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DEL.ICIO.USSoldiers rely on heavy metal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bita Honarvar/AJC
48th soldiers (from left) Spc. Joseph Popp of Statesboro, Spc. Ignatio Mendez of Puerto Rico, and Sgt. Yolanda McDaniel of Hinesville replace the turret ring of a beefed-up Humvee at Camp Striker.
Camp Striker, Iraq â€â€? First Sgt. Bobby Barnes pointed to two heaps of mangled, metal contraptions sitting on the far side of a sand berm, behind a maintenance depot affectionately known as “the Alamo.”
Melted magnesium and aluminum. Crushed steel. Burned out seats and radio equipment.
Bita Honarvar/AJC
First Sgt. Bobby Barnes
The wreckage used to be Humvees that soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team drove outside Camp Striker for missions in the Baghdad area. The vehicles were torn apart by 155mm artillery shells buried in the ground and detonated as the soldiers passed over them, Barnes said.
He said the factory-manufactured armored Humvees came with the highest class of armor, known as Level I, which includes bulletproof glass in all the windows and heavy steel protection on the top, bottom and sides.
“None of the guys in these two vehicles died,” said Barnes, of Glennville, who runs the vehicle maintenance and repair shop at Camp Striker. “The armor [installed at the factory] is helping save lives.”
But even the top-of-the-line, factory-installed armor can be defeated, as insurgents proved in recent weeks. In separate attacks six days apart, two massive bombs killed eight 48th Brigade soldiers � all from Alpha Company of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment � while they were patrolling in factory-armored Humvees. Officials believe the bombs each had 500 to 600 pounds of explosives. Three other 48th Brigade soldiers died in a car bomb attack days later.
Makeshift bombs � what the military calls improvised explosive devices, or IEDs � planted under or alongside roads have become the number one killer of U.S. troops in Iraq.
Of the 1,310 American combat fatalities reported by the Pentagon since President Bush declared the end of major combat operations on May 1, 2003, 450 deaths, or about 35 percent, have been caused by IEDs.
This year alone, IEDs have caused just over 53 percent of American combat deaths � 204 of 382.
In addition to the eight 48th Brigade soldiers who died within a week, 14 Marines were killed when an IED exploded under their lightly armored amphibious assault vehicle last week.
The Army promised adequate protection for its soldiers when roadside bombs began killing Americans in Iraq shortly after the fall of Baghdad more than two years ago. Humvee manufacturers began working at what military officials described as “lightning speed” to deliver factory-armored vehicles.
Armor stirs controversy
But from the beginning, the insurgency in Iraq has been about one-upmanship. Every time the Army slapped on more armor, the insurgents raised the ante. Bombs became larger and more deadly. Insurgents are now building bombs that are powerful enough to pierce the steel plating on even heavily armored vehicles, sometimes shredding them into small pieces.
Maj. John Conway, who oversees the armoring of personnel carriers just outside Camp Striker, said throughout history combatants have devised ways to outsmart each other.
“Somebody started with a spear and the next guy came up with a shield,” he said. “You can’t build something that will protect against everything.”
Last year, reports surfaced of soldiers refusing to go on convoys because they felt unprotected on Iraq’s menacing roads. The issue became even more controversial after soldiers complained of having to slap on “hillbilly” armor â€â€? salvaged pieces of scrap metal and bulletproof glass.
When a Georgia soldier questioned Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the armor issue last December in Kuwait, Rumsfeld responded: “As you know, you go to war with the army you have. They’re not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.”
Yet when Rumsfeld visited Iraq last year, he did not ride in a Humvee. Instead, military officials put him what is known as a Rhino Runner, a bus-like box of steel. Other civilian officials in Iraq ride around in vehicles with V-shaped hulls that deflect IED blasts away from the vehicle.
The general in Kuwait who oversees supplies and logistics in Iraq said the military had already stepped up production of armored vehicles and add-on armor kits before the question of sufficient armor was raised to Rumsfeld.
