Next rotation of troops will get to Iraq in more heavily armored vehicles

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=22028

As security continues to deteriorate in Iraq, U.S. military commanders have decided that incoming units should bring more heavy armored vehicles, instead of the Humvees.

The third rotation of troops into Iraq, which will begin this fall, “will come in a heavier formation,” Lt. Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army’s deputy chief of staff for plans, told reporters Tuesday.

And with Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 troops bringing more of their own armored vehicles, the Army will be able to transfer some of the up-armored Humvees from outgoing troops and give them to combat support units, which aren’t typically equipped with the sturdier vehicles, Cody said.

Pentagon officials have yet to say which active Army units will be tapped for Operation Iraqi Freedom 3, but three National Guard brigades have already been alerted for the deployment: the 256th from Louisiana, the 116th from Idaho, and the 278th from Tennessee.

[Kagemusha]

1. Notice how the Stryker is neither seen nor heard.

Curious, isn't it?

[TahitiNut]

2. The Army's $2M ride -- only 300 in existence.

[sofa king]

3. Strykers are gonna have a tough time there.

According to the Reverend Moon:

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030908-121524-2253r.htm

[TahitiNut]

4. It's far worse than NeoPravda lets on.

They can't be transported on the C-130 Loadmaster and they're still vulnerable to RPG-7's (an Iraqi favorite). As a wheeled vehicle, it bogs down in sand. (Gee, is there much sand in Iraq?)

The Army was going to have a Stryker Brigade in Iraq in Fall 2003, but still doesn't have their act together. It's another Defense contractor boondoggle.