Skelton urges temporary use of older APCs

Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 12:00 AM CST

U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton this week asked the Pentagon to provide soldiers in Iraq with some Vietnam era armored vehicles at least until improved humvees can be supplied.

The Missouri Democrat is the top minority party member of the House Armed Services Committee.

"Armed with multiple machine guns behind gun shields, the M-113 (Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle) proved itself an especially effective vehicle for close combat against enemy forces armed with RPGs and AK-47 rifles," Skelton said in a letter Monday to Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"I understand that the M-113 may not provide the same level of protection as some other armored vehicles currently in use, but they certainly provide better protection than soft-skinned vehicles."

Skelton also noted that some humvees are having problems with the additional weight of the supplemental armored kits being provided for better protection to U.S. forces in Iraq.

"As you know," Skelton told Myers, "broken-down up-armored HMMWVs provide no protection at all."

Noting reports that about 700 M-113s had been shipped to nearby Kuwait, Skelton asked Myers to see if any of the armored vehicles could be sent to Iraq as a possible "solution to the Army's challenge in supplying armored transportation to protect our soldiers."


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