Trident-za
05-09-2004, 11:30 AM
I remember reading somewhere in the last 3 weeks that all the convoy attacks were wrecking havoc on the supply of ammo/food etc. etc. It was only really 1 or 2 lines in the article and I never paid much attention.
However, I found an entire article dealing with this situation - and it paints a bleak picture. Is it as bad as the author makes out? Is this a serious cause for concern, or is just sensationalism ?
(please - I want factual info from people who know something, not wishful thinking/patriotic mumbo jumbo/anti-US doomsday mumbo jumbo).
http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=DefenseWatch.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=468&rnd=683.5103531745913
The main problem in Iraq today is the massive logistics effort required to sustain U.S. forces at over a hundred dispersed camps. Over 95 percent of supplies arrive by ship, and the closest major seaport is in Kuwait. This means everything must be hauled hundreds of miles over war torn roads among hostile natives. This is far more difficult than Vietnam, which had a long coastline where supplies could be dropped off.
A recent article by Tom Ricks of the Washington Post noted that most convoys are attacked, and that soldiers must stop to check each bridge for explosives because there is not enough manpower to guard them. Other reporters tell of recently destroyed bridges forcing convoys to travel on secondary roads that double their travel time. In addition, many civilian truck drivers have refused to drive and many foreign logistics contractors have left Iraq.
Many reports tell of ammunition rationing. The U.S. military was not expecting a prolonged conflict, and drawing and transporting dangerous ammo from limited worldwide stockpiles is a challenge. Senior Army officials told the House Armed Services Committee last month that nearly all the wartime stockpiles in Southwest Asia and on the island of Diego Garcia have been issued, as well as equipment stashed in Europe – a total of 10,000 tanks, personnel carriers, trucks, and other vehicles. Only the Army’s equipment for one brigade in Korea and the Marines’ brigade stock in Guam remain untouched.
In addition, the desert sand and heavy use of helicopters and equipment is wearing them out many times faster than usual. This demands many more spare parts and shortages have developed. Ammunition and most military spare parts cannot be purchased on the commercial market.
However, I found an entire article dealing with this situation - and it paints a bleak picture. Is it as bad as the author makes out? Is this a serious cause for concern, or is just sensationalism ?
(please - I want factual info from people who know something, not wishful thinking/patriotic mumbo jumbo/anti-US doomsday mumbo jumbo).
http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=DefenseWatch.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=468&rnd=683.5103531745913
The main problem in Iraq today is the massive logistics effort required to sustain U.S. forces at over a hundred dispersed camps. Over 95 percent of supplies arrive by ship, and the closest major seaport is in Kuwait. This means everything must be hauled hundreds of miles over war torn roads among hostile natives. This is far more difficult than Vietnam, which had a long coastline where supplies could be dropped off.
A recent article by Tom Ricks of the Washington Post noted that most convoys are attacked, and that soldiers must stop to check each bridge for explosives because there is not enough manpower to guard them. Other reporters tell of recently destroyed bridges forcing convoys to travel on secondary roads that double their travel time. In addition, many civilian truck drivers have refused to drive and many foreign logistics contractors have left Iraq.
Many reports tell of ammunition rationing. The U.S. military was not expecting a prolonged conflict, and drawing and transporting dangerous ammo from limited worldwide stockpiles is a challenge. Senior Army officials told the House Armed Services Committee last month that nearly all the wartime stockpiles in Southwest Asia and on the island of Diego Garcia have been issued, as well as equipment stashed in Europe – a total of 10,000 tanks, personnel carriers, trucks, and other vehicles. Only the Army’s equipment for one brigade in Korea and the Marines’ brigade stock in Guam remain untouched.
In addition, the desert sand and heavy use of helicopters and equipment is wearing them out many times faster than usual. This demands many more spare parts and shortages have developed. Ammunition and most military spare parts cannot be purchased on the commercial market.