“Sometimes, I think people back home say that we’re not doing enough,” said Brig. Gen. Kevin Leonard of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command. “We have done all we know to do to keep soldiers alive.”
Leonard said that of the 40,000 vehicles in use in Iraq, more than 85 percent are armored in some fashion.
Gary Jones, a spokesman for 3rd Army in Atlanta, which oversees equipping and supplying units in Kuwait before they head to Iraq, said the number of armored vehicles in Iraq continues to increase.
Jones said there are about 7,700 Level I Humvees in the country plus 18,000 Level II and 7,500 Level III Humvees and trucks.
“We have enough vehicles with Level I or Level II armor to do the job in Iraq,” Leonard said. Ultimately, the goal is to replace the entire fleet with the factory-produced armored Humvees. But that has not happened yet.
The production rate for factory-armored Humvees is 550 a month, according to a House Armed Services Committee fact sheet on military force protection issues. Level I Humvees cost about $250,000 each, about double the price of an unarmored model.
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Tadlock, the 48th Brigade’s maintenance manager, said only factory-armored Humvees leave the gates of Camp Striker, where a majority of the brigade is based.
‘Like a duck shoot’
Still, not all of Georgia’s citizen soldiers feel they have adequate protection to navigate the streets around the Iraqi capital. The sense of vulnerability was heightened after the brigade’s heavy casualties.
“I tell these guys, it’s like a duck shoot at a carnival,” said Staff Sgt. William Taylor, a police officer from Valdosta who serves in Alpha Company. “You have no control.”
The soldiers say the factory-armored vehicles provide excellent protection against small-arms fire, but can’t withstand the kinds of bombs they are encountering. The IEDs have become larger and some are being designed to better focus the force of the blast at the more vulnerable undersides of the vehicles. Soldiers of the 48th say they average six to 10 roadside bomb attacks a week.
The military says about 40 percent of the roadside bombs in Iraq are intercepted before they detonate, either because of more frequent patrols or the use of jamming devices. Bomb-detecting vehicles called “Buffaloes,” which have V-shaped hulls and a robotic arm with a camera that can see into hard-to-reach places, also are being used, but to a limited degree.
Sgt. Peter Satele, the gunner on Barnes’ Humvee and who routinely goes out on vehicle recovery missions, said the Level I, factory-armored vehicles are very much a necessity but they are by no means totally safe.
“It all depends on the ammunition they use,” said Satele, who works full-time at the vehicle maintenance facility at Fort Stewart. “I just don’t think the military was ready for what we’re dealing with.”
Since the brigade’s arrival in Iraq in early June, five Humvees have been declared a total loss, including the two that were carrying the Alpha Company soldiers who were killed, said Tadlock, the maintenance manager.
The brigade is starting to use the 88 armored personnel carriers it has for routine patrols. But many of Iraq’s roads are narrow with canals or ditches on both sides. The personnel carriers and the tougher Bradley fighting vehicles are too large to negotiate those roads.
Conway said there are limits on how much armor can be added to Humvees or the slightly larger armored personnel carriers because too much weight affects mobility and maneuverability and shortens the life span of the vehicle.
“If you build a 200,000-pound box, you can’t move in it,” Conway said. “There is an evil enemy out there determined to kill people. You build something, they’ll build something to defeat it.”
Military officials have said the heavy armor protection on Level I and Level II Humvees may have been responsible for fatalities from some rollover accidents and vehicles being driven into ditches.
Satele said some soldiers find the factory-armored vehicles restricting and unfamiliar, especially since the 48th Brigade did most of its training in Humvees without armor.
“It can be hard to get in it,” Satele said. “It can be even harder to get out.”
Doors on the factory-armored Humvees can weigh up to 500 pounds, he said, making it difficult to get out from a ditch or on an incline.
Barnes, however, said he’d take that chance any day. He looked at the “Cadillac” of Humvees and shook his head. “Boy, I’d hate to know I was out there in anything but one of these.”
