Armored supply vehicles

[kerick]

I read the book "Thunder Run" about the fight to secure Bagdad in OIF.  Biggest problem they had was the unarmored supply vehicles getting shot up trying to keep up with the tanks and Bradleys.  They almost turned around and pulled out which would have been a media hoohaa for Sadam Hussein. 
I've been considering a whiffed Bradley without the turret to double the room inside the vehicle.  Extra large hatches in the top for loading or unloading boxes of MRE's or ammunition.  Keep the rear hatch and add the remote control 50 cal. from the Styker.  Have a removeable tank for bulk fuel and a pump, hose and reel system.  The whole thing makes too much sense for it to actually get built by the DoD.
What do you think?

[Weaver]

Why not put the cargo-fuel in an armoured trailer, thereby allowing you to drop it if it gets hit? The trailer could have four wheels on a walking-beam system, or even a 6-wheel major/minor wheel system (like the Land Ram in the film Damnation Alley, but it has been tested for real) in order to preserve the Bradley's cross-country performance without the complication and rolling resistance of tracks.

[kerick]

For the Marine LAV I was considering a trailer made from the back half of a LAV with four wheels and extra large roof hatches.
For the Army an M113 body or something similar on four or six wheels might be interesting. 
I was thinking of this for the supply train vehicles not the actual combat Bradleys.  I think they would object to pulling a trailer and compromising their mobility.
The armored supply Bradley pulling a trailer would be plauseable.

[Weaver]

The armored supply Bradley pulling a trailer would be plauseable.

That's what I meant: the supply-train Bradley's would have power:weight ratio to spare with the turret removed, so they could carry an internal load of supplies, plus fuel or ammo in a trailer where it doesn't endanger them if it gets hit.

[kerick]

I'm sure there is a way to drop a trailer from inside the vehicle if the need arose.  Inert supplies could go in an unarmored trailer for that matter leaving more room under armor for stuff that needs the protection.  I was looking at a couple Bradley kits.  I think the most difficult part would be closing up the turret hole and fashioning new hatches.  Then there is all the new Stryker units.  Maybe buy up old LAV's from around the world and cut them in half.  Wouldn't want to chop up a real Stryker.

[lenny100]

why not just scale up the Viking armoured personnel vehicle its already has some success as a replacment of the landrover etc as a light transport, so why not build a larger version with interchangable rear ends for such roles

[PR19_Kit]

I'm sure there is a way to drop a trailer from inside the vehicle if the need arose. 

Back in the mid-80s I installed a test rig 'somewhere in England' that tested remotely controlled heavy duty trailer hitches. All the bits were painted bronze green............   

[kerick]

why not just scale up the Viking armoured personnel vehicle its already has some success as a replacment of the landrover etc as a light transport, so why not build a larger version with interchangable rear ends for such roles

There is a similar vehicle from Singapore called the Bronco that looks even better.

[Martin H]

Theres always the Wolfhound, the logi version of the Mastiff.




But with an asking price starting at £1,000,000 each........................................

[Go4fun]

Where is the WhIffing or doing a Mastiff or Wolfhound? 

[PR19_Kit]

If you start off with a Sunderland, for instance, there's a LOT! 

[scooter]

The whole thing makes too much sense for it to actually get built by the DoD.
What do you think?

One sentence, asked by a PV2/PFC from the 274th BCT (TN Army Nat'l Guard) to former SECDEF Rummy: "Sir, why do we have to go and scrounge our armor plate?"  Rumsfeld's reply: "You go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had."  Yeah, that did wonders for his credibility as Secretary of Defense.

Of course, this being Whiffworld, anything's possible.  I say bring back the half-tracks.

[Go4fun]

I think half-tracks have many useful purposes.

[kerick]

How about the Bradley hull that hauls the MLRS system?  Even more capacity.  Or I may keep the story that its a Bradley that got its turret shot up and was modified for the supply units to get a shipment into a hot area.  This would allow more whiffing.

[sandiego89]

I read the book "Thunder Run" about the fight to secure Bagdad in OIF.  Biggest problem they had was the unarmored supply vehicles getting shot up trying to keep up with the tanks and Bradleys.  They almost turned around and pulled out which would have been a media hoohaa for Sadam Hussein. 
I've been considering a whiffed Bradley without the turret to double the room inside the vehicle.  Extra large hatches in the top for loading or unloading boxes of MRE's or ammunition.  Keep the rear hatch and add the remote control 50 cal. from the Styker.  Have a removeable tank for bulk fuel and a pump, hose and reel system.  The whole thing makes too much sense for it to actually get built by the DoD.
What do you think?

I think it is a good idea, go for it.  Think the rear ramp would be better to unload supplies, so not sure you need too many hatches on top. Ammo is tough to lift out of the hull. Perhaps a higher hull, like the M-577, would help for bulk supplies. Also a M-1 Abrams with a roll off pallet load or connex box in place of the turret could prove usefull.