172nd Strykers are home

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Background: The 172 Stryker Brigade was called up and sent to Iraq ~July 2005. They were supposed to be back last August but got recalled at the last minute and held over for another four months. Guys were litterally pulled off airplanes thinking they were on their way home. (People in my town were PISSED.)

Fast forward to today. They're all home now minus a few...

It's interesting talking to them when they come in my store. For their initial deployment they were stationed around Mosul. Everyone I talked to said it wasn't so bad there. One detachment had the duty of patrolling the road between Baghdad and Mosul. They got hit by a LOT of IEDs but nobody died.

But when they were held over they were reassigned to Baghdad. To a man, they all said that BD is the wild west. The rest of the country seemed to be fairly peaceful/managable but BD was a total nightmare. Interesting to hear things from their perspective.

Welcome home guys.

 

[ayabe]

Thanks for sharing that.

Hopefully they won't have to go back.

Welcome home indeed. :beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

 

[Horus]

Too bad they had to patrol in those goddamn deathtraps. The Stryker is the dumbest idea for an armored vehicle I've ever seen.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Horus
Too bad they had to patrol in those goddamn deathtraps. The Stryker is the dumbest idea for an armored vehicle I've ever seen.

Why? There have been reports of multiple direct rpg hits on them without any serious damage. From what I have heard, the vehicle is doing a pretty good job at protecting the troops.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Horus
Too bad they had to patrol in those goddamn deathtraps. The Stryker is the dumbest idea for an armored vehicle I've ever seen.

Why? There have been reports of multiple direct rpg hits on them without any serious damage. From what I have heard, the vehicle is doing a pretty good job at protecting the troops.

Thats what I thought as well. The soldiers using them loved them. I remember when they first were deployed there were some misgivings... maybe lingering.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Horus
Too bad they had to patrol in those goddamn deathtraps. The Stryker is the dumbest idea for an armored vehicle I've ever seen.

Why? There have been reports of multiple direct rpg hits on them without any serious damage. From what I have heard, the vehicle is doing a pretty good job at protecting the troops.

Thats what I thought as well. The soldiers using them loved them. I remember when they first were deployed there were some misgivings... maybe lingering.

The guy I talked to today was a doctor with the group that patrolled the highway between BD and Mosul. He said they got hit with IEDs 42 times and nobody died. I'd say they were pretty stout vehicles.

 

[cwjerome]

The Stryker has turned out be a be great little piece of equipment. Sure, an RPG-7/27/29 can blow a hole in it, but those can penetration a Bradley also. I have seen Strykers flipped on their side by an IED and the soldiers only have a mild concussion.

There are so many variants, and their speed and quiteness are a huge factor in and around urban terrain. Almost everyone I know who have worked with them love them.

 

[jammur21]

Welcome back boys

Glad they can be home for the holiday

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Horus
Too bad they had to patrol in those goddamn deathtraps. The Stryker is the dumbest idea for an armored vehicle I've ever seen.

Strykers, were designed to be used in a more bosnian, if that's the word for it - region. Not the big desert you see in Iraq.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Strykers, were designed to be used in a more bosnian, if that's the word for it - region. Not the big desert you see in Iraq.

Not exactly...the Stryker brigades are a result of Shinseki's vision for a lighter, more mobile, more lethal Army...this vision emerged during the late 1990s, and BosniaKosovo was perhaps the catalyst for this force structure change...but the Army contracted Stryker because it is a platform capable of deploying under numerous contingencies.

Army mechanized and armor divisions proved too cumbersome and costly for deployment to the Balkans...in Bosnia and Kosovo, M1s and Bradley's serve as very expensive mobile bunkers and checkpoints...the Army utilizes HMMWVs for most of the missions there.

Similarly, beyond the initial invasion of Iraq, M1s and Bradley's have not proven to valuable for assymetrical warfare scenarios in urban terrain.

The Stryker is versatile, surviveable, and mobile. Prior to Stryker, the HMMWV was filling the void for operations in Iraq...in Bosnia, people aren't shooting at our soldiers, nor are they attacking our troops with IEDs...Iraq...different story.

 

[Narmer]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Background: The 172 Stryker Brigade was called up and sent to Iraq ~July 2005. They were supposed to be back last August but got recalled at the last minute and held over for another four months. Guys were litterally pulled off airplanes thinking they were on their way home. (People in my town were PISSED.)

Fast forward to today. They're all home now minus a few...

It's interesting talking to them when they come in my store. For their initial deployment they were stationed around Mosul. Everyone I talked to said it wasn't so bad there. One detachment had the duty of patrolling the road between Baghdad and Mosul. They got hit by a LOT of IEDs but nobody died.

