Would You Drive This ANYWHERE?

[JJ_BPK]

Here is some prime pork-barrel fodder..

We don't need liberals making monkey jokes,, when we do a better job
ourselves...

If this reads correctly,, 500k USD each???

I think I shall invent the P50 can opener,, @ 25 USD each,, it's a steal...

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...a-8a8de0739d7a

Would You Drive This Through Afghanistan?, by Paul McLeary at 2/3/2009 9:07 AM CST

Walter Pincus flags yet another Pentagon procurement program that has
blown apart its budget in this morning's Washington Post-the Marine Corps'
"Growler," a light (and lightly armored) jeep that is set to be delivered
"10 years after conception and at twice the contract price, after delays
that were caused by changing concepts and problems in contracting,
development and testing."

The vehicle-actually, there are two variants of the internally
transportable vehicles or ITVs-is starting to be deployed to Marine units,
even though as John Garner, the Marines' program manager for the vehicle
told Pincus, due to its light armor, "you can't run it up the highway in an
urban area such as Iraq," adding that "it could accompany foot-mobile Marine
infantry in a not-built-up area such as Afghanistan."

Yeah? Well take a look at the vehicle and tell me if you would want to
tool around IED alley in Afghanistan in this thing


All that, and the average cost of a single Growler has "risen 120 percent,
from about $94,000 when the contract was awarded in 2004 to $209,000 in
2008. The unit cost for the vehicle with mortar and ammunition trailer has
grown 86 percent, from $579,000 to $1,078,000." The overall cost of the
contract with vehicle maker American Growler Inc. has shot up from $12.1
million in 2004 to $107.8 million by July 2008.

The vehicles, designed to be carried in the MV-22 Osprey for quick use by
Marines, look like they would do just fine for non-combat related roles in,
say, Africa, but I have a hard time believing that too many Marines or
soldiers would be excited about driving the jeep through Kandahar.

According to the Marine Corps Times, a Pentagon inspector general report
also recently found problems in the procurement process

The inability of the EFSS and ITV systems to demonstrate acceptable
performance in testing showed that the systems were not technically mature
and should not have been approved for entrance into [the early production
phase].Their not meeting the systems performance requirements during
developmental testing in 2006 and 2007 leads to questions about whether the
EFSS and ITV were accurately defined as non-developmental items.

I seem to recall Secretary of Defense Gates saying something about
acquisition programs, "in order to remain viable, will have to show some
utility and relevance to the kind of irregular campaigns that, as I
mentioned, are most likely to engage America's military in the coming
decades." This isn't to say that the Growler is a waste, but at its inflated
price, it's hard to see how it will be used in a conflict that has forced
the Pentagon to add more armor it its vehicles, not less.

Photo: U.S. Marine Corps

The Canadians have their own problems with their Gators:

http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCa...M=HO&link=enav

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/0...ghan-nato.html

I also want to be the sole source for those Twelve(12) two(2) tonne tie-down shackles used on the Gator,, @ 100 USD each...

Can you say "I'm Retired"...

God Bless the Marines...

PS: I'll not argue the requirements,, it's the cost of execution...

[Box]

it looks like it would do great for doing police call on disney drive......

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Billy L-bach

it looks like it would do great for doing police call on disney drive......

Add a wide step and side rails to the rear, like a trash truck, and the two picker uppers would be able to travel in style.

Remember the old mule the 82nd had for hauling ammo, flat bed with a small motor, seat and steering wheel stuck on the side? Looks like they just took that concept and upscaled to a jeep.

Next thing ya' know the Gamma Goat will be making a comeback.

[Ret10Echo]

THAT's where my lawn mower went!

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by Pete

Next thing ya' know the Gamma Goat will be making a comeback.

NO!! Not that awful thing. I noticed the Growler is designed to operate with the Osprey. I guess that's a nice pairing as both seem to be kept alive by throwing lots and lots of money at them.
I remember the Mule, that was sort of fun. What I miss is the M151A1! (It is getting FOGGY, again. I also remember the M114!)

[Soft Target]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

NO!! Not that awful thing. I noticed the Growler is designed to operate with the Osprey. I guess that's a nice pairing as both seem to be kept alive by throwing lots and lots of money at them.
I remember the Mule, that was sort of fun. What I miss is the M151A1! (It is getting FOGGY, again. I also remember the M114!)

Don't forget the Goat.

[Richard]

"According to the Marine Corps Times, a Pentagon inspector general report also recently found problems in the procurement process."

I'm shocked!!!

Looks a lot like a two-seater sports model of an M151 developed by those Orange County Chopper guys to me.

Richard's $.02

[JJ_BPK]

For all you hi-speed air-softy's in the fast lane...

