The U.S. Army has plans to deliver reinforced
armored personnel carriers to Iraq.
Officials said the army has been overseeing a project to install add-on
armor on surplus M113 and M577 APCs deployed in Iraq. They said the project
was meant to bolster protection of combat troops where speed was not
critical.
So far, the army plans to send more than 700 reinforced APCs to Iraq in
an $84 million project, Middle East Newsline reported. The use of the M113A3s and the M577s would replace
the Humvee utility vehicles, which have largely failed to protect U.S.
troops from improvised explosive devices, or roadside bombs, in Iraq.
"These additional vehicles will provide much needed protection while we
await the delivery of more modern up-armored Humvees," Rep. Ike Skelton of
Missouri, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said.
The army has set a requirement for add-on armor kits for the Humvees and
other vehicles at more than 13,000. Armor Holdings produces the armor kits
and has maintained a production level of 550 a month.
Officials said the use of the up-armored APCs was regarded as an interim
measure as the Defense Department develops medium- and long-term armor
solutions. They said the army and Marine Corps have been designing armored
jeeps and other combat vehicles that could support add-on armor and protect
against IEDs.
Congress has urged the Pentagon to replace many of the Humvees deployed
in Iraq with M113s and other APCs. Officials said, however, that the
up-armored M113s were deemed as being too slow to participate in combat
patrols.
Officials said the up-armoring of the APCs has taken place in Kuwait,
with U.S. Navy and Air Force mechanics stationed to help in the effort. The
Third Army, based in Kuwait, has been up-armoring about 50 Humvees and
trucks per week. Officials said the attrition rate of the up-armored
vehicles has been high because of the extra weight.
