From: Jeff Shultz 

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 22:21:50 -0500, Robert Comer wrote:

>> It's a utility truck, nothing more. People got killed running around in
>> Jeeps, people get killed running around in Humvee's. Be happy they don't
>> still have Gamma Goats.
>
> It seems as if they are targeting some of them more as combat vehicles,
> and other front-line work like electronics and C&C -- these roles need
> protection.
>
> But anyway, most of the people getting killed right now are not front line
> people, but they are important to the war as well and should have all the
> protection they we can give them.  Live with it isn't an acceptable answer
> when there *is* something better.

That's part of the problem - electronics and C&C that have required a
serious vehicle-borne system haven't really been "front-line
work" until now. And still isn't really, except that with an
insurgency and with forces located within towns, "rear-area"
isn't. I suppose that "something better" would be the M4 C&C
vehicle, which was a project to turn a Bradley into an M577 - the result
resembled a beetle, actually. I'm not sure that they went into series
production with it. And it's not exactly what you want to take on a patrol
through the streets of Baghdad, either.

One real problem is this: cargo vehicles are lightly armored because any
increase in armor is a decrease in cargo. And tanker trucks are never gonna
be invulnerable.

>
>>I suspect they just wanted more comfortable seats,
>> actually 8-). A standard Humvee has the good old 2" canvas covered
>> seat.
>
> I can certainly understand that reason!  I don't imagine they'd be very
> comfortable for normal travel.
>
They aren't too bad, actually, but when you are basically living in the vehicle...

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