Posted: 5/6/2008 8:39:54 PM EDT
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So my son just got upgraded from a ma duce gunner on an up armored humvee to a ma duce gunner on an MRAB. This, just a day or two after his unit lost a humvee and 4 KIA's to a honkin IED in Al Anbar. During our short conversation tonight he said so far he likes the MRAB ok. I think he's only had one maybe two missions in it so far though. I've googled it of course but I'm interested in hearing what those of you that are currently crewing a MRAP have to say about it. The good, the bad, the ugly and maybe some pics. Especially inside of the beast. I know it ain't perfect but his old man will sleep just a little better tonite knowing LCpl Rocketman Jr is riding down the road behind his Ma Duce "The Bitch" and in an MRAP, not a Humvee. (Edited this morning because I posted this last night after a few "cool down" drinks) |
MRAPs are built strong and tough... extremely tough. It's designed to seek, prevent and destroy IEDs from attacking convoys, etc.     I saw a clip on the news about the new MRAPs... As far as I know... you have nothing to worry about. The MRAPs are built to withstand strong, multiple IED attacks. Your son's in good hands... |
Not to mention that an EFP is the basis of most modern AT land mines. That comment was like saying, "they're great for rifles, but not bullets." |
| They have modern, comfortable internals, unlike some humvees; and the suspension on the ones i've seen sucks. But their defining feature is height, they're *tall.* Personally i'm glad not to have one, we'd knock down too many of the local jerryrigged power lines. |
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I pick up a load of hazardous waste pretty much every other week or so from BAE Systems (Formerly Stewart & Stevenson) in Sealy, TX where they make the MRAP. I've been given a look-see at them both fresh off the production line and fresh off the boat from Iraq after being blown up. Last time I was there they had one that was nothing but a crew compartment and a connex full of parts- it had been hit by a monstrous IED. Everyone survived. The worst casualty was a broken nose - one of the passengers didn't have his seatbelt on and hit the roof, causing his helmet to roll forward and break the nose. According to the guys at BAE, they haven't lost anyone in MRAPs they made, save for one turret gunner who unfortunately was lost when the vehicle was upended by a large IED and it rolled over on him. The MRAP is under-suspended, thus the horrible ride (something they are working on- coilovers are in the works) and relatively underpowered, but its survivability is without question in the current theater. I've seen the new MRAPII out there too- an MRAP with huge slabs of 5" armor suspended on hangers that cover most of the sides. The Marines want 12,000+ of them. They should get them. there is no excuse for our soldiers to be driving around in unarmored vehicles. -p. |
doesn't look good against EFPs 
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Yes I know the one you are talking about - the Cougar spread around 100 meters of south eastern Al Anbar - and the people were badly injured; one later died here at home from a blood clot. Was it realted to his injury? who knows. His commnader and I tend to think so. MRAPs are great, but they are not a panacea. EFPs rip through anything. I am a big believer in the MRAP program, but it does not cure everything. |
My thing is to make sure people don't get a false sense for security about them. |
| Guy I know was just telling me how his guys started out with 4 MRAPS 2 weeks ago; after 2 mechanical breakdowns and two complex ambushes, they are down to 0 MRAPS. One was breached by an RPG during an ambush, another deadlined by an IED. Luckily everyone was out of the vehicle engaging the enemy when the RPG breech happened. |
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im an MRAP gunner and think they are a 100% improvement over humvees. they can take a hit but dont expect miracles out of them. having seen the results of humvees/tanks/bradley's from my unit getting hit with IEDs/EFPs/RPG 7 & 29's, the only thing i expect to keep my ass safe is random luck and a higher power. the better the vehicle, the better the odds. the only thing that sucks is they are so huge we cant get into a lot of neighborhoods with them or they catch on power lines. im not a big fan of having to jump up all the time with a stick to push up hadj's loosely hanging lines to the main grid, but you make sacrifices. the ride also sucks ass, but the protection is a huge improvement, along with the space upgrade, and so is the A/C...  most problems with an MRAP can be solved by recycling the master power, everything is electronic. 
i love the JERRV...as long as it stays on the road....haha..  
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