist elements there. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-01-16 10:10:38 PM |
| #6 Remember back to early 2002 -- the media crowing how horribly cold the Afghan winters get? Mohair might well be akin to frankincense and myrrh to the locals. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-01-16 6:35:11 PM |
| #5 Mohair to the Afghans? Hummmmm.... Hell, why not. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-01-16 4:55:38 PM |
| #4 You know, this raises a very interesting prospect. The Pentagon keeps huge storehouses of material, I mean really vast warehouses, much of which is not needed and is just a subsidy scam for the producers. Things like the mohair produced on Sam Donaldson's profitable mohair ranch in Texas. It has no conceivable military use. However, if we were to empty these warehouses of this stuff and ship it to Afghanistan and Iraq, it would turn useless junk into valuable commodities. It would also free up a lot of space that, by law, would have to be filled with crap like mohair. So the subsidies would continue, just the crap wouldn't be thrown out, it would be recycled. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-01-16 3:15:09 PM |
| #3 I said awhile back the M-113's should be revamped,upgraded and given to the Iraqi police/military.It is about damn time somebody did something about that rectal inversion. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-01-16 1:35:58 PM |
| #2 Absolutely true, RWV. They need the tools to do the job, just as we have... Of course, Ahmed can have the keys to the Hummer only after his grades stay high for more than one or two reporting cycles, heh. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-01-16 12:48:50 PM |
| #1 and it would not be untoward to expect that many of these uparmored M113s will find their way into service with the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi National Guard, and the Iraqi Army. Better than being sold for scrap at home. |
| Posted by: RWV 2005-01-16 12:33:34 PM |