![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "It's supposed to add firepower to light units when they need it," said Principe, who led a platoon of Stryker infantry in combat in Iraq and commanded a company with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.īut the Army will have to prioritize maintenance needs if the vehicle is going to be helpful to units. Other former infantry company commanders with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan were also optimistic about the M10 Booker's capabilities. "Having something that looks like a tank but is not a tank-killer is a problem for commanders," he added. The Army is also going to have to make sure the M10 can take out other tanks, using something like the SABOT round. Ostlund said it will be critical that the M10 Booker is delivered to units with the parts, mechanics and cash to keep the vehicles running, along with the green light for leaders to push use of the Booker in training. "We would have traded four M1s for eight M10s as the M10s could deal with anything in Iraq," he said. For that Iraq mission, the 173rd received several armored reinforcements by plane. Ostlund, known in the Army for his command of the 173rd's 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry - "The Rock" - during Operation Enduring Freedom VII-VIII in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, also parachuted into Iraq in 2003 to seize an airfield. "Either you integrate them when they're available or you'll integrate them in combat, and it's a lot harder to learn and trust a capability when rounds are flying." William "Bill" Ostlund during a phone interview. ![]() Infantry commanders need to understand the capability, trust the capability, and understand its limitations," said retired Col. "To be most effective, we need to integrate the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle elements with the infantry elements that are most likely to employ them. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |