LAV-75; Stingray; M8 AGS

[Targan]

Yay M-8 AGS! Maybe coming back from the dead?

http://www.defenseone.com/technology...nk-90s/122731/

[swaghauler]

There is still a "near 75mm" option for the LAV-75. Considering how "Anti-Aircraft Weapons light" both the Army and the Marines are; One can easily see them adopting "off the shelf" alternatives to fill the AA and light AT gaps in the inventory. That "off the shelf" alternative would be the OTO Melara 76/62mm Compact Rapid Fire Cannon. Originally built as a compact self contained naval cannon; OTO Melara designed a special turret to fit on armored vehicles in the 90's but saw no real sales. I could see both the Army and Marines buying the turrets and fitting them to either a tracked or LAV chassis (the original Italian design was mounted on a MOWAG chassis). This would give such a force both a heavy AA capability AND a light AT capability in one gun. The only disadvantage I could see, is that the gun turret is very high/tall. It was fitted with a radar as well. This means that you could use this vehicle as a "picket" for your forces. The only target it couldn't engage is an MTB.

[Nowhere Man 1966]

I'm sure somewhere, Tim, "TR" Walker is very happy about this if it goes through. IIRC, he was a big supporter of the M-8 Buford in the 1990's.

[Matt Wiser]

No doubt. I liked the vehicle since I saw it in Tom Clancy's Armored Cav. Clancy never forgave the Clinton Administration for canceling the vehicle to pay for the Bosnia Peacekeeping Force.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Targan

Yay M-8 AGS! Maybe coming back from the dead?

http://www.defenseone.com/technology...nk-90s/122731/

I like the article along the sidebar: "Don't chase Putin out of Syria; let him fail on his own." That may be a valid strategy!

[swaghauler]

Doesn't the STRYKER already come in a variant with the 105mm low recoil gun?

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

Doesn't the STRYKER already come in a variant with the 105mm low recoil gun?

It's also a taller vehicle that is much more difficult to airdrop.

[LT. Ox]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

It's also a taller vehicle that is much more difficult to airdrop.

Sorry, I am not used to the idea but why is it harder to kick out?
Is it the Center of g or is it because of the height at the door?

[Olefin]

The M8 is the perfect weapon for the 82nd and any light infantry forces - gives you a real weapons system that can take on enemy tanks and armored vehicles if need be and light enough to be easily air-dropped - and its a lot more surviveable than a TOW equipped light vehicle or a Stryker

and with the different armor packages you have the ability to tailor the vehicle for the mission

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Olefin

The M8 is the perfect weapon for the 82nd and any light infantry forces - gives you a real weapons system that can take on enemy tanks and armored vehicles if need be and light enough to be easily air-dropped - and its a lot more surviveable than a TOW equipped light vehicle or a Stryker

and with the different armor packages you have the ability to tailor the vehicle for the mission

As I said on the afv forum (yes, finally got 'em to fix my account a while back! ) it'd be a great match for LAHAT.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by LT. Ox

Sorry, I am not used to the idea but why is it harder to kick out?
Is it the Center of g or is it because of the height at the door?

The big problem comes not when you send it out the door, but in rigging it up before the mission -- vehicles in general need their suspensions lowered to prevent damaging them upon hitting the ground, and with a wheeled vehicle it is much more difficult to immobilize the suspension. You don't want the suspension to spring -- creates too many funny bounces that may make the vehicle upend, tailstand, or overturn.

It's also a little dicey when you're dropping something that's not much bigger than the rampway door. More space between the cargo and the doorway is better. Murphy's always there, waiting for you.