Question for Army, edweird, devildog, etc. . . .

[txaggie08]

I fear that the US isn't going to be a superpower for much longer.

What in the world makes you think that? we still have a much more powerful economy, and the potential for a more powerful military, than any country in the world can muster.......

[Caffiend]

Thanks to the whining by the airforce, the Army is banned from having fixed wing close air support aircraft. Thats why they built the apaches originaly. the airforce will never give up the a-10's, simply because its going to be the last straw in there usefulness except the b-52. WE need an airforce like we need a hole in the head. The NAvy has enough missles floating around the oceans, they dont do anyhting with strat. defense. The army could take over the close air support, and with the range of modern planes, carrier based aircraft are more effective. Most munitions are guided now, and are moving more and more that way, so a carpet bombing campaign, while still somewhat effective, is well within the grasp of he army. The b-2 and f-117 squadron strengths are much to high, we just dont need that many. The b-1 is useless. But no, we have to watch the USEFUL branches lose recruits so the airforce can pretend its important.....

Wow, just wow... do you have any idea what the Air Force does more than anything? (I'll give you a hint, it's not precision guided/carpet bombing missions, or CAS support missions.) Don't worry about recruiting, the AF and Coast Guard have more restictions for entering so people automatically get bumped to the "USEFUL branches". And before you ask, yes, I'm biased, I'm in the Air Force.

Pennywise, I don't think consolidation of all services would be the right answer, that would be a logistical nightmare...besides, there's a reason the AF seperated from the Army

Ed, don't show them the math, that's just sad, just like when I order hundred dollar bolts or light LENSES that cost $700...man I'm in the wrong job.

[TheAngryDrunkenRussian]

You want to talk about useless, how about having separate services that do the same damn thing--ground pounders. Why not combine the Army and Marines--makes more sense than not having an Air Force. I personally don't see the need for 4 separate services anyway--nevermind the Coast Guard--they're just Navy Lite.

Sry me friend but it won't happen. Yes Marines are capable of fighting on the air, land and sea. But there is three reasons that keep us around. First off if you look at our consitiuation (sry dead tired) it states that their will always be a Army, Navy, and Air Force. It doesn't state anything about the Marines being a active military branch. So why are we still around you might ask? Simple fact to go to war or send U.S. Forces to other parts of the world you must go through Congress to get a declearation or what ever, US Marines don't need to go through congress at all for anything. What this boils down to is that the President can point his finger at the globe and tell the the marines to go there. Second reason we need a Marine Corps is the experence of sea to land operations, which itself is a big task to complete. Remember when the army tried their luck with it in WWII. The Army itself is not equiped to deal with beach landings anymore. Third reason granted this doesn't happen anymore but Marines are stationed on naval vessels as added protection/ and a downed pilot "Force"

The downside of not being reconized as a Force is that Marine Force Recon and Snipers are not allowed to take place in the SOC (the special force command, or whatever I forgot)

I'm kind of glad that the V-22 is coming out to replace the CH-46 on the Marine corps side. The 46 is to old and tired. I remember talking to some Air wing mechanic bubba's about the 46 and they said it was hard enough just keeping them flying in training operations.

I wish they don't through them old Tank Busters away its the only plane in the US aresnal that a gun was designed first and the aircraft was built around it. Look at the front landing gear notice its offset vs the rest. And it carry's the biggest payload for how small that plane is. Plus those B-52's are starting to be outfitted with crusise missles last I heard.

On the side note of the US doing away/transforming with equipment. The UH-1 "Huey" is going under another transformation. There adding another set of blades to it lost its cool sound. You could hear the thing miles away and would know that a Huey was coming for you. And the Cobra is going through another Transformation as well don't really know whats really going on with this one but rumors have it that its getting that crazy gun mount where as the pilot looks the gun moves with it. Humvee's, 5 tons, Abrams, M16's and varients, SAW's, AT-4's, MK19's, and Bradleys are next on the chopping block.\

Semper Fi
Joel Schmitz

[geekwarrior]

wow, M16's and Abrams are being retired too? I'd like to see there replacements

[geekwarrior]

What in the world makes you think that? we still have a much more powerful economy, and the potential for a more powerful military, than any country in the world can muster.......

the potential, but I don't think the desire. Also, this nation is turning more and more to socialism, which cant be good. China is growing fast, and if we had a war with them, they have the numbers on us. Sides, we are already being invaded and overthrown, but its a peaceful (so to speak) invasion. Its called illegal immigration, and its coming to a neighborhood near you.

[TheAngryDrunkenRussian]

wow, M16's and Abrams are being retired too? I'd like to see there replacements

Actually Marines are holding on to their new M16A4's but the Army is or was looking at a interchangable system for their small arms. Yes the Abrams is one of the best tanks out in the combat world but it has a very huge disadvantage, weight. Look at the countries that we are going into (Iraq) a third world country its failing infrastucture such as bridages can't hold tanks, roads are just getting trashed, plus the huge logistical issue of transporting these bad boys. 1 C130 to 1 Abrams.