Staff writer Ron Martz, news researcher Sharon Gaus and news services contributed to this article.
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Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Janet
August 11, 2005 08:17 AM | Link to this
Thanks for writing about my brother, Bobby Barnes, and his crew. I was very surprised to see his “mug” when I visited the AJC site this morning. I know he is doing an excellent job, as well as those that are working with him. We all miss you Bobby and can’t wait to see you!! We love you.
By Richard Morris
August 11, 2005 08:37 AM | Link to this
As MAJ Conway says, it’s an arms race between the Army and the bomb builder. And there is so much munitions left over (or being brought into the country) that the bomb makers can double or triple up the munitions in their bomb. Even M1A2 tanks have been destroyed.
The only answer is to convince the public to turn in the bomb makers.
By Donna Keenum
August 11, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this
I am so thankful that my son, Spc. Keenum was in a full armored Humvee when he was hit on June 13, 2005. His unit is with the 48Th 1/167 A co. Pelham,AL.Infantry Division. He is now going through his 3rd surgery on eye. The heavier a Humvee the better. Our Soldiers are hit with IED’s daily. Why not just Nuke ‘em?
By Ruth
August 11, 2005 01:21 PM | Link to this
Well Sec. Rumsfeld, I guess the army you have is one with Rhino Runners but the army the troops have is one with Humvees.
By Eddie E
August 11, 2005 01:36 PM | Link to this
This may sound stupid at first, but why do Hummvees drive on the road which may be bomb laden, why don’t they just drive off-road?
By Em
August 11, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this
Eddie - it doesn’t sound stupid - I asked the same thing and was told that the whole point of the patrols is to make sure the roads are safe because they are main roads for everything - including getting supplies to the soldiers at different FOBs. HOpe this makes some sense. ~Em
By chief
August 11, 2005 04:53 PM | Link to this
I would like to know why my son’s platoon had their new humvees that were given to them in Kuwait taken away before they left Kuwait and they were then given used left overs from the 10th Mtn. Division? Many of those weren’t in good enough mechanical shape to drive from Stryker to their tiny FOB JOE much less level ones! How about it General Rodeheaver, are you going to take care of your men and get them the best equipment available even if it means going back to Kuwait to pick up some more?
By Marcie Tadlock
August 11, 2005 06:03 PM | Link to this
Thanks for including this article about the 48th Brigade. CW5 Robert Tadlock, quoted in this article, is my dad. We miss him a lot and are ready for him to be home. We love you daddy!
By Eric
August 11, 2005 06:14 PM | Link to this
We drive off the roads and on. It just isn’t an easy day as say driving around 285 back home. Eric
By The Dunhams, GW, Sherri, and William
August 11, 2005 06:41 PM | Link to this
It was good to see a article about someone we know…our neighbor. Keep up the good work Bobby! We all miss you on the block!!! Our prayers are with the 48th Bde and all the other soldiers over there! May God bless you all and return you home safely.
GW, Sherri, and William Dunham
By Ralph
August 11, 2005 08:24 PM | Link to this
Okay let’s get down to the basics here as the brass hats in the Pentagon knew when the bought that worthless HumVee that it was inadequately equipped to deal with land mines and IEDs,just like the AAVs of Marine Corps are,and so why does Sec.of Defense Donald Duck Rumsfeld rate a one million taxpayer dollar custom built armored car to joyride around in Iraq in,when our troops are left with these joke HumVees,Strykers, & AAVs and why our troops don’t have something similiar here Mr Bug Out Body Bags George W Bush & Mr Donald Duck Rumsfeld? Our Troops Deserve Better! So Wake Up People & Contact Your Senators & Congressmen about it,if you really support our troops,then prove it!
