Slide 5 of 9

Wheeled Armored Cars like Stryker have their steering, suspension and drive trains exposed OUTSIDE of the thin armored box

A Vietnam Combat Veteran and senior Army officer writes:

"Mike,

I want to point out the broken tie rod dangling from the left steering wheel. Even though the tire is still inflated, if the tie rod is broken, and you can bet it is, since dangling is not normal configuration, the vehicle cannot be steered. The wheels will either go pigeon-toed, or wall-toed, which will result in the vehicle becoming immobile. It will turn into a plow, and teh power isn't there to force it ahead, even if the second set of steering wheels still work. I never figured that all of the steering apparatus was outside the ballistic hull, but it stands to reason that it has to be, since that's where the wheels are. Point being: You don't even have to breach the hull to render the vehicle hors de combat, all you have to do is break a 1.5" tie rod, and it's the end of movement for the vehicle. You can break them on a rock, curb stone, or a concrete lined ditch.

Another thing: That appears to be the same Stryker we had in earlier pictures with all the wheels flattened, having been dragged. And again on a flat-bed truck with the RPG repellant off. Notice the hatch configuration, unless, like a roach, they all die alike blowing all their hatches, including the engine one.

This is not a fighting vehicle, it is a travesty."