Edit: do we have enough rounds of ammo to go at war with the chininese?

[bleachit]

b52s already have the cruise missles and have used them in combat. ALCM's.

China may out number us, but we still have a massive load of nukes on top of our conventional forces. never misundersestimate the power of the carpet bombings. the b1, I believe, has a larger bomb load than the b52. can still cause a lot of damage to massive troop concentrations.


on top of that, the ac130 spectre gunship. can really turn a day bad for those on the receiving end.


now all we need is space based laser.


speaking of which, anyone see the new pop sci? not spaced based, but pretty interesting what may be coming.


edit: thoughts on war with China, all we have to do is stop trade with them and their economy will come to a screeching halt. victory US.

[Fred]

M1 is being phased out because there is no need anymore for a Main Battle Tank... its a truly amazing piece of machinery and an awesome weapon... but there are cheaper ways of blowing large holes in armored targets these days...

My dad worked on tanks in the early 80s... civilian engineer for the Army...

[Steelrat]

Actually Marines are holding on to their new M16A4's but the Army is or was looking at a interchangable system for their small arms. Yes the Abrams is one of the best tanks out in the combat world but it has a very huge disadvantage, weight. Look at the countries that we are going into (Iraq) a third world country its failing infrastucture such as bridages can't hold tanks, roads are just getting trashed, plus the huge logistical issue of transporting these bad boys. 1 C130 to 1 Abrams.

Edit: do we have enough rounds of ammo to go at war with the chininese?

The army was looking at the XM8, which was just a remodeled H&K G36. Unfortunately, parts of it apparently had a tendency to melt, something the G36 also supposedly has a problem with. The special forces selected the FN SCAR, but that is just for the special forces community. M16 is still soldiering on just fine, but it would be nice to start looking for a next-gen weapon. Pulse rifle, anyone?

As for the M-1, if anything, Iraq has vindicated the M-1. Unlike the light armor, the M-1s have proven able to stick themselves in the middle of urban combat and provide point0blank fire support while shrugging off almost everything thrown at them. God help us if we DIDN'T have the Abrams during the conflict. The concept of using the mobile gun system (MGS) to replace the heavy armor was beyond moronic. If anything, I think a great future armored vehicle would have massive all-around armor with a large caliber main gun capable of firing true high-explosive rounds.

[Steelrat]

M1 is being phased out because there is no need anymore for a Main Battle Tank... its a truly amazing piece of machinery and an awesome weapon... but there are cheaper ways of blowing large holes in armored targets these days...

My dad worked on tanks in the early 80s... civilian engineer for the Army...

No longer any need for main battle tanks? Better tell Russia, China, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Korea, India, Pakistan, France, UK, etc etc. As long as the OTHER guy has MBTs, WE will need MBTs. Plus, as I mentioned in my post above, the M-1 has proven very valuable in urban combat.

What do you think we would use in it's place? ATGMs aren't the answer to everything.

[thecavemankevin]

wow, M16's and Abrams are being retired too? I'd like to see there replacements

meet the XM8



The XM8 is the project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The Army worked with the small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch (H&K) to develop the system to its requirements in the aftermath of the OICW contract, for which H&K had been a subcontracter to ATK. Although there were high hopes that the XM8 would become the Army's new standard infantry rifle, the project was put on hold in mid 2005, and was formally cancelled on October 31, 2005.

General Dynamics was involved in latter stages and H&K had plans to produce the rifle at a plant in Georgia. H&K was British owned at the start of the project, but was later bought back by a group of German investors. Engineering work was done at facilties in the United States and Germany.

wiki-urself

so what is going to replace the XM8....i dont know? Guess the Army was more of a Sirius radio fan huh?

on a side note, is it me or is the M4 the sexiest gun alive?

[thecavemankevin]

edit: thoughts on war with China, all we have to do is stop trade with them and their economy will come to a screeching halt. victory US.

and guess who elses economy will come to a screeching hault......Ours!!

Where do you think Walmart along with most major manufacturer/retailers get their crap from? If and more likely when China revalues their $$ we are in serious trouble

[bleachit]

I think our economy can do with out cheap plastic toys and small low quality American flags.

if the war becomes very large, our car industry will just go back into full production of a ton of vehicles for war and offset any losses our economy suffers.

[thecavemankevin]

I think our economy can do with out cheap plastic toys and small low quality American flags.

if the war becomes very large, our car industry will just go back into full production of a ton of vehicles for war and offset any losses our economy suffers.

hope those cars and tanks can run on water cause it would surprise me if the middle east sided with china in a dispute

[rkjunior303]

That show on Discovery was on last night, Futureweapons... They have some amazing stuff coming out.