Post by quincannon on Oct 24, 2017 14:34:57 GMT
WHY? Because that's not how we do it. In the M113, the Stryker and even in the IFV, the Bradley the squad consists of the whole crew. The squad leader is also the vehicle commander, and as such he rides in the carrier commander position in the vehicle. When the squad dismounts the TC is replaced by another squad member so the gun can be manned, and the squad leader commands the dismounts. This is true for two of the four carriers in the platoon. The other two have the Platoon leader and Platoon Sergeant as carrier commanders.
We tried the it the other (German) way when fully armored closed top carriers first appeared in the inventory. At that time during the Pentomic (ROCID - Battle Group) era the carrier did not belong to the Infantry Battle Group. It belonged to the division's transportation battalion. Each of those battalions had a carrier company with a sufficient number of carriers to move one five company battle group at a time, and came with a crew of two (driver and TC), plus a truck company with enough trucks to move another battle group. They were attached when required and withdrawn when not. It did not work out so well in practice although it was nice in theory. We found that it was much better to follow the armored division practice of the armored (mechanized) Infantry to own their carriers all the time.
NOW TO THE WHY. All the carriers we have used since 1955 have been completely inclosed starting with the M59 (a beast) and continuing through the 113, Stryker, and Brad. Unlike the 251 and our WWII era half track with open tops there was no way for the squad leader to have the required situational awareness in combat if he was locked in a box at the rear of the carrier. He must see, and it is the requirement to see that means the squad leader must man the carrier commanders station on the move. It is not a perfect system, but rather one brought about by the vehicle characteristics. With the Stryker he does not have to stick his head out to see. He has optics, but still must man that station, the one with the optics while on the move.
We have not yet addressed the ball and chain aspects though. Regardless of the type of carrier horse, 251, all the way to the present, when the individual or squad dismounts, the carrier of that man (horse) or squad (carrier) must be protected. So that mythical chain is connected on one end to the man or squad, and on the other to the ball (the form of transport). It then, the requirement to protect that which carries you, is a restriction upon complete freedom of movement. It takes away some of the options you have or might have absent the requirement.
That's why I have no love for any armored carrier of any kind that take you any further forward than the attack position. Walking is slower, but safer, and completely unrestricted by any self imposed outside requirement.
?
Mac, I more favor the idea that in the valley Custer may have been both stopped in one area, and voluntarily withdrew in another(others). If the cohesiveness was not taken from him in the valley, then perhaps it was taken from him when he withdrew/pushed from that valley. Something in other words that prevented a perfect union on the ridge lines.
We tried the it the other (German) way when fully armored closed top carriers first appeared in the inventory. At that time during the Pentomic (ROCID - Battle Group) era the carrier did not belong to the Infantry Battle Group. It belonged to the division's transportation battalion. Each of those battalions had a carrier company with a sufficient number of carriers to move one five company battle group at a time, and came with a crew of two (driver and TC), plus a truck company with enough trucks to move another battle group. They were attached when required and withdrawn when not. It did not work out so well in practice although it was nice in theory. We found that it was much better to follow the armored division practice of the armored (mechanized) Infantry to own their carriers all the time.
NOW TO THE WHY. All the carriers we have used since 1955 have been completely inclosed starting with the M59 (a beast) and continuing through the 113, Stryker, and Brad. Unlike the 251 and our WWII era half track with open tops there was no way for the squad leader to have the required situational awareness in combat if he was locked in a box at the rear of the carrier. He must see, and it is the requirement to see that means the squad leader must man the carrier commanders station on the move. It is not a perfect system, but rather one brought about by the vehicle characteristics. With the Stryker he does not have to stick his head out to see. He has optics, but still must man that station, the one with the optics while on the move.
We have not yet addressed the ball and chain aspects though. Regardless of the type of carrier horse, 251, all the way to the present, when the individual or squad dismounts, the carrier of that man (horse) or squad (carrier) must be protected. So that mythical chain is connected on one end to the man or squad, and on the other to the ball (the form of transport). It then, the requirement to protect that which carries you, is a restriction upon complete freedom of movement. It takes away some of the options you have or might have absent the requirement.
That's why I have no love for any armored carrier of any kind that take you any further forward than the attack position. Walking is slower, but safer, and completely unrestricted by any self imposed outside requirement.
?
Mac, I more favor the idea that in the valley Custer may have been both stopped in one area, and voluntarily withdrew in another(others). If the cohesiveness was not taken from him in the valley, then perhaps it was taken from him when he withdrew/pushed from that valley. Something in other words that prevented a perfect union on the ridge lines.