What's new

What's the point of unarmored infantry squad vehicles?

Metal 0-1

FULL MEMBER
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
1,996
Reaction score
12
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
Take one look at the Army’s new whip called the Ground Mobility Vehicle and your first thought is probably "no way am I getting in that thing." Recently the entire US Military has been adding unarmored fast lightweight off road vehicles like the GMV and the Infantry Squad Vehicle. The marines have their desert patrol vehicle that is so lightweight there are reports of it flipping over when they tried firing a recoilless rifle from it.
 
.
@Metal 0-1 trading protection for agility/nimbleness, or even seeking protection in agility and nimbleness.

In the first case you don't care about yourself. You are hellbent on destruction of the enemy, no matter what the cost. And so you seek to take the battle to the enemy, and engage in close quarters, fast and furious assault causing confusion in enemy ranks and taking advantage of that. You want to remain undetected until the last moment.

In the second case, you use speed and agility to your advantage, not giving the enemy any chance to hit you and not allowing him to keep pace with you.

Such raids are great for softening up enemy defences, lowering his moral, and for flank attacks.

Now imagine these fast movers backed by drones/helis that take care of any heavy opponents (tanks, bunkers, etc) basically clearing the path for your fast movers.

@PanzerKiel
 
.
@Metal 0-1 trading protection for agility/nimbleness, or even seeking protection in agility and nimbleness.

In the first case you don't care about yourself. You are hellbent on destruction of the enemy, no matter what the cost. And so you seek to take the battle to the enemy, and engage in close quarters, fast and furious assault causing confusion in enemy ranks and taking advantage of that. You want to remain undetected until the last moment.

In the second case, you use speed and agility to your advantage, not giving the enemy any chance to hit you and not allowing him to keep pace with you.

Such raids are great for softening up enemy defences, lowering his moral, and for flank attacks.

Now imagine these fast movers backed by drones/helis that take care of any heavy opponents (tanks, bunkers, etc) basically clearing the path for your fast movers.

@PanzerKiel
These light vehicle have their place in combat.

These are meant to be used in vastly open terrains.
These vehicles are good for long range patrols.
For recce missions.

These vehicles are not good for;
Patrolling in a convoy where there is threat of IEDs.
These are not for traveling on paved or unpaved roads because IEDs.
Not for taking heads on.
 
.
These light vehicle have their place in combat.

These are meant to be used in vastly open terrains.
These vehicles are good for long range patrols.
For recce missions.

These vehicles are not good for;
Patrolling in a convoy where there is threat of IEDs.
These are not for traveling on paved or unpaved roads because IEDs.
Not for taking heads on.

There was a thread some years ago about (Russia?) some country planning to use these types of vehicles for flanking maneuvers. I agree with your points above, but if two armies deploy these flanking tactics, they might find themselves head on with light vehicles on both sides.
 
.
Indonesian Armed Force has also adopted the tactic.

Here there are three Indonesian companies that make those kind of tactical vehicle :

State owned PT Pindad product, Maung

On this one the Army can choose to use the doors or not as doors can be released from the main body. There is place to put machine gun in the roof as well.


These are made by private owned companies


 
.
These vehicles have their applications in certain situations where no armor protection is necessary. Using armored vehicles in those situations is waste of money.
 
. .
Mobility. Hit and run in tough terrain.
 
.
It is for cost and weight probably, it would be magnificent if an army would have a large enough number of heavy IFVs to transport all the soldiers but that would cost too much, a heavy IFV costs like 1$-2$ million or so while an unarmored vehicle would cost perhaps 100k $ or so. and armoured vehicles may be too heavy to be transported as easily and in the same numbers as unarmored ones.
 
.

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom