Stryker Losses in Iraq Raise Questions - Five Lost in One Week

[Barrett808]

Source: Washington Post

Stryker Losses in Iraq Raise Questions

By ROBERT H. REID and ANNE FLAHERTY
Sunday, May 13, 2007; 2:00 PM

BAGHDAD -- A string of heavy losses from powerful roadside bombs has raised new questions about the vulnerability of the Stryker, the Army's troop-carrying vehicle hailed by supporters as the key to a leaner, more mobile force.

Since the Strykers went into action in violent Diyala province north of Baghdad two months ago, losses of the vehicles have been rising steadily, U.S. officials said.

A single infantry company in Diyala lost five Strykers this month in less than a week, according to soldiers familiar with the losses, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to release the information. The overall number of Strykers lost recently is classified.

In one of the biggest hits, six American soldiers and a journalist were killed when a huge bomb exploded beneath their Stryker on May 6. It was the biggest one-day loss for the battalion in more than two years.

"We went for several months with no losses and were very proud of that," a senior Army official said in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to comment publicly. "Since then, there have been quite a few Stryker losses."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/13/AR2007051300552.html

[liberal renegade]

1. $ 4 million a pop

just a drop in the bucket.....

[daleo]

2. It may have taken a while for the other side to learn the vulnerabilities of the weapon

No weapon can win a war that shouldn't have been fought.

[krispos42]

3. It probably took that long to figure out how big to make the IEDs

Doubtless many Strykers were damaged to one degree or another until the insurgents figured out how many artillery shells to wire together to take one out.

Well, they're still a lot better than any Hummer.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Isn't that the flagship of the Carlyle Group?

Oh well, the upside will be more orders for Poppy's business.

[jollyreaper2112]

5. Well, that's what happens when you fight a guerrilla war

If this was a conventional war, those Strykers would probably be booking along fast enough to survive what's thrown at them. But this ain't a conventional war. It's like with choppers, their best defense is speed. If they're sitting still, they're sitting ducks. These Strykers are having to travel along known routes on familiar streets, day in, day out. The rebels are able to pick the time and situation of the engagement. They're outgunned, of course, but they have the initiative and can minimize their exposure with proper planning.

Armored warfare in an urban environment is a bitch. Trying to fight with stupidity coming straight from the top only makes it worse.