Editor in Chief Bill | 07 Jun 2021 7:41 p.m. PST |
After years of testing 30mm autocannons on Strykers in Europe, the Army is fielding the Medium Caliber Weapon System, or MCWS, to more of its brigades… link |
Thresher01 | 07 Jun 2021 7:48 p.m. PST |
Since when is a 30mm cannon on a vehicle "medium caliber"? I suspect if war ever breaks out they'll rue the day the 105mm guns were "retired". |
Tgerritsen | 07 Jun 2021 8:16 p.m. PST |
30mm is going to be plenty useful against most things the Stryker will come up against. Strykers aren't anti tank platforms, so if they come up against anything more powerful than a BMP or M113, they should run like hell. |
Zephyr1 | 07 Jun 2021 8:59 p.m. PST |
Sounds like it's planned more for urban combat than tangling on an open battlefield… |
Thresher01 | 07 Jun 2021 9:50 p.m. PST |
Yea, I get it vs. light vehicles, but even .50 cal MGs can destroy those when fired from close enough, from the rear and flanks. You'd think they'd at least add on a coax TOW or Javelin launcher too, just in case. |
Irish Marine | 08 Jun 2021 7:08 a.m. PST |
Well the BMP-3 has a two gun system, a 30mm and a 100mm gun. So, yeah, the US Army is going to be wishing for a bigger gun. |
Legion 4 | 08 Jun 2021 8:07 a.m. PST |
Beat ya to it Bill ! 😁😎 TMP link they should run like hell. Call-in FA, CAS, or both … I commanded an M113 Co., at Benning with the Mech Hvy Bde of 18th ABN Corps, '87-'89. M113s have to use terrain, cover & concealment, etc., etc., very good fieldcraft, tactics and techniques, etc. To improve it's survivability, etc. We only had an M2 .50cal and M47 Dragon which also could be mount on the TC's hatch. However the M113 Mech Co., did have an organic Section of 2 M901 ITVs. Which usually moved into overwatch positions when the Co., is moving or even in the defense. |
emckinney | 08 Jun 2021 8:40 a.m. PST |
"I suspect if war ever breaks out they'll rue the day the 105mm guns were "retired"." Yep. Nothing like flipping your own vehicle because you had the gall to fire to the side … |
epturner | 08 Jun 2021 10:15 a.m. PST |
And the MGS' seem to have a uncanny desire to catch fire… Eric |
emckinney | 08 Jun 2021 12:31 p.m. PST |
"Well the BMP-3 has a two gun system, a 30mm and a 100mm gun. So, yeah, the US Army is going to be wishing for a bigger gun." You're assuming that having two "main" guns on an AFV is a good idea, when it's been a terrible failure every other time it's been tried. (The Char B being a very slight, partial exception.) And you're assuming that the BMP-3 is actually good, for which idea there is no evidence. |
Irish Marine | 08 Jun 2021 1:29 p.m. PST |
The BMP-3 has seen active duty in: First Chechen War The BMP-3 saw action with the Russian forces during the First Chechen War. Kosovo In 2000, the United Arab Emirates deployed some BMP-3s in peacekeeping operations during the Kosovo War. Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen The BMP-3 also saw military use with Emirati forces during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, where it is currently deployed. |
Legion 4 | 08 Jun 2021 3:47 p.m. PST |
Seems Russian stuff is everywhere in the Mid East and Africa … Our .50s could penetrate the BMP's flank & rear … I don't remember if they up armored the newer versions. |
emckinney | 09 Jun 2021 2:14 p.m. PST |
"And you're assuming that the BMP-3 is actually good, for which idea there is no evidence." "The BMP-3 has seen active duty in:" As I said, there's no evidence that it's good. It's also fundamentally different from the MGS, for good or ill. |
Legion 4 | 09 Jun 2021 2:50 p.m. PST |
Yes … we found our M113s fairly "fragile". However, mechanically reliable. But it was around for quite some time. However, we didn't underestimate the BMP or even the BTRs, etc. Even the M113 APC's eventual replacement, the M2 Bradley IFV had some weaknesses too. Note: there is a difference between an APC and IFV. Regardless … We felt even before it was being totally fielded. That only 6 dismounts was too small. Reducing the size of the Infantry Sqd from 11 to 9. As Infantry actually does it's best "work" on the ground. The M2 IFV's added armor and 25mm main gun plus TOWs did make it "better" than the M113 APC. But Infantrymen can't take the M2 with it's armor & firepower everywhere. E.g. swamps, etc. … Plus M2's Firing Port Wpns System, the M231, IIRC, proved to not to be very "useful/effective". They were turned in and armor added over those locations, etc. We thought this was a bad idea from the "Get Go" … again Grunts do their best work dismounted on the ground. The BMP may not be that good, but … it's relative. |