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Subject: Light armor tracks for spec-ops
Hasan ibn Sabbah    10/25/2008 8:36:21 AM
Would light armor tracked vehicles like the M113 Gavin or something similar be beneficial to the spec-ops community? There has been numerous instances where armor would have been life-saving if only available. Instead wholly relying on helicopters and fighters planes for basically anything from insertions to medevacs to CAS, a team could extricate themselves without waiting and hoping if assets are available when time is critical. Just my 2 cents.
 
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WarNerd       10/27/2008 3:37:58 AM
There are a lot of different SpecOps missions, so theoretically there should be some where an armored tracked vehicle might have it's uses.  But those missions are most likely better carried out using conventional units.
 
The thing about SpecOps is that while they may use some of the fanciest vehicles on the planet to get to work, once there they have to operate with little or no logistical support, and usually in a covert fashion.  This usually means using locally acquired transport, like pickup trucks or horses (or their own 2 legs).
 
Tracked vehicles are noisy and unusual in most of the world, hardly useful characteristics in a covert operation.  They require regular maintenance in a specially equipped shop.  And they are fuel hogs.  That's 3 strikes against them.
 
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Carl S       2/15/2009 4:17:37 PM

Would light armor tracked vehicles like the M113 Gavin or something similar be beneficial to the spec-ops community? There has been numerous instances where armor would have been life-saving if only available. Instead wholly relying on helicopters and fighters planes for basically anything from insertions to medevacs to CAS, a team could extricate themselves without waiting and hoping if assets are available when time is critical. Just my 2 cents.

"M113 Gavin???  Exactly who is calling a M113 a 'Gavin'.  Do I sense Sparky here?
 
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