And we all wear stetsons...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cavguy
Steve,
Agree all.
More dismounts needed in HBCT - desperately. What I enjoyed when we were in Tal Afar was the ability to customize the vehicles of a given unit to a mission - a high/low mix.
I think people like the Cav construct because it is a mix - of tanks, scouts, and aviation, which grants flexibility to the commander.. You are right - way too low on dismounts. Fix that though .... :D
Stetsons, Class A's, and Jump boots are simply weird:confused:
Fighting for Intelligence
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ken White
I also believe we not only forget reconnaissance is a mission, we don't even generally do reconnaissance. :mad: With the caveat that there are a few exceptions, the Infantry commanders, mostly, do not understand the concept of mounted reconnaissance and misuse their forces badly all too often. Armor units tend to believe in flash and dash rather than painstaking recon; there's a reason for the old "bypass, re-gas and haula$$" cliché. That also with only rare exceptions -- as is the generalization that entirely too many senior people in all branches do not have the patience to wait for the length of time required for effective and competent Recon so their alternative is to send an overly heavy, unstealthy, high speed and undermanned force out to hurry up and draw fire.
That's why current Cav units are too small, they're not scouts (or dragoons) nowadays, they're sacrificial lambs.
Not only is reconnaissance a mission, but I believe it is an art. Ken's points are spot on; I'll try to add a bit. Now (quite possibly before), we have to conduct reconnaissance of the physical AND human terrain. An indigenous guerilla has a comparative advantage in information- he can see us, we cannot see him. Moreover, he is the master of his terrain.
For the villages, particularly restricted areas, I believe a light approach is best. In my light RSTA, we tried to incorporate lessons learned from the LRRPs of Vietnam to employ. It worked. One distinction we made was empowering our junior leaders. My SCO sent the majority of scouts to RSLC, Ranger, Sniper, etc... to add to our human capital. In my troop, we had E4 fire supports studs talking directly to Apaches (with supervision :o). That E4 is worth more than 10 Predator UAVs.
As for urban areas, I was taking an educated guess. The last time I owned major real estate in an urban area Sadr City was still Saddam City and BIAP was Saddam International Airport.
Ken- what's with this we stuff?
v/r
Mike
I have a mouse in my pocket...
and that Speculist coulda talked to that Apache just as well w/o any supervision... ;)
Perhaps Strykers will be a winner
out of this. We've seen the medevac variant fielded to non-stryker BCTs. The SBCT does have 3 maneuver battalions and a Cav SQDN giving it a bit more flexibility than a HBCT. I'd be the first to say this would not be the preferred formation to go against T-80s in open terrain. But its done a darn good job throughout Iraq. With the fielding of the MGS variant a company commander had the the ability to move thru a spectrum of PSYOP with the mounted speakers to .50 cal or MK-19; up to 105mm HE cannon direct or 120mm indirect all organic.
Cavguy would have loved the flexible T/O, and the ability to put 108 11Bs on the ground with trucks in support, more if you are not employing your mtrs or bringing all the trucks.
With the plug pulled on FCS will the Stryker variants, meant to bridge the gap become the endstate?
Once more into the breach...
Village Light, Urban Heavy? Strkyers medium fill the void?
Yeah, I know. I've been reading too much poetry.
About time you voiced 699- much better than grumpy old NCOs grumbling over lambs and rice, of mice and men. :)
v/r
Mike