But when they were held over they were reassigned to Baghdad. To a man, they all said that BD is the wild west. The rest of the country seemed to be fairly peaceful/managable but BD was a total nightmare. Interesting to hear things from their perspective.
Welcome home guys.

Welcome them home for all of us. But it's fvcked up Baghdad is like that, considering it's the capital and one of the largest cities in the Middle East.

 

[Horus]

Originally posted by: cwjerome
The Stryker has turned out be a be great little piece of equipment. Sure, an RPG-7/27/29 can blow a hole in it, but those can penetration a Bradley also. I have seen Strykers flipped on their side by an IED and the soldiers only have a mild concussion.

There are so many variants, and their speed and quiteness are a huge factor in and around urban terrain. Almost everyone I know who have worked with them love them.

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Horus

Originally posted by: cwjerome
The Stryker has turned out be a be great little piece of equipment. Sure, an RPG-7/27/29 can blow a hole in it, but those can penetration a Bradley also. I have seen Strykers flipped on their side by an IED and the soldiers only have a mild concussion.

There are so many variants, and their speed and quiteness are a huge factor in and around urban terrain. Almost everyone I know who have worked with them love them.

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS.

A. Please provide a link for this.
B. There are many variants of the Stryker, so you will need to tell us which version rolls. My guess is the firepower support version with the 105 mm gun. But lets see what proof you have first.

 

[jrenz]

Originally posted by: Horus

Originally posted by: cwjerome
The Stryker has turned out be a be great little piece of equipment. Sure, an RPG-7/27/29 can blow a hole in it, but those can penetration a Bradley also. I have seen Strykers flipped on their side by an IED and the soldiers only have a mild concussion.

There are so many variants, and their speed and quiteness are a huge factor in and around urban terrain. Almost everyone I know who have worked with them love them.

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS.

Uh... do you know what a stryker is? The "main gun" is a modular attachment, if you are referring to the Abrams sytle mount. I doubt there are too many rolling around the streets with these. Most I have come in contact with have integrated thermo/IR computer sighting.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS

Proof?

 

[Horus]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS

Proof?

I'd have to dig up the Canadian Forces newsletter for last year. But it was the LAV-25 chassis with the 105mm cannon attachment. We didn't buy it because,

1) There was a massive amount of blowback, barrel was ENGULFED with flame whenever rounds were fired.

2) Lateral stability was awful...the wheels would leave the ground when the gun was fired in 90 degree position in position with the vehicle

If you're talking about the Stryker, meaning the LAV-25/LAV-3 armored vehicle...it's a simply fantastic piece of kit. It's saved several lives for our troops in Afghanistan, and is superbly multipurpose.

 

[cwjerome]

Originally posted by: Horus

Originally posted by: cwjerome
The Stryker has turned out be a be great little piece of equipment. Sure, an RPG-7/27/29 can blow a hole in it, but those can penetration a Bradley also. I have seen Strykers flipped on their side by an IED and the soldiers only have a mild concussion.

There are so many variants, and their speed and quiteness are a huge factor in and around urban terrain. Almost everyone I know who have worked with them love them.

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS.

You are talking about the Stryker mobile gun system. It's been fixed.. for a while now.

 

[straightalker]

So for how many days this time before they get called back for another Tour in Iraq/Afghanistan?

Gone are the days when the contract you signed when you enlisted actually was worth more than the paper it was printed on. Remember WWII and Vietnam? You did your Tour and went home. Period. No slavery.

Now that the Dems are in expect a DRAFT.

Those of you talking about how "safe" a Stryker is on a Battlefield should always remember how "safe" an Abrams Tank is. Match the target with the right weapon and it's toast. As the ragtroops in Lebanon recently proved against the Zionist invasion there. Where the Zionists were blown to pieces by new Russian anti-tank weapons. Reality rules.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Horus

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

Except...except when you turn the turret sideways THE DAMN THINGS ROLLS OVER. That's why the Canadian Army didn't buy them. BECAUSE THE MAIN GUN IS USELESS

Proof?

I'd have to dig up the Canadian Forces newsletter for last year. But it was the LAV-25 chassis with the 105mm cannon attachment. We didn't buy it because,

1) There was a massive amount of blowback, barrel was ENGULFED with flame whenever rounds were fired.

2) Lateral stability was awful...the wheels would leave the ground when the gun was fired in 90 degree position in position with the vehicle

If you're talking about the Stryker, meaning the LAV-25/LAV-3 armored vehicle...it's a simply fantastic piece of kit. It's saved several lives for our troops in Afghanistan, and is superbly multipurpose.

