M113A3 Birdcage in Iraq (ICONS)

[JaM]

Finally,they are much better protected than strykers.And definitely more mobile in urban warfare enviroment.

[thatguy96]

Actually, I'd feel safer saying that with the RPG screens they're now about as safe. Neither the Stryker nor the M113 are particularly heavy in the armor department, and neither were designed to be. The Stryker is also far less likely to suffer the kind of mobility kills due to IEDs that an M113 would be. A thrown track stops an M113, 3 destroyed wheels doesn't stop a Stryker. Each vehicle has its pros and cons, but there is little evidence from the field to support what appears to be a "war on the Stryker" at home.

[Gooseman2448]

Actually, I saw a special on The Military Channel about the Stryker and they had video of one hitting am IED. It flipped it on it's side. They said only one crew member had minor injuries and the were able to flip the Stryker on it's wheels and drive it out of the area. I saw it fly in the video, pretty hard.

I think that using the M113 upgrade is very smart. The HMMWV's are not ment to carry people into hot areas.

The M113A3's are also getting extra armor on the sides and bottom to help with IEDs and mines.