Stryker

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For the manufacturer of medical and orthopedic products, see Stryker Corporation. For the Mortal Kombat character, see Kurtis Stryker. For the X-Men villain, see Reverend William Stryker.

Stryker
Infantry Fighting Variant equipped with the Browning M2 and anti-RPG slat armor.
General characteristics
Crew	4
Length	6.95 m (22.92 ft)
Width	2.72 m (8.97 ft)
Height	2.64 m (8.72 ft)
Weight	ICV: 16.47 tonnes (18.12 t) MGS:18.77 t, 20.65 t
Armour and armament
Armour	14.5 mm
Main armament	M68A1E4 105 mm gun (Mobile Gun System
Secondary armament	.50-cal M2 MG MK19 40 mm grenade launcher M240 7.62mm MG mounted in a Remote Weapon Station (RWS)
Mobility
Power plant	diesel 350 hp (261 kW)
Suspension	8 x 8 wheeled
Road speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Power/weight	hp/tonne
Range	502 km (312 miles)

The Stryker is a controversial family of eight-wheeled, all wheel drive, armored combat vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems and is in current use by the US Army and the Mobile Gun System variant has been ordered by the Canadian Army to replace its fleet of Leopard I tanks^{[#endnote_canada]}. It is the first military vehicle to enter service in the US military since the M2 Bradley in the 1980s. The Stryker is based on the Canadian LAV III light-armored vehicle, which in turn is based on the Mowag Piranha. The impetus for Stryker came from Army Chief of Staff (retired) Eric Shinseki.

Stryker is named in honor of two American servicemen: Spc Robert F. Stryker, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War, and Pfc Stuart S. Stryker, who received the award for his actions during World War II. Both men were killed in action.

Contents

1 Production history
2 Design
3 Variants

3.1 Operators

4 Combat history

4.1 Deployments

5 Mission

5.1 Design

6 Criticisms
7 References
8 See also

8.1 External links

Production history

The Stryker Brigade Combat Team idea is relatively new and based upon the Brigade Combat Team Doctrine. A newer generation of equipment such as the Stryker digitally connected through military C4I networks greatly enhance the overall units' lethality and ability to react to hostile forces. This light and mobile team was championed by the 34th U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki.

The Stryker was recalled from duty early in Iraq in order to be retrofitted with armor capable of adequately defending against rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks that it would likely face in Iraq. It has since been redeployed with the "catchers' mask"-style deflector (known as slat armor) that detonates the high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead of the RPG before it reaches the vehicle, reducing the overall penetrating power.

Design

The Stryker is a 4x8 switchable to 8x8 via pnuematics. It has high-range 8x8 and low-range 8x8. It operates normally in high 4x8. This vehicle uses pnuematics and hydraulics to operate most everything mechanically in it. All variant share same major components, including the powerpack (engine, transmission, hydraulics), wheels, tires, differentials and transfer case. The only difference is the MEV has a higher-capacity generator and the CV and MEV are equipped with air-conditioning. This is mounted on the pack.

Most major components can be changed out very quickly. Almost every cable, hose, etc has quick disconnects to speed up removal and installation. The pack can be removed and installed in less than one hour, making it faster to remove the pack and fix it outside the vehicle than to leave in it and fix the problem. An example would be the turbocharger.

The Stryker is equipped with several advanced systems than make it easier to operate and safer:

The automatic fire extinguishing system (AFES) has several sensors in the engine and troop compartments. If a fire is detected it will activate the fire bottle nearest the fire automatically. If it does not, the driver can activate the bottle from the driver's compartment.
central tire-inflation system (CTIS): From the driver's compartment, the driver can adjust the tire pressure to the terrain the vehicle is driving on for maximum speed and/or traction. There are four settings: mud/stuck, snow, general off-road terrain, and finally asphalt. Each setting has a speed limit. A warning will go off if the vehicle exceeds the recommended speed for its tire pressure.

Extensive computer support helps soldiers fight the enemy while reducing friendly fire accidents. Each vehicle can track the other vehicles in the field as well as detected enemies.

A day-night thermal imaging camera is mounted outside the Stryker so the commander in the vehicle can see what the driver sees. Soldiers can practice training with the vehicles from computer training modules inside the vehicle.

Both the driver and the commander have periscopes, enabling them to see outside the vehicle without exposing themselves to outside dangers. The driver has a little more than 90 degrees and the commander has almost 360 degrees of vision from the safety of the inside.

The fuel tanks are externally mounted to reduce injury to troops in case of fire or explosion. They are designed to blow away from the vehicle and any fire would be kept outside the hull.

The Stryker cannot "swim" but it can ford fairly deep water due to the watertight combat hatch seals. The NBC system is airtight and can produce positive pressure.

Variants

The Stryker chassis is very modular in design to enable increased survivability and supports a wide range of interchangeable parts to create different variants. The two main chassis are the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and the Mobile Gun System (MGS). The MGS is a heavier chassis to support a variant of the 105 mm M68A1 rifled cannon (M68A1E4), a lightweight version of the gun system used on the original M1 Abrams main battle tanks and the M60 Patton main battle tank. The M68A1E4 also features a muzzle brake to assist with recoil.

