DoD photos of Stryker MGS in combat?

[MikeyD]

I'm on a hunt for a project.

I need a couple photos of MGS in Iraq. DoD provided a few good ones from back when 4th Brigade 2nd Div deployed last year. But the old picture links seem to be down and I've pretty much Googled my brains out looking for them. Does anybody know the location of - or can post here decent Stryker in Iraq photos?

Thanks in advance

[Classic88]

http://www.murdoconline.net/2007/mgs_taji.jpg

[John Kettler]

MikeyD,

There's a wealth of Stryker material in my initial post here, to include footage, I believe, of an MGS firing in combat.

http://www.battlefront.com/discuss/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=52;t=003713

Combat configured but on range in Kuwait prior to commitment to battle.

http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/004853.html

Bingo! One in Iraq, together with blistering user commentary.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,160981,00.html

Of course, opinions differ.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003977.html

Another shot, this one in Taji, Iraq.

http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/004848.html

Regards,

John Kettler

[Pandur]

from here;

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,160981,00.html

...including a computer system that constantly locks up,...

is this simulated in CMSF!? it better be

[John Kettler]

Pandur,

This is simulated by the as yet not installed MGS CPU Thermal Overload Subroutine. On a more serious note, computers and ~140 degree internal temperatures, not to mention insane humidity, don't mix well, as seen in the altogether to be expected computer problems.

At Rockwell, we used to joke that the only reason we had air conditioning was for the computers. It wasn't the only reason, but it was the primary one. You should've seen how many PCs failed when the main building AC died one summer, and this was the beach area of El Segundo, not blast furnace Iraq. Management wound up bringing in two huge truck mounted HVAC units to keep things going until the central HVAC could be replaced.

Regards,

John Kettler

[MikeyD]

Thanks. Funny, there were a couple nice hi-rez DoD shots of Sryker in the field up on the usual DoD websites but they've just gone 'poof!' Someone conspiratorially-minded might suspect the shots had been pulled following the Pentagon auditors' report on MGS, under the theory that papers will not run a story these days if they can't locate pictures to accompany it.

One interesting thing about that Mudochonline MGS shot, is the camou netting draped over the gunner's hatch (and I assume the commander's on the other side). They're doing the same with Bradley, providing a camou net tent over his position so any nearby snipers can't tell the crew's gone heads-up.

[ February 11, 2008, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: MikeyD ]

[MikeyD]

Something odd I see in those articles. Stryker MGS is supposed to cost about twice as much as a regular infantry carrier at a bit over 3 million. But the article states $484 million for 92 MGS vehicles - which works out to $5.2 million each. Ouch! Inflation!

[Classic88]

MikeyD, just a guess here but keep in mind when the US government purchases the MGS system it's not just a AFV.. its all it's spares, ie: extra barrels, sensors, nuts and bolts etc. Not to mention training devices and simulators, support, technical and otherwise. So the $484 mill may just encompass those things...

Keith

PS: that or the extra money is being funnelled into Black ops...

[MikeyD]

An extra $2.2 million dollars per vehicle in spare parts is alot of spare parts, like they can completely rebuild 2/3 of the vehicle over again. Maybe the $5.2 mill pricetag has to do with the increase of the EURO... somehow

[Classic88]

Or then again.. maybe it's just kickbacks to the Canadian Government for buying Four C-17 Globemaster III's.

[Splinty]

It has mostly to do with overpriced training aids.