Stryker A Piece Of Shit Too

Washington Post (03.31.05):

"The Army has deployed a new troop transport vehicle in Iraq with many defects, putting troops there at unexpected risk from rocket-propelled grenades and raising questions about the vehicle's development and $11 billion cost, according to a detailed critique in a classified Army study obtained by The Washington Post." Study Faults Army Vehicle

On one hand, the Generals think it's just great. Peter J. Schoomaker, Army chief of staff, told the the House Armed Services Committee last month that "'we're absolutely enthusiastic about what the Stryker has done.'" On the other, the article says the folks in the field supposedly like the thing even though there is "a catalogue of complaints about the vehicle, including design flaws, inoperable gear and maintenance problems that are 'getting worse not better.'" They like it? This is a little difficult to understand considering that:

• An "armoring shield" "is so heavy that tire pressure must be checked three times daily. Nine tires a day are changed after failing, the report says; the Army told The Post the current figure is '11 tire and wheel assemblies daily.'"
• According to the report, the shield only "works against half the grenades used to assault it."
• The commanders' display is so piss-poor that "none of the 100 display units in Iraq are being used because of 'design and functionality shortfalls.'"
• The computers "are too slow and overheat in desert temperatures or freeze up at critical moments, such as 'when large units are moving at high speeds simultaneously' and overwhelm its sensors."
• The main weapon system, a $157,000 grenade launcher, fails to hit targets when the vehicle is moving.
• The launcher's laser designator doesn't work at night.
• The launcher's console display is in black and white but generates warnings to be on the lookout "'for a certain color automobile'".
• Some crews have modified the launcher because as-is, it swivels too far towards the squad leader's position.
• The seat belts are hard to latch "when troops are in their armored gear, a circumstance that contributed to the deaths of three soldiers in rollover accidents".
• Crews are putting sand-filled tin cans around the gunner's hatch because as-is, it's too lightly armored.

Other than that, though, it works great.