The Army will be fielding the Stryker as its new light armored assault vehicle.....Looks pretty cool! kind of like the Russian BRDM we brought back from Iraq...
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<br>Mike

Is it just me or does this look a lot like the LAVs the Marine Corps has been using for about 15 years?
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<br>HOOO-AAH, or whatever it is you soldiers say.
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<br>Bob
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It does look very familiar from somewhere!!
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<br>Mike

My head not fitting in a jar, I wouldn,t know what the U.S.M C.'s LAV's look like!
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<br>The first thing I thought of was the old Russian BMP. We were trained to identify them for arty to deal with. Hope ole Justin will know the difference!
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<br>The Army has been looking more and more into LAV's, and particularly to wheels. Good idea, but there's still places and people I think are better dealt with by a good set of tracks. Don't put all our military eggs in one basket.
<br>7mm

Our heads are required to fit into jars, it keeps us from getting inflated egos (right back atcha!).
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<br>Really though, the Army has proven through the 20th Cent. that it can win battles and win wars, I find it disturbing that in this day and age they decide to try their hands at Expeditionary Warfare as well. Meduim Brigades may have a place in Peacekeeping, but I find the demise of the Heavy Division disturbing.
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<br>I also hope somebody tells Justin and his pals that the USMC has adopted new cammies. Within a few years we will no longer have any gear with the same pattern as our fellow Americans on the ground in a conflict. I also find this disturbing.
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<br>Trivia question; Who was the only Marine General ever to command an Army division in combat and when?
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<br>Bob
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First off, Gunny, do you know the difference between a Marine and God? God doesn't think He's a Marine!
<br>I got a nephew in the Corps, and there's some truth there!
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<br>Like you, I see the need for rapid deployment, but not at the expense of some heavy muscle to back it up. Sometimes you just need brute strength. Like the old saying about cars: "There's no substitute for cubic inches".
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<br>As for the trivia, I think it was in the Pacific in WW2, but the man's name escapes me. Am I on the right track?
<br>7mm

Like the song says; "you'll find the streets are guarded by United States Marines." Wait a minute, that sucks, while you guys are sucking down suds I'm gonna pull duty, I guess nothing really changes.
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<br>I must say, we really appreciated the Tiger Brigade during DS, we just don't have the armor to fight a real war on our own. OTH our working relationship with the Navy shouldn't be overlooked for getting people on the ground fast and with the gear they need to fight.
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<br>On the trivia question, you are one major war too late. Hint, the man later became a Commandant (probably the most famous).
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<br>Good Luck,
<br>Bob
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<br>PS: gotta love those new hats!
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." Wait a minute, that sucks, while you guys are sucking down suds I'm gonna pull duty, I guess nothing really changes. "
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<br>No Worries, we'll save you one or two!
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<br>As for the trivia, I aint got a clue. Guess you fellows get WAY more history in your indoctrination than us poor Army "Ground Pounders". Wanna let me in on it?
<br>7mm

Gen. John LeJeune placed himself in command of an army division during WWI. Gen. Pershing relieved the division commander (for some reason, but failed to name a replacement on the spot) and as the commander of an attached Marine Brigade who was senior to the other brigade commanders he assumed command. Of course this didn't last too long as a replacement arrived soon after, Gen. Pershing didn't want to allow a Marine Officer to remain in command.
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<br>Good Luck,
<br>Bob
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<br>And yes, we do get a lot of history, not to mention this kind of trivia always pops up on meritorious promotion boards.
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I know all about the whole too light to fight too heavy to run mentality, I was in the 82nd Airborne Division
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<br>Everything but the helicopters could and would be air dropped in and the helos would ride in shortly after...gotta love it!
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<br>Mike

Run flat tires and a C-5 can carry more of them. As a former mechanized mortar gunner and sniper, I'd rather change a tire than break track for repair. Peace through superior (Almighty, overwhelming, devastating) firepower. Mess with the best, die like the rest.

The tires probably have "donuts" in them like the Soviet BRDM wheeled APC did, so they can run flat while engaging the enemy. I hope, for the sake of the U.S. grunts inside, that they have better armor than the BRDM does. The Bradleys' 25mm gun ate BRDMs in Desert Storm and left burning heaps of steel, rubber, POL, and dead Iraqis in their wake. I heard that the Bradleys even killed some T54/55 tanks when they hit them in the turret ring with AP rounds.
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<br>Shot, move, and communicate!
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<br>As an old infantry guy who rode among the last of the gas powered 113s, major pucker factor, I'd like to give one of the Russian BMP-3 IFVs a work out!
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<br>Sincerely,
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<br>Bearrr264