By donna
August 12, 2005 12:18 AM | Link to this
i say if the roads are with bombs go another route and keep our soilders safe
By Rhonda Carlson
August 12, 2005 04:31 AM | Link to this
Just wondering if you guys could do some stories on our guys over at Camp Taji?? That is where my son and adopted son are stationed. It would really feel good to hear something from that camp every now and then. God Bless You and Keep You Safe over there.
Thanks, Rhonda
By tbflowers
August 12, 2005 08:16 AM | Link to this
Gee, How many of our 48th’s hummers are level 1 armored and of those that aren’t, what are they used for?
And did anyone ask the defense dept why Mr. Rumsfield was placed in a Rhino as opposed to the Humvee? What was the explanation?
How much protection do you think is adequate? Surely that lightly armored amphibious assualt vehicle is better armored than the Humvee. Yet, it too didn’t survive an IED.
By cindy
August 12, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this
AJC way to avoid all the successes the military is having in the Iraq and then Highlight this mother as if she is doing what is best. Why not at least give equal time to the successes of the MIlitary!!!!????
By Juice
August 12, 2005 11:14 AM | Link to this
Humvees were never meant to be armored personnel carriers or strike vehicles. Ever seen military convoys on highway creeping along at 55 mph? They’re not just being good citizens. They don’t have the speed to be strike vehicles and can’t carry enough armors to be APCs. Bradleys are APCs but they are of course several magnitude more expensive than any Humvee configuration. So as long as Humvees patrol along known routes, we will continue to see casualties, even with supplemental armors like sandbags on the floorboard. It’s that simple. And of course, with added weight of armor, Humvee just crawls, which is itself a danger.
What we really need is a new type of military vehicles for peacekeeping/occupation roles. Something with more armor and speed and less emphasis on range and off-road capability. But I can’t think of much more politically unpopular projects than that.
By Earl S.
August 12, 2005 02:46 PM | Link to this
First Sergeant Bobby Barnes give them Hell, but keep youself and your men SAFE.=We in Glennville and the areas around Tattnall, Liberty & Long counties expect the very best from you and our soldiers, but try to stay safe.
By 1 soldier
August 12, 2005 03:18 PM | Link to this
The insurgents in our area have used remote detonated triggering devices on 99% of the IED’s and the army has a system that will block rf frequencys so they cant trigger the bombs. We have these systems in our vehicles but there not operational. It might not stop every IED but if it stopped the 1 that saved a life it would be worth it. We wont get new vehicles with better armour but we already have a way to stop remote detonations so why arent we using them?
By Amanda
August 12, 2005 03:47 PM | Link to this
I would just like to say thank you to all the people serving our country. Thank you for keeping America free. I love you Spc. Burton!!!
By A proud Mom
August 12, 2005 04:41 PM | Link to this
Why not divert some of the millions going to Alaska to build a bridge high enough for a cruise ship to an island that is home for only 50 civilians??????
Keep safe guys! We love you all and I simply hate the publicity the negative moms are getting, even though my heart crys for their losses.
By just a mother
August 13, 2005 12:55 AM | Link to this
I’m just a Mother I and don’t know much about war and strategy and such but it just seems odd to me that you never hear anything about “Regular Army” Troops getting hit? Just National Guard and Marines. Mostly National Guard. Is it just luck? The news talks about the Sunni Triangle being possibly the most dangerous area in the world right now. And from what the Military Spokesmen on C-Span says the Guard is supposedly only providing “Support” for the Regular Army?? But…from what I’ve learned there are no Regular Army Troops at Joe, Row, or any of the other front line fob’s. It just doesn’t add up? Why do the Military Strategists place National Guard Troops in the most dangerous area as front runners…and the Regular Army guys, whom everyone knows has the superior equiptment, are thirty miles away? Is it that the Guard is just more qualified?…or just more expendable? Who is supporting whom? Maybe someone out there can explain it to me. Like I said …I’m just a Mother.
