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Strac Trooper
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When I was in Vicenza 85 - 86 we had 3 or 4 Mules around I think they where just around to play with, oh I am sure they had a real function(recoilless rifle??) but if I recall correctly I/we where always working on them and always had to "test" drive them for one reason or another.
So does anyone remember these Mules? Are they still there?
Just wondering
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HHC 3/325, 4/325 83 - 89
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Strac Trooper
 
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They grew 2 additional wheels and got a new name:
The Army’s program office for light tactical wheeled vehicles is drafting a requirements document that would eventually lead to the acquisition of the ultra-light, all-terrain truck known as the Gator.
The vehicle gained vast popularity in Afghanistan, because it’s small enough —at 1,600 pounds—that soldiers found manifold applications for it. “We used it for everything from hauling ammunition to hauling casualties, it fits onto the Chinook helicopter without having to take the troops’ seats out. ... You can fit two or three in a Chinook,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Franke, from the 101st Airborne Division. He spoke to National Defense during the 2002 Joint Services air show at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
The manufacturer of the Gator, John Deere & Co., already is selling the vehicle to Army, National Guard and special operations units, even though the Gator is not officially an Army acquisition program. The units are purchasing the $14,000 vehicles with their own discretionary operations and maintenance (O&M) funds.
“We are currently working with the Army Reserves on a plus up to fund an urgent requirement for M [military] Gators to support their homeland security mission,” said Dan Smith, a Deere & Co. executive.
He explained that the M Gator was conceived jointly by Deere and the Army XVIII Airborne Corps, to replace the M274 Mule, popular with light forces during the Vietnam War.
The acquisition of the Humvee in the mid-1980s, Smith said, “meant the loss of the Mule, the M151 Jeep and the 3/4 ton truck, leaving the soldier with no capability to carry loads and provide medical evacuation in small areas of operation such as a drop zone or a battalion support area.”
Most of the Army Gators, he said, have been purchased with O&M funds, with some help from Congress. The Special Operations Command also has bought several vehicles.
Franke, the air assault soldier, explained that the Gator is “good for getting into little tight places like a stand of trees for example, where you might have an infantry company sitting, or a platoon, and you want to bring them their chow or ammo around.”
The vehicle, he added, “works great for light infantry support. It is a lot quieter than a Humvee. We have had guys strap a machine gun onto the front of it. ... We can use it to haul ammo up from an ammo dump to a forward mortar team, for example. They can haul it up real quick.”
But Franke explained that the Gator has some significant limitations too. “It is kind of slow,” he said. “The thing only goes 15 miles an hour. ... It is a little more than a tough golf cart. It does have the capability to act like a dump truck, so to speak, because the bed does tilt so if you had a whole load of dirt for sand bags you can do that with it. It is also more than a golf cart, because it is all four-wheel drive.”
However, he added, “I wouldn’t call it more mobile than a Humvee, because a Humvee can get into the deep mud and into nasty stuff, and I would not take a Gator into that.”
A soldier from the 75th Ranger Regiment, who requested that he not be quoted by name, said the Gator is “loud, noisy and goes too low to the ground. It’s a golf cart, it is used for administrative purposes. It can only get used on dirt roads. Four wheelers do a much better job.”
Phil Mengs, deputy program manager for light tactical wheeled vehicles, said it’s not certain yet whether or when the Gator will become an official Army acquisition requirement. “We are still working on a future acquisition strategy,” he said. “Once we get the requirement complete, we will put together the acquisition strategy.”
Welcome to another Red Devil rehersal, only this time it's for real
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Hard Charger
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| I was there around the same time in A Co and if I remember correctly our Mortar PLT had one per gun.
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Stare Master
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In the late seventies when I was in Vicenza all of the mortar platoons had them. I am not aware of them being used for the recoilless rifle. The 106mm RR was placed on the back of a jeep but those had been replaