OT: Tank Design Game

[Panther Al]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

No you misunderstand.

Not as equipment that would go into an APC, but as something like a Platoon Level M577.

I conceive of it as a support vehicle for Dismounted Troops. Not as a Direct Support vehicle but, as a C3I with onboard water purification and a fuel cell power generation system. So at best it would have a ROWS, maybe as a place to coordinate GSR and REMBASS.

Driver and a TC only. Operates as a Patrol Base. In this way all the Platoon needs is food. They can get their water, and refresh their batteries in charging stations. The machine would carry in externally accessible bins Small Arms ammo.

Maybe a dozer blade to dig itself in, then deploy IR Screening nets.

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, this would be a useful thing to have at the company level, though to be fair, we pretty much do these days with the way the 577 I hung out in was set up.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, this would be a useful thing to have at the company level, though to be fair, we pretty much do these days with the way the 577 I hung out in was set up.

I think it is time to push it down to the Platoon Level.

Take advantage of superior communications and coordination. Lift some of the Logistics burden with it too.

What is the log cycle for 11Bushes, 96 hours on consumables?

If they can make their own potable water, and don't need batteries. The Log push is extended to food and ammo as needed.

Then you have contact with 11Bs calling in supporting fires on enemy contact with the ability to interface with a Brigade FDC or a Theater Air Coord Center.

Superior Communications and Coordination to direct supporting fires. Then able to send up BDAs and receive new Orders.

Oops, I guess I am talking about Stryker Brigades and Force XXI gear.

[Panther Al]

Not everything about Force XXI and the Stryker Brigade Concept is bad: In fact, there is a lot (I'd go so far as to say most of it) of good stuff there. Its just the Vehicle itself, as well as the push to use it in places it should not be at, that is the core of my beef against it.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Panther Al

Not everything about Force XXI and the Stryker Brigade Concept is bad: In fact, there is a lot (I'd go so far as to say most of it) of good stuff there. Its just the Vehicle itself, as well as the push to use it in places it should not be at, that is the core of my beef against it.

Yes but the point of those newer vehicles is that the OPFOR should feel like they are shadow boxing. That the OPFORs every appearance is met with lethal fires from artillery assets or air dropped ordnance.

Special Forces put proof to the concept in Afghanistan ten years ago with systems barely integrated then.

Systems that could

• Detect enemy forces in day, night, or other limited visibility
• laser range find
• laser designate.

• Send by digital burst transmission a mission tasker with coordinates for the target to JSTARS.