By A Mad Dad
August 13, 2005 01:20 AM | Link to this
In reference to what “1 Soldier” said, “We have these systems in our vehicles but there not operational.” What is wrong with this picture? If General Rodeheaver’s televisions remote control quit working, do you think he would get up to change the channels or would he simply change the batteries? If he would change the batteries, why doesn’t he have the existing jamming devices activated in the humvees? If something don’t work, then you fix it. Especially when it would save a life.
The other question I have, which is not related to this article, is why is the National Guard (sworn to protect our Homeland) on the front line of this war, while the regular army is eating ice cream and swimming in the pool at Camp Victory and Taji?
Is this some political maneuver for the General to become Governor? He won’t get my vote!
By CPT Jared Buchanan
August 13, 2005 04:36 AM | Link to this
AJC / Moni/ Bita,
BG Leonard would like the pictures from the interview that was conducted with him. Please send them to jared.buchanan@us.army.mil Thank you for your time and attention.
CPT Buchanan
By AM
August 13, 2005 10:40 AM | Link to this
I would like someone to explain why “if we have the way to block rf frequencies why are we not using them??????? IF SAVING SOME ONE’S IS OUR GOAL, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR� I will like some one to explain what is going on. My husband and the rest of the soldiers deserve to have an answer as why we are not using them. I pray every day and night that God gives them strength, and guide their steps at all times. Nene, siempre en mi mente, alma y corazon. TQM your wifey and JAM
By John.D.
August 13, 2005 02:56 PM | Link to this
Good question AM. Here’s one posible answer. The National Guard Troops have broken down, inferior, outdated equipment. They are a great bunch of guys who don’t complain about what they don’t have. They just continue to fight and die and do the best they can to cover each other’s backs. The root of this problem is their leaders. Good leadership will fight for their enlisted men on the ground to have the very best available. Evidently the guys at FOB JOE, ROE and other outer perimeter FOBS have leaders who are more interested in fighting for Position and Political gain than in fighting for their men. If I’m wrong. I’m wrong. But I know about trying to get what you need in war time, and the old “chain of command dance”. And this situation looks like a Two-Step to me. When you have National Guard Troops dropping like flies because of IED’S, and their hummers are equipped with the technology to scramble the signal that detonates these killers, why aren’t they operational? I don’t believe the troops have not asked their Leaders the same question. They just don’t get any answers. Again. It’s the Chain of Command Two Step”. Sorry boys. I’m stepping on a few toes, but the Lady asked. Ret.and out.
By Nancy
August 14, 2005 01:54 AM | Link to this
This is in response to A Mad Dad… there are many National Guard at Camp Taji, not just Regular Army. And believe me, they are not just eating ice cream and swimming in a pool. To all the soldiers, Stay safe and thank you for all you are doing over there.
By Ruth
August 14, 2005 08:57 AM | Link to this
To Just a Mother, which describes me also. I believe our National Guard soldiers are perceived to be more expendable as you stated. I have thought all along that every single regular military person should be in Iraq and the guard and reserve should be taking their place here at home. Anyway, nobody much cares unless they personally have a family member or close friend serving in Iraq. A “W” sticker and a yellow ribbon on the back of their car puts the average American in a comfort zone and I’ll bet 95% of them don’t even know that 11 died in 11 days or that 14 marines were lost also. I agree with John D too. I wish that I had access to the decision making process that placed the 48th in the Sunni triangle. I would like to know whose idea it was and why. I do feel that our guard troops have been given duty that in some cases is beyond their training, for instance you can refer back to when they first came in country and some soldiers questioned why they were chosen to train Iraqi troops when they had no experience in teaching anyone anything. Also some troops are now doing the job of infantry soldier when they had no prior training. When I express my views here at home with facts to back them nobody knows what I’m talking about and they sure don’t care beyond the surface.
By Juice
August 14, 2005 03:55 PM | Link to this
From what I understand, the remote jammers gotta cover a fairly broad spectrum of frequencies over several systms since insurgents are using infrared and rf remote devices as well as cellphones. Something like that will affect other legitimate communications between troops as well as civilians.