Stryker MGS

[Harrod200]

This is mainly on the MGS variant of the Stryker, but also on the Stryker series as a whole.

As I understand it, the Stryker is halfway between a Hummer and an LAV for the US Army. If that is the case, then it is a lightly armoured APC. Where, then does the MGS sit in terms of usage? It's basically a Stryker with an old L7 105mm cannon bolted onto the roof, but surely anything that cannon would be needed against would have sufficient firepower to shred the Stryker?

In terms of PR, I could see it used as a good asymettrical balance against other APCs, having the first-shot firepower bonus, but weaker armour and a slower reload should they come up in a fair fight; anyone else think that'd be a reasonable assumption? Personally I'd like to think that the US Army won't have to rely soley on TOW hummers for it's vehicle AT capacity.

Just something I've been thinking about recently, and my knowledge of US (or any really) military equipment really is somewhat poor. I beg of thee oh almighty mil-nerds, impart thy knowledge upon me.

[BetterDeadThanRed]

Once upon a time there was a wee little tank called the M551 Sheridan. This little tank had a ridiculously high caliber/low velocity gun (152mm I believe) that was great for reducing buildings to rubble in urban environments. An assault gun if you will.

For unknown reasons, the government gave the sheridan the boot and funded a program for a mobile gun system replacement. The concepts used 105mm guns which kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me since you mind as well bring a freakin tank, but anyways, that project failed until some genius said "Hey, we got these stryker things right? Let's bolt that old 105mm cannon to the roof of this thing and call it a day!"

The Stryker MGS was born.

(In short, its basically a line of sight artillery piece.)

[Teek]

Its for destroying buildings and smaller vehicles and pretty much anything that cant shoot back.

[Chaosdragon001]

Basically it's a mobile heavy gun then, similar to a towed gun but self propelled...

Sheridan has a 155mm gun, capable of firing missiles. I liked that little tank...

[[R-DEV]Cheeseman]

The Stryker has the same amount of armor protection as the LAV-III (being part of the same family). Only the LAV-III happens to have a 25 mm chain gun instead of the .50 cal M2 CROWS system on the Stryker ICV. Now in a sense the LAV-III is an IFV (infantry fighting vehicle), so that would put the Stryker in the same range except its purpose is not to engage APC’s, but to provide the superior armor protection similar to an APC, with the heavy machine gun as it’s armament like a HMMWV. Now the Stryker MGS role is for low-intensity conflict rather than a large-scale battle. As already mentioned the Stryker MGS would provide assistance in taking out heavier targets like buildings/compounds, much like how the M1 Abrams is tasked to provide such support in present day Iraq war where the threat of enemy armored fighting vehicles doesn’t exists.

[Viper5]

The Stryker MGS is designed to give some heavy firepower to a Stryker Company. Each Company, in addition to its 3 Rifle Platoons, will have a 3-vehicle MGS Platoon, a 2 Vehicle Mortar Section, a MEDEVAC team, FIre Support Team, Sniper Team and Company HQ Staff. With a 105mm cannon, it will be able to disable most MBTs and other armored targets.

The idea of the Stryker was to plug a gap between the light armored vehicles of the Infantry, Airborne and Air Assault BCTs, which became lighter with the retirement of the Sheridan, and the HBCT of Bradleys and Abrams, which while effective took quite some time to deploy. Thus, the invention of the SBCT. Essentially, its a more expeditionary armored force.

SBCT Organization Chart:

[Hotrod525]

Well i think U.S. go in the wrong direction whit this, i agreed the Mobile Gun System can provide alot of firepower, but, why they dont got a 25mm version like Canadian + the M.G.S., .50 are great but they had limit. Anyway the topic is about M.G.S. only lol, 105mm is a good caliber against every thing except tank, but since the U.S. widely use the JAVELIN ATGM they can deal whit it. IMO its a kind a A.E.U. like Marines got M.E.U.

[TII]

Originally Posted by [R-PUB]Viper5

The Stryker MGS is designed to give some heavy firepower to a Stryker Company. Each Company, in addition to its 3 Rifle Platoons, will have a 3-vehicle MGS Platoon, a 2 Vehicle Mortar Section, a MEDEVAC team, FIre Support Team, Sniper Team and Company HQ Staff. With a 105mm cannon, it will be able to disable most MBTs and other armored targets.

The idea of the Stryker was to plug a gap between the light armored vehicles of the Infantry, Airborne and Air Assault BCTs, which became lighter with the retirement of the Sheridan, and the HBCT of Bradleys and Abrams, which while effective took quite some time to deploy. Thus, the invention of the SBCT. Essentially, its a more expeditionary armored force.

SBCT Organization Chart:

Just to add on to what Viper5 said, the MGS is designed to provide direct fire support for its mechanized infantry units, it is not meant for direct toe to toe engagements against other armor. One of the biggest pluses to the MGS is that it is cheap to employ, 105mm shells are a lot cheaper to come by compared to wasting a $100K TOW from a Bradley everytime you need to blow a building. However I've heard that those things have some issues firing at 90* due to the high center of gravity and the recoil produced. That's also probably why they are 105mm rather than 120 like the Abrams.

[[R-MOD]Bob_Marley]

Thing is viper, you could chuck a combat ready M551 ( Linky Or, if you're feeling really daring, 4 can be parachuted from a C5B) out of the back of a C130, the MGS has to partially dismantled in order to fit.

But anyway, yes, its a rehash of the good old Assault Gun concept. Giving infantry units tank knock-offs so the armour can roar about chasing T-80s

@TII - They're 105mm because the US had a shed load of M60 Pattons that have been retired and they didn't think that it'd be a good idea to let the guns go to waste if they were going to build such a platform as the MGS.

[NYgurkha]

think of it as a modern day 88 gun