I work solely with MATVs last trip and I can say I love them. We did had GMVs and Up Armors too. But we solely rolled in our USMC MATVs. I would say; that if USASOC or USSOCOM picks these as are our new vehicle they need to add stuff to them. Make them SOF.
Oshkosk rep said, new DoD and US Army specs due to IED threats designed what is going into vehciles. So Army says no fuel cans on Vehciles now. So they don't have any place for them. SF being SF, we made racks for 4 Water and 4 Fuel Cans. Gun turret didn't come with Ammo Can holders too, so we added them.
The radio system we had was for the Harris PRC-152. They worked great, like the placement of the system. GMV sucks and MRAP are okay. Cover this later, great PRO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhilyard
We've been using these for about 5 months now and I hate them. The back windows are too small and for a short guy in full kit, getting in is like climbing a mountain. They're loud and make hearing things very difficult (even when dismounted and within 50ish m). There's a lot more to say about them but I feel it better to just say, most guys don't like them.
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The rear window.. yes they are small. But with everything (Pro/Con) you have to position your guys where they are best seated. Height, gunning abilities, skills, eye sight, MOS, etc.
Fully kitted every Mine Resistant vehcile sucks. But IMO this is the best so far. Saw a guy without wearing Kit, but belted in with the MATVs full seat restraint system walk away nothing but bruises, and one broken clavicle after one IED. The seat restraint system sucks fully kitted and sucks getting into it. BUT is is easy to get out, takes some getting use to. But it works. Like most SF guys, at first it seems BS and Sucks. After Saw how to wear it and set it up to get out not just wear it. It worked for me.
Rear cargo area, USSOCOM (Oshkosk too) needs to fix this section. Nothing to really hold gear, no ties down points, straps, ETC. A lot of room, but SF is SF and we will add items to hold our stuff. U.S. Marines complained of this problem too.
No way of adding a side weapon system. That's one thing GMVs have one any Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehcile.
Changing a tire sucks, but I think any new vehicle this sucks. Tire might as well be on the top of the Damn thing. Too High, but again from what the Oshkosk rep said, new DoD and USA specs due to IED threats. USMC did change one out after a small IED blast. Yes it is mountain climbing.. new Anti IED design. We added new (more) steps to our MATV hard steps.
MATV needs a better tool kit, all I will say here.
Noise.. Yes MATVs are Loud. But trying to move 10 Tons takes a lot. Needs something done tho. Like noise reducers pipes on ATVs.
What I did like about them...
Blast protection... This is the best so far of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehcile.
I saw USMC in the helmand take what later was said to be a 300 lbs IED Blast (I say 100lbs based off crater size) with four PAX seated and one guy in the turret. The MATVs right side front tire was blown away. Vehicle didn't flip, gunner, after 2 to 3 mins rotated gun into direction of fire. 3 mins later USMC dimounted and Maneuver to place fire on Enemy. Everyone walked away and the MATV was back in the fight about 3 weeks later. After this I was like.. Holy SH*!, F*^# Me, yes that Kicks @s$!!
Room inside.........
Inside fully kitted seatting is good. Lay out is great and well thought out. Needs some USSOCOM input as far as what we like or carry and need inside.
Comm system......
Comms is the heat, Thats all I will say. Every new Vehcile needs this system. It does take some radios, but the Commander is in the know and we had very little issues with this system.
Talking to a Oshkosk Rep, a lot of changes have been made by people I feel that are not out there driving around the Battlespace. But overall I and my ODA liked these trucks. I would go to say we loved them. Oshkosk Reps said the US Amry has only the MRAP RG series no MATVs. We only had the USMC ones.
I know when we were told to only roll in MRAP Vehciles. We were already in the MATVs and turned down the MRAP RGs. They were sent, but we had the MATVs already. We had the RGs before (last Trip) and we just laugh at them now after using the MATVs.
One thing, USMCs had this nice truck for troop transport.. a 8 or 10 ton truck with what they called a Armadillo vehicle armor system/kit in the rear cargo area. Level 5 armored area.. just think.. just think... Yeah very nice!!