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