More MGS

Defense Tech has some more feedback on the Stryker Mobile Gun System, this time a bit more favorable.

Honestly, most of the criticism I've heard or read about doesn't seem too far out of the ordinary for a new vehicle. And, as the troops in Iraq were calling for this vehicle for years, "rushing" (if you ignore how far behind schedule it was to being with) a not-totally-finished platform into service wasn't necessarily the wrong thing to do, if that is what happened.

Besides, with the MGS taking the heat, the rest of the Strykers suddenly have become the standards to meet. And only just recently they were pieces of crap. Of course, the previous standard, the M2 Bradley, was also a piece of crap when introduced.

Army Times on the Stryker MGS
MGS Brings the Heat by Matthew Cox. Possibly in response to some criticisms published last week? One thing I've noticed is that the MGS vehicles almost never show up in official photos. I don't know if that means anything, but I've been watching for them and haven't seen many....[READ]

Stryker Reset
An important makeover Contractors working for General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. are putting in 10-hour days at Fort Lewis to get the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division’s recently returned fleet ready for duty again. The 270 or so armored vehicles arrived at the Port of Olympia in November after 15...[READ]

'Olympians in revolt'
Battle for Olympia Rages On Unbiased commentary: I have been in Olympia for a long time. All that happened last night was that people who have lived here for years got tired of being attacked. There was no outside group. Everyone running out there last night were Olympians in revolt....[READ]

Prostesting the Strykers
Earlier this year I covered a bit of the protesting in Tacoma over the deployment of a Stryker brigade. Surprise, surprise! The protesters are back, this time protesting the return of a Stryker brigade. Anti-war demonstrators protesting military at Olympia port The "Port Militarization Resistance" group opposes what it calls...[READ]

56th Brigade getting some Lessons Learned
Guard soldiers pass on lessons learned in Iraq The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Brigade has been alerted that it could be deployed to Iraq in early 2009. The brigade, the only one in the National Guard with Strykers, is still transitioning. The troops have been training on Strykers for two...[READ]

Remote Weapons Station video
Have a number of cool things that I wanted to get posted for today, but a time crunch last night has put me a little behind. If Murdoc could blog full time, we wouldn't have this problem, would we? Click on some ads or something... Anyway, one thing I'd like...[READ]

Stryker Remote Weapons Station upgrade
M151 Remote Weapon Systemwith M2 .50 cal gunClick for whole pictureFinally: New Remote Weapon Systems for Stryker DVIDS: CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Members of the 2nd (Stryker) Cavalry Regiment recently became the first Army unit to have the new Remote Weapon Systems refitted and mounted on their Stryker vehicles....[READ]

National Guard Strykers
Stryker gets major test during Gap exercise 56th Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard, continues to transition to the Stryker: Based in Philadelphia, the 56th Stryker Brigade has about 3,500 soldiers, with units scattered in communities across the state, including Lebanon and Fort Indiantown Gap. The centerpieces of the brigade are the...[READ]

New Stryker Cav unit deploys from Germany to Iraq
2nd Stryker Cav Regiment deploys During the changeovers: Troop level in Iraq highest so far...[READ]

'It’s time to go do the job.'
Strykers loaded up, begin journey to Iraq 2nd Cav (Stryker) is loading up the 8-wheelers for deployment to Iraq from Germany. The troops will deploy next month. (via Stryker Brigade News) ...[READ]

First Female SDM
First Female Squad Designated Marksman 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard: SPC [Krystal] Ginter of Lancaster PA, became the first female in the U.S. Army to graduate the Squad Designated Marksman Course. She graduated June 16 along with 18 others at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. “It’s an honor...[READ]

Stryker MGS in Baqubah
Stryker Soldiers with Company B, 4-9 Infantry Regiment, walk through a village in the outskirts of Baqubah, as the Mobile Gun System Stryker variant pulls security down a road, June 20. Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team are assisting Soldiers of 3rd Stryker...[READ]

Strykers in the line of fire
Associated Press: Stryker Losses Raise Questions The press seems to be catching up to the fact that one of the central battles in this summer of "the surge" is shaping up in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. As noted two months ago, Stryker infantry units are leading the "surge" into...[READ]

Stryker MGS video
Via DIVIDS: Strykers on the Range in Kuwait B-roll of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division testing its Mobile Gun System Strykers for the final time before they enter combat. Scenes include Soldiers entering the Strykers, firing the vehicles' gun system and driving through the...[READ]

Stryker MGS in Taji
Got this Reuters pic in an email: Reuters - Tue May 8, 4:27 PM ET U.S. tanks and armoured vehicles of 2-8 Delta Calvary patrol a main road outside Taji May 8, 2007. A suicide bomber killed 16 people and wounded 70 at a crowded market in Iraq's Shi'ite city...[READ]

NYT and WaPo tag-teaming on Baqubah
Legacy Media seems to have suddenly discovered Baqubah, capital of the Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. First, the New York Times has this: Attacks Surge as Iraq Militants Overshadow City: While the “surge" plays out in Baghdad just 35 miles to the south, Baquba has emerged as a magnet for...[READ]

The Diyala Operations
5-20 IN soldiers in Old Baqubah, DiyalaSomething I meant to point out and comment on last week was Bill Roggio's most excellent analysis of current operation in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. I noted that the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd...[READ]

Michigan Strykers?
Guard brigade may get armor Detroit News: U.S. Rep. Candice Miller will propose equipping a National Guard brigade with the Army's newest armored vehicle and splitting the unit between Michigan and Ohio. Miller, R-Harrison Township, met with Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, the nation's top National Guard officer, to pitch the...[READ]

Freedom isn't free...Will that be cash or credit?
Tacoma wants payback for costs of policing anti-war protests: Tacoma authorities say providing law enforcement during last month's 12-day anti-war protests cost the city about $500,000, and the city plans to ask the Port of Tacoma and the military to cover some of the costs. Previous MO coverage of the...[READ]