I thought you guys got turned down for financing? NO SAME AS CASH DEAL FOR YOO! :beer::beer:

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: straightalker
So for how many days this time before they get called back for another Tour in Iraq/Afghanistan?

Some of the guys said they were back for at least 16 months. Some are PCS'ing out. Most of them said they will likely have to make another trip over.

 

[straightalker]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: straightalker
So for how many days this time before they get called back for another Tour in Iraq/Afghanistan?

Some of the guys said they were back for at least 16 months. Some are PCS'ing out. Most of them said they will likely have to make another trip over.

Hey no problem right? DU sickness has a latency period of up to 20 or 30 years. So our men who signed the dotted line are good to go until they actually keel over and drop dead. Their kids currently born with six arms make excellent tennis players. No problemo.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: straightalker
So for how many days this time before they get called back for another Tour in Iraq/Afghanistan?

Gone are the days when the contract you signed when you enlisted actually was worth more than the paper it was printed on. Remember WWII and Vietnam? You did your Tour and went home. Period. No slavery.

Now that the Dems are in expect a DRAFT.

Those of you talking about how "safe" a Stryker is on a Battlefield should always remember how "safe" an Abrams Tank is. Match the target with the right weapon and it's toast. As the ragtroops in Lebanon recently proved against the Zionist invasion there. Where the Zionists were blown to pieces by new Russian anti-tank weapons. Reality rules.

umm the people who went to war in WW 2 mostly stayed in till the war was over.

Many of them fought in two or three MAJOR campaigns.

For instance, one of the flag bearers at Iwo Jima had already been in a previous landing.

Also MANY of the men fighting in D-day had fought in Africa, and some even fought in Italy as well.

Luckily for them there were so many men in the military that most men got time off in between major commitments.

There is actually a psychological belief that men can only take so many days in direct combat before the mental strain on them makes them fight below accepted levels.
I believe the number is in the 30 day range. Iraq would not count though since they are really not in high intensity warfare. More likely they are bored out of the minds 23 ½ hours a day and then scared shitless for the other 30.

I?ve heard stories both first and second hand from people who were there; it is not as bad as the media makes it look. We only see the worst of it on TV. Imagine if the nightly news started out by telling you how many people died on the highway that morning, before long we would all be afraid to drive thinking that we were going to be the next one to die.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: straightalker

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: straightalker
So for how many days this time before they get called back for another Tour in Iraq/Afghanistan?

Some of the guys said they were back for at least 16 months. Some are PCS'ing out. Most of them said they will likely have to make another trip over.

Hey no problem right? DU sickness has a latency period of up to 20 or 30 years. So our men who signed the dotted line are good to go until they actually keel over and drop dead. Their kids currently born with six arms make excellent tennis players. No problemo.

Please go crap in someone else's thread.

 

[straightalker]

The true casualty rate is close to 15,000 dead American servicemen and other Americans who died as a result of the Iraqi/Afghanistan invasion/occupation. Going back for more. Sending more troops. All a scam built upon a scam. Directed by all the same clowns who kept us in Vietnam for 10 years.

Supporting our USA Soldiers actually means studying the information and finding out the facts. I've done that. All those soldiers are overdue to return home in a war that's now lasted longer for America than WWII.

Once the ragtroops of south central Asia learn how to aquire and use the new Russian anti-tank weapons, as they have in Lebanon verses the Zionists, our USA soldiers will be at risk of encirclement in Bagdad and annihilation.

The indiginous population of the region is primarily muslim and they number in the hundreds of millions. We number 150,000.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: straightalker
The true casualty rate is close to 15,000 dead American servicemen and other Americans who died as a result of the Iraqi/Afghanistan invasion/occupation. Going back for more. Sending more troops. All a scam built upon a scam. Directed by all the same clowns who kept us in Vietnam for 10 years.

Supporting our USA Soldiers actually means studying the information and finding out the facts. I've done that. All those soldiers are overdue to return home in a war that's now lasted longer for America than WWII.

Once the ragtroops of south central Asia learn how to aquire and use the new Russian anti-tank weapons, as they have in Lebanon verses the Zionists, our USA soldiers will be at risk of encirclement in Bagdad and annihilation.

The indiginous population of the region is primarily muslim and they number in the hundreds of millions. We number 150,000.

True casualty rate is 15,000??? Based on what? The number of peoole who are going to get sick from something that happened to them over there and die from it some time during their life?