ken:
Got your points about branches and centers and stuff Oh My!
Much if it I agree with.
However, our LOCs are now and will most likely remain in the future one of our Achilles Heels. Even after peeling out all the FOB/quality-of-stuff, units will still require daily to every-other-day re-supply.
If the routes are not patroled/secured and/or the convoys are not escorted, the supplies will not get thru. After 2-3 days without fuel re-supply an M1 becomes a really heavy-stationary Anti-tank gun/bunker.
JLTV is still a concept/in development, M-ATVs are smaller because of the terrain requirements in A-stan. As a result carry fews troops.
Pretty sure, if given the choice is MRAP or up-armored HMMWV or nothing, folks will opt for MRAP. May be a short-term solution. But think it gets us over the hump.
Agree in spades with your comment about ATGMs versus convoys.
A bettter solution maybe to get away from the idea of fixed MSRs and more MSR-on-fly. When your enemy does not know what road, trail, cart path ect your are going to take next/today, laying IEDs and setting up complex ambushes gets harder.
Even in Iraq (at least in 2004) there were/are plenty of farm-to-market type dirt roads that could handle convoys.
So, unless the future Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) runs on sailboat fuel we are stuck with ground re-supply.
TAH
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