What is the best combat vehicle currently in service in any country?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:42:22 -0400

There is much debate about the best combat platform in service now. From the M1A2 to the Mercava, the Stryker to the BMP3, the Paladin, the T-80U...baffoonery abounds in the mounted community regarding which is best. Billions of dollars are spent in the procurement and marketing of these beasts. Not including aircraft...CONAN...WHAT IS BEST IN LIFE?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2014 10:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 22:16:57 -0400

Sir, it's gotta be the M1A2. When you need to take possession of some turf in a brutal and timely fashion, there's nothing like it.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2014 10:17 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 22:17:19 -0400

Easy choice, Virginia class submarine. Delivers more firepower than any of those Army toys, and the racks have power outlets in 'em.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2014 10:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 22:22:59 -0400

It's a little spooky but it does the job.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Aug 20 at 2014 10:51 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 22:51:57 -0400

Imma include aircraft. The A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog." Hands-down my favorite CAS craft.

But when it comes to non-aircraft, I'd say the best vehicle is a good pair of GI-issue leather.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 20 at 2014 11:41 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 23:41:28 -0400

The M1 series would be the easy choice....but only because it's been so combat tested. I've heard that the Leopard II's are pretty gnarly beasts as well and give M1's a run for their money at a lot of the NATO competitions.

Response by CW3 John Wescott made Aug 20 at 2014 11:41 PM

CW3 John Wescott — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 23:41:30 -0400

What about the best all terrain, most mobile ground assault vehicle ..... RSOV

http://www.specwarnet.net/vehicles/rsov.htm

anything built of a Land Rover chassis must be bad ass. Look at the British Desert Rats

Ranger Special Operations Vehicle

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 21 at 2014 12:08 AM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 00:08:20 -0400

Not sure if this will ever be "best" exactly....but you gotta want one, Right COL Private RallyPoint Member ??

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Aug 21 at 2014 1:02 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 13:02:36 -0400

Having been on the receiving end of numerous RPGs, recoilless fire and a 500 lb. command detonated aircraft bomb...the Merkova from IDF has always intrigued me. Crew survivability was job #1 in its design.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2014 1:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 13:30:33 -0400

I'm going against the no aircraft thing as well. :P

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2014 2:39 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 14:39:56 -0400

EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Aug 21 at 2014 3:58 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 15:58:50 -0400

Know this movie?

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Aug 22 at 2014 12:14 AM

Maj Walter Kilar — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:14:31 -0400

Since the Air Force has exhausted all of its funding on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the rest of us ride around in these combat vehicles.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 22 at 2014 12:29 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:29:40 -0400

http://youtu.be/tIfBHXjYgBY

Conan.... What Is Best In Life?

Conan sums up what is really best in life in the world.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 22 at 2014 12:45 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:45:05 -0400

Merkava Mark IV: A MBT that poops out it's own grunts. Not to worry......she's on our side.
http://youtu.be/mBc9isuUjMc

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 22 at 2014 2:16 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 02:16:42 -0400

I'll be on my nation's good side and say that I love our Stryker too. Anything that can bring a bunch of grunts to bear wit stealth, and have a variation of just about everything in the inventory has to be mentioned. I'm a Bradley guy and in jeopardy of having to return my secret 11M decoder ring, but in the streets of Iraq, it did a fantastic job. There, I said it. COL Private RallyPoint Member , can I get a tour if I make it back to JBLM?

Response by 1SG Jason Fitzpatrick made Aug 22 at 2014 8:29 AM

1SG Jason Fitzpatrick — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 08:29:14 -0400

I am kind of partial to the Leather boot. It has carried our warriors into combat since we atarted wearing shoes. Now they come in blue, Brown, Black and Green, they fall from the sky strapped to paratroopers feet, they help steer the wonderful aircraft that protect our warfighters or deliver them to the battlefield. The push the pedals on the trucks, cars and tanks that move them around the battlefield, and honestly, without the leather boot, our warriors are wearing flip flops and PT belts.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2014 7:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:34:56 -0400

The HET is a bit of a stretch, not exactly a combat vehicle, but without it most of our great combat vehicles wouldn't be able to get very far.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2014 8:05 AM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:05:12 -0400

The M1132 Stryker sir.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2014 7:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:56:25 -0400

M113! Simple to drive and maintain (somewhat)... and almost dummy proof. Not to mention they 101 variants that have appeared in armies world wide. :)

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 12:05 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:05:43 -0400

I don't see any other responses rolling in. Figured there would be a lot more mounted warriors voicing opinions. As usual, snark and whit win over practicality and daring. The ficticious EM-50 appears the be the choice. I tend to believe that the Merkava, the Leopard, the Challenger, the Abrams or the BMP-3 were the obvious choices...but it's hard to argue with Bill Murray.

Response by SFC Robin Gates made Aug 28 at 2014 8:14 PM

SFC Robin Gates — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 20:14:50 -0400

M113A1 APC! Ya, it poops out grunts too!!! The most widely used military vehicle used in the world. Aluminum alloy is the down side for the hull, not designed to fight in, just to get you there and out. It can be outfitted with just about anything imaginable. Governors were set for 35mph, they have been know to do 45 and higher, (I was told that, hmmm).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 10:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:20:41 -0400

I wish I had the foresight to take a picture of the damned thing, but when I was deployed to Afghanistan our headquarters 1SG had the mechanics up armor a gator. On top of that they added a rear facing gun mount and a gun mount on a swivel arm up front for the TC to operate. The 1SG dubbed it the combat gator and was able to justify it to senior leadership by calling it an "upgrade to base defense."

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 3:34 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:34:53 -0400

LTC, you didn't mention ships. My Navy and I feel left out. Are you including those? Just in case, nothing beats LCAC

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 29 at 2014 6:36 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:36:19 -0400

And before the Stryker, there was my beloved........
http://youtu.be/rhQnvrCkSHM

M-2/M-3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Compitlation

I saw there wasn't any Bradley compilations posted so I posted one for everyone to enjoy

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 30 at 2014 12:51 AM

SPC David S. — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 00:51:28 -0400

M1127 - What else would a good cav scout be caught riding in.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 30 at 2014 1:16 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 01:16:22 -0400

The best combat vehicle is made by North Korea. It is fully armored and impervious to even a 10 kiloton detonation. It features a 157 mm autoloading rapid fire cannon and has a cruising range of 900 miles on a single 9v battery. It's surface to air missiles are accurate enough to defeat any stealth technology. It is fully deployable in submarine attack mode and can achieve 126 knots. It is air deployable, air droppable, and flies at Mach 5.2. It has undetectable stealth technology as shown in this rare seen image shown below............

Response by SFC Jerry Humphries made Aug 30 at 2014 6:23 PM

SFC Jerry Humphries — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 18:23:10 -0400

I would like to see the M1 compared to the German Leopard ll.