Ye olde Tracks Versus Wheels

1. Is this really the place for this? 

2. I read a comparison of various mods of the 
M113 chassis (including fire support versions)	
which compared these two, and the winner 
seemed to be (in the authors opinion) the 
M113. I think this largly stemmed from the size 
of a C-130 and the ability of an up-armoured 
M113 with applicque armour to fit, whereas the 
LAV with applicque armour and a full combat 
load of fuel and goodies couldn't. Other issues 
were better mobility across the broad range of 
terrain for tracked vehicles, the ability of the 
M113 based fire support variant to come with a 
full combat load of rounds and still meet C-130 
weight limits (unlike the 5 rounds the equivalent 
LAV could carry and the reduced fuel load), etc. 

As I recall the summary (which could be flawed, 
and if so the flawed recollection is mine, 
probably not the authors):
M113: more air portable ( a key issue ), 
better performance in some key terrain types,
lower ground pressure, simpler 
transmission/gearbox, better as a mobile gun
platform, better armour and ammo loadouts
while still meeting the air portability goals, 
and perhaps a lower silhouette, cheaper 
because it would involve refurbishing older
equipment rather than buying all-new 
equipment with new expense (and all that goes 
with new equipment)
LAV: Better self deployability (a not insignificant
asset), and probably better characteristics 
versus various types of landmines, 

I got the impression that the end summary was:
For peacekeeping and the like, send the LAVs, 
because they do well on roads, can self deploy 
easily, and are maybe better against mines, and 
in this situation, the applicque armour and the 
fuel and ammo can be installed/loaded after 
they come off the plane - the need for them to 
immediately be combat capable is far lesser. 
For situations where you want to insert and 
have a faster touchdown-ready to fight time, 
and where you want to get the vehicle in-
theater in a roll off ready state, and where you 
want to have a less complicated drive system 
than the 8x8 system, or where you think better 
performance in bad terrain is required (the 
Russians learned in afghanistan that in some 
places, wheeled vehicles just can't quite match 
tracked for mobility), the M113 refitted might 
be a better choice. 

I'm sure there are counter arguments, but this 
was one presentation and it did seem to 
present the pros and cons. 

Tomb
---------------------------------------------
Thomas Barclay
Co-Creator of http://www.stargrunt.ca 
Stargrunt II and Dirtside II game site

No Battle Plan Survives Contact With Dice.
-- Mark 'Indy' Kochte