The Stryker has the following configurations with more planned:

M1134 Anti-Tank Guided Missile Variant equipped with a TOW missile and M240B machine gun

M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV)
M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV)
M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS)
M1129 Mortar Carrier (MC) armed with 120mm Mortar
M1130 Commanders Vehicle (CV)
M1131 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV)
M1132 Engineer Support Vehicle (ESV)
M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV)
M1134 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) armed with TOW missile
M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBC RV)

All Strykers share common parts, limited self-recovering abilities and bullet-resistant self-inflating ("run-flat") tires, along with their anti-RPG slat armor. Armament: TOW anti-tank guided missile; and a M2 .50 cal machine gun, MK19 grenade machine gun, or M240B machine gun in a Remote Weapon Station (RWS) .

Operators

M1126 APC variant equipped with the MK19 grenade machine gun and anti-HEAT slat armor

M1134 Stryker ATGM carrier

United States Army - 6 Stryker Brigades will be formed -
*3d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division;
*4th Brigade, U.S. 2d Infantry Division
*1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division;
*172d Infantry Brigade;
*2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
*2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
* 56th Stryker Brigade of the 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard (the only National Guard unit to get them).
Canada Purchased 66 vehicles in 2003, they are expected to arrive in 2010. It is rumoured that the MGS that Canada purchased will replace the current fleet of Leopard I tanks

Combat history

Deployments

Post-invasion Iraq, 2003-2005: the first Stryker brigades were deployed to Iraq in October 2003. 3rd Brigade, 2d Infantry from Fort Lewis was the first to field and deploy the Stryker vehicle to combat in Iraq from Nov 2003 to Nov 2004. 3rd Brigade was relieved by 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (SBCT). The 172nd SBCT from Alaska began its deployment in August 2005 to Summer 2006. The 3rd, 2nd Infantry is re-deploying to Iraq currently and the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry is being stationed in Vilsek, Germany, after reflagging to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, to have a UN presence and be able to deploy quickly to that part of the world.

Mission

The Stryker family of vehicles fill a role in the U.S. Army that is neither heavy or light, but rather an attempt to create a force that can move infantry to the battlefield quickly and in relative security. Brigades that have been converted to Strykers have been light, or, in the case of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, unarmored HMMWV-based cavalry scouts. For these units, the addition of Strykers has increased combat power by providing armor protection, a vehicle-borne weapon system to support each dismounted squad (.50-cal or Mk-19), and the speed and range to conduct missions far from the operating base.

Stryker units seem to be especially effective in urban areas, where vehicles can establish initial security positions near a building and dismount squads on a doorstep.

Similar to a Blackhawk, the Stryker relies on its speed for the majority of its defense against heavy weapon systems. It is not capable of engaging heavily armored units and relies on other units to control threats outside of its classification.

However, at the National Training Center (Fort Irwin California) 3rd Brigade 2nd ID proved that through the use of unconventional tactics and small dismounted teams armed with anti armor weaponry, a Stryker unit could hold its own against a conventional armored unit should the need arise. This situation is something that the government would most likely avoid due to a higher casualty rate.

Design

In addition to generic criticisms from the choice of wheels over tracks, critics claim there are many flaws with the Stryker. They also caution that any positive testimonial must be evaluated against the fact that five of the six planned Stryker brigades were previously foot-infantry units, hence the Stryker (or any armored vehicle) provides a great improvement on their former mobility and protection. Further, Iraq's many paved roads and very dry climate make a number of criticisms less significant in the current conflict yet no less valid overall. However, Canadians have had quite a bit of trouble with the LAV IIIs (which the Stryker is based on) getting stuck in the mud in Afghanistan and rolling over. .

Soldiers and officers who use Strykers defend them as very effective vehicles; an article in the Washington Post states:

"But in more than a dozen interviews, commanders, soldiers and mechanics who use the Stryker fleet daily in one of Iraq's most dangerous areas unanimously praised the vehicle. The defects outlined in the report were either wrong or relatively minor and did little to hamper the Stryker's effectiveness, they said.".

One colonel said that the Strykers saved the lives of at least a hundred soldiers deployed in northern Iraq. See [Soldiers Defend Faulted Strykers]

Soldiers of a Stryker Unit say they will not go into combat without a Stryker.

Colby Buzzell, in "My War" and [on his blog], defends the utility of the Stryker over track armor in urban settings.

The Stryker MGS has been pushed into low-rate initial production for evaluation. [link]1], with plans for full production in 2007, though it has now apparently been cancelled by the US Army.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Criticisms

The controversy and criticisms surrounding the Stryker and its adoption and operation in the US Army are summarized on another page.

References

↑ The announcement made by then Minister of National Defense John McCallum is quoted at: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/produit/28031_us.html.

Stryker

Production history

Design

Variants

Operators

Combat history

Deployments

Mission

Design

Criticisms

References

See also

External links