War game whoops! NATO exercises end with hovercraft, Humvees stuck in sand

[TaiShang]

War game whoops! NATO exercises end with hovercraft, Humvees stuck in sand (VIDEO)
Published time: 23 Oct, 2015 15:31

NATO soldiers attend a NATO military exercise at Raposa beach, near Setubal, Portugal. © Rafael Marchante / Reuters


NATO's biggest war games in 13 years hit a speed bump in Portugal this week, with hovercrafts and Humvees embarrassingly getting stuck in the sand. The incident happened during a training exercise as journalists watched.

It all began when two hovercrafts were released from the USS Arlington amphibious transport dock. They were unable to make it to shore as planned, and managed to do so only on the second attempt, El Observador newspaper reported.

An order was then given to release two Humvees, which also got bogged in the sand. Troops were ordered to assist in freeing the vehicles, but they simply sank deeper. Video footage shows tires spinning as a group of soldiers attempts to release one of the Humvees from the sand.

Despite the obvious setback, NATO representatives put on a professional demeanor, implying that the experience was a positive one for the troops involved.

A NATO amphibious vehicle arrives to the seashore during a NATO military exercise at Raposa beach, near Setubal, Portugal. © Rafael Marchante / Reuters

US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Eric Hamstry said, as quoted by El Observador, that the Marines did a good job and the exercises became a great opportunity. He added that when cars get bogged in the sand, the Marines will now know how to get them unstuck.

The training exercise took place in the Portuguese city of Grandola on Tuesday. Several media outlets were invited to observe the drills.

NATO's massive Trident Juncture 2015 exercises are the biggest war games to be hosted by the alliance since 2002. A total of 36,000 international troops from 30 countries, including non-NATO nations, are involved. The drills are taking place at sea, in the air, and across the territories of Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

 

[gambit]

This is exactly what exercises are for: To fall into situations that exposes your weaknesses so that you can learn to deal with them in peace time instead of war time.

The old saying applies: The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.

I guess given how much the PLA loves parades, PLA exercises are similarly rigged to ensure nothing can go wrong.

 

[LeGenD]

While those developments are funny (lol), exercises are intended to be a learning experience.

I wonder what kind of sand is that though.

 

[Arthur]

Somehow Humvees has issues with sandy areas with less ground pressure.In Iraq Humvees developed a notorious name among the ground units for this issues.They used to stuck in the sand pretty badly every now and then,and troops had to push it out of the sand traps.It has a name too,just Google "Humvee push". Many ground units even arranged competition named the Humvee push.

Anyway I think bringing Humvees in a beachhead is a pretty stupid idea to start with.

While those developments are funny (lol), exercises are intended to be a learning experience.

I wonder what kind of sand is that though.

I think they had learned this lesson in Iraq already,so I don't understand why they will make the same mistake again.

 

[Politico]

y no chains on tracks ?

 

[Arthur]

This is exactly what exercises are for: To fall into situations that exposes your weaknesses so that you can learn to deal with them in peace time instead of war time.

The old saying applies: The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.

I guess given how much the PLA loves parades, PLA exercises are similarly rigged to ensure nothing can go wrong.

Considering your service in a military with a whole different philosophy,it's not surprising you will find this funny.I don't mind that a bit.(no disrespect meant)
But someone who actually had to do a fare share of of parades in his life,I think it can be very effective(as a part of a wholesome process) in development of a good soldier.

But I don't support a "parade and parade only" military either.

And what you mean by "rigged". In that part of the world press gets access in a war game only on the last days of an exercise.They exercise again and again,to make the whole process spotless. Means which you faced before the press on the day of exercise,they faced and dealt with the issues weeks before.
So, every TV audience now can enjoy a very spotless war game on the very last day of the exercise.

anyway I think it happened only because you gave tv access from the day one,if Chinese military do that,we will see there fair share too.

 

[gambit]

And what you mean by "rigged". In that part of the world press gets access in a war game only on the last days of an exercise.They exercise again and again,to make the whole process spotless. Means which you faced before the press on the day of exercise,they faced and dealt with the issues weeks before.

Actually, exercises can and often are rigged.

When I was active duty, exercises are often rigged, that is some are rigged so the unit that is under test will fail. The reasons are many, but essentially, it was to study how a unit compensate for increasing difficulties, especially under combat stress. Basically, you test to failure. The longer a unit maintains its combat efficiency until it can no longer contribute to the war effort, the more that unit will be studied to find out why it held out that long. If whatever that unit did can be replicated, the process starts all over again with new exercises.

People do not believe me when I said this -- and I do not care if they believe -- but that the US military is the most introspective and self critical organization, military and civilian, in the world. Behind closed doors, people will set aside ranks and egos and will be brutally clear to each other in terms of performance of what happened.

Given how our Chinese friend took glee at the Americans fumbling in the sands in an exercise, I hope the PLA is as perfect in war gamings as he believes it is.

 

[bdslph]

one of the reasons why USA will phase out humvees

 

[Kebapçı Erhan]

Can similar chinese vehicles drive through that sand? Probably not because they copied the Humvee

Waiting for Turkey supports ISIS responses

 

[Arthur]

Can similar chinese vehicles drive through that sand? Probably not because they copied the Humvee

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Waiting for Turkey supports ISIS responses

Chinese military deployed it mostly in mountains areas and Tibetan Plateau.Where it performed relatively well.And they won't take up the major roles in dessert areas or amphibious forces,China has other general purpose and special purpose vehicles for that role.And it won't surely see a beachhead operation like this either.

So Keep calm and support ISIS.

 

[Neptune]

This is exactly what exercises are for: To fall into situations that exposes your weaknesses so that you can learn to deal with them in peace time instead of war time.

The old saying applies: The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.

I guess given how much the PLA loves parades, PLA exercises are similarly rigged to ensure nothing can go wrong.

That should keep 1-2-3-march guys off for a while. Exercise term has two different definitions. One for public and one for military. I guess everyone can figure that out...unless keyboard generals start fleeing online.

 

[gambit]

It is far less of vehicle design than it is about tires and how to run in sand.

Which Tire is Best for Sand, Rock, Snow and Mud

While the BFG Rugged Trail T/A does a great job on pavement, gravel roads and in the wet, without decreased air pressure, they-like all OE tires-are prone to simply sinking in sand at street pressure. However, once aired down, these meats were able to propel this Nissan Titan through the dunes with ease.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

 

[LeGenD]

one of the reasons why USA will phase out humvees

True, but Humvee is a battle-proven platform. It works fine in different environments.

Now, of-course, there might be some areas out there where even the best vehicles may not work. It is important to understand what kind of sand is that where even Humvee got stuck.

 

[applesauce]

how did the hovercraft get stick in sand?

This is exactly what exercises are for: To fall into situations that exposes your weaknesses so that you can learn to deal with them in peace time instead of war time.

The old saying applies: The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.

I guess given how much the PLA loves parades, PLA exercises are similarly rigged to ensure nothing can go wrong.

you quite obviously know nothing about PLA exercises. those are famous for being completely lopsided against the PLA