You can get you very own Growler,

in kit form

for just 3 easy payments of $2500 USD,

and for a limited time only,,

you'll get not 1, not 2,

but 5 Sham-WOW in MARPAC cam-u-fudge.

https://www.shamwow.com/ver8/index.asp

Corps pays $100K for retooled jeep, By Steven Komarow, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps is paying $100,000 apiece for a revamped
Vietnam-era jeep as part of its program to outfit the hybrid
airplane-helicopter V-22 Osprey, Pentagon records show.

That's seven times what a deluxe commercial version of the vehicle costs.
It's also three times what U.S. Export-Import Bank records show the
Dominican Republic paid four years ago for a military version of the
vehicle, called the Growler, a recycled version of the M151 jeep.

The Marines and the contractor, General Dynamics, say the vehicle has been
thoroughly revised with modern automotive parts and adapted to fit on the
V-22.

"Yes, it did start off with jeep technology, and it does look like a jeep in
a lot of ways," says John Garner, the Marines project manager. But he says
it's now "state of the art."

Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a
non-profit group that monitors Pentagon contracts, says taxpayers are
getting a deal that "stinks" on an unarmored vehicle that makes no sense for
today's missions, where troops face ambushes and roadside bombs.

"In a time of war, we should not be wasting money on a junker which will not
protect our troops," Brian says. Under current military safety rules, the
Growler would be barred from service in Iraq except as a utility vehicle
that doesn't leave the security of a base.

The Marines have budgeted to buy more than 400 Growlers, along with a French mortar and ammunition that it would tow, under a contract that could total $296 million.

The Growler beat two other vehicles for the contract, Garner says.

Built by Ocala, Fla.-based American Growler, the original Growler is made partly from salvaged M151 jeep parts and is available in several versions for as little as $7,500 in kit form. At the high end, there's a $14,500 upgraded "tactical dune buggy" with a "bikini top." The UV100DB, which is the same vehicle you can buy from American Growler in a kit and put together yourself for about $7,500. (see attached picture of kit built Growler)

The Marines' version has considerable upgrades from the commercial and
Dominican Republic models, the Corps and contractor say, including a
turbo-diesel engine, disc brakes and other systems adapted from modern
vehicles.

"It's not your grandfather's jeep," says Kendell Pease, a General Dynamics
spokesman.

The Osprey is a twin-engine airplane that turns its rotors up for vertical
takeoff and landing like a helicopter.

Under development since 1986, the V-22 is scheduled to go into service in
2007. It has a history of technical problems and several fatal crashes.

The Growler is expected to be deployed with the V-22 in 2007, Pease says.

[Saoirse]

Wow! Tactical Golf carts?!?! And sham-wow is included! What a bargain!!

[Richard]

At the high end, there's a $14,500 upgraded "tactical dune buggy" with a "bikini top."

Would this be Grace Jones in a sham-wow swim suit?

Richard's $.02

[Peregrino]

I've seen most of the briefings for this. It's all they claim - and less! The story is much more complicated than the MSM can communicate in sound bites/bytes. Their bottom line is pretty much on target though - it's a capability looking for a mission. I've read several position papers/briefings denying it's parentage and vigorously attacking anyone who dared call it a jeep.

[Pete S]

International Harvester should just bring back the Scout, and adapt it for military use. A camo SS-II with gun mounts.
It's a shame about the IFAV.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Pete S

International Harvester should just bring back the Scout, and adapt it for military use. A camo SS-II with gun mounts.
It's a shame about the IFAV.

It won't fit in an Osprey.

Something they knew when they bought the damn things.

It has a lot of other problems and limitations that will be brought to light over the next 50 years. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain....

TR

[PR31C]

I found an interesting, but old article that seems to be related to this vehicle.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread99317/pg1

It will be the first hybrid electric tactical vehicle - it incorporates a hybrid electric engine based on front mounted turbocharged, inter-cooled common rail direct injection diesel engine, type 2.5 litre DI-4V rated at 114kW. The diesel engine powers a 110kW Magnet Motors permanent magnet generator that drives four 50kW Magnet Motors permanent magnetic hub motors, mounted one in each of the Shadow's four wheel hubs.

Peregrino, do you know if it is still a hybrid, Sir?
I looked on the manufacture's website, but could not find anything on it being a hybrid.
http://www.capitaldefense.com/AmericanGrowler.shtml


Early concept vehicle, Shadow RST-V
growleradv.jpg

Growler with mortar trailer
growler.jpg

[Team Sergeant]

Before I went Special Forces I was a "Paratrooper" airborne infantry.

After we jumped out of those wonderful airplanes guess what we did?

Walked, everywhere.

If it's got wheels or tracks it beats walking.

TS