| Currently, the M1117 Guardian Armoured Security Vehicle is only used by MP companies. Should it totally replace the Hummer armament carriers as a patrol vehicle elsewhere in the Army units based in Iraq? It has the advantage of being an armoured vehicle built from the ground up, while the M1114 Hummer is actually a truck modified to be a frontline battle wagon. Consequently, it is underpowered and its chassis will fracture within a short time.
I'm not advocating that all Hummers are obsolete- I still adore them as a US Army symbol and veteran mule, a worthy jeep replacement. Rather, they should be relegated to transport, logistics, C&C and ambulance duties only while the armanent carriers are a supplement to the ASV rather than a mainstream patrol truck that has little chance of surviving IEDs and RPGs. (Yeah, I know the current M1114 may protect its crew from these attacks but is often written off). |
