Meet the GM Defense ISV Army Truck

[TangoTwoBravo]

Our Recce Platoon guys had the Iltis and it looked cool with it stripped down,,,until the weather got cool. Actually it sucks.

As I look at this vehicle what is it intended to do? What's its capacity weight wise?

The role of these vehicles is to provide organic mobility to light battalions when they go to Latvia as part of a surge. They should not be seen as a fighting vehicle, but rather a way for the light battalion to move out of contact.

 

[OldSolduer]

The role of these vehicles is to provide organic mobility to light battalions when they go to Latvia as part of a surge. They should not be seen as a fighting vehicle, but rather a way for the light battalion to move out of contact.

SO - I would think that perhaps the vehicles are Zulu harbored somewhere out of contact a tactical bound behind the troops? Just spitballing here.

 

[Fabius]

Yes. They should be used to provide operational mobility for the Light Bn to move between AOs.
In a tactical sense they be likely used to carry the sustainment items, ie rucks, additional ammo, water, equipment to charge batteries etc.

I would expect them to also be used by the mortars, ATGMS, DFS etc to get themselves and the systems into positions and then pull back and be cached.

I would not be surprised to see the Bns start trying to figure out how to mount weapons on them for use as a fire base but given the Bns won’t actually own the vehicles that will likely be limited.

 

[Kirkhill]

So you would rather have the Milverado with a hard cover, ari and a decent heater then.

 

[IKnowNothing]

The role of these vehicles is to provide organic mobility to light battalions when they go to Latvia as part of a surge. They should not be seen as a fighting vehicle, but rather a way for the light battalion to move out of contact.

This might not be a question that can be answered on the internet, but was the selection of flyover LIB with pre-positioned mobility aids vice flyover mech battalion with pre-positioned LAV's based purely/primarily on the relative ease and /or short term viability of the former, or is there a tactical/terrain based justification for bringing light troops into the Bde?

 

[Fabius]

This might not be a question that can be answered on the internet, but was the selection of flyover LIB with pre-positioned mobility aids vice flyover mech battalion with pre-positioned LAV's based purely/primarily on the relative ease and /or short term viability of the former, or is there a tactical/terrain based justification for bringing light troops into the Bde?

Neither. All your options are based on assuming things like tactical tasks and operational planning or strategic deployment timelines held any weight.

My understanding is this is purely and solely based on the army being firmly committed to 6 month rotations for the mech Bns, shortages of personnel, cheapness of equipment for light relative to mech, concern about availability of tours for soldiers etc.
Bottom line is that the 6 Mech Bns are stretched to maintain a Coy overseas under the current constraints and the CA wanted to give the Light Bns something to do overseas, even if only for a couple months a year.

Now that said, depending on operational plans a light force can be useful. The Latvians make good use of their Hilux based forces in the complex terrain of forest, swamp and urban.

 

[Fabius]

So you would rather have the Milverado with a hard cover, ari and a decent heater then.

It would depend on the role. I think the ISV is being fielded mostly to airborne and air assault units. Makes sense as that was part of why it was designed the way it was, minimizing weight.
For a force that is not going to be conducting joint force entries, a HILUX with topper might be better for some tasks.

Either way, this will be more mobility for the Light Bn in Latvia than they would have otherwise, that is a positive.

 

[Kirkhill]

This might not be a question that can be answered on the internet, but was the selection of flyover LIB with pre-positioned mobility aids vice flyover mech battalion with pre-positioned LAV's based purely/primarily on the relative ease and /or short term viability of the former, or is there a tactical/terrain based justification for bringing light troops into the Bde?

IIRC

Latvia requested light troops with the proviso that the Lats were providing accommodation.

Don't mech troops require larger training areas? Latvia and the other Balts are small countries.

 

[Fabius]

All the Trg areas over there are pretty crowded, but they are opening some new ones as well.

I have not heard if the Latvians asked for anything specific in terms of forces, I guess it is plausible they asked for light forces but I would be more inclined to believe internal factors are more likely drivers than the Latvian ask.

 

[KevinB]

So you would rather have the Milverado with a hard cover, ari and a decent heater then.

It isn’t a vehicle to be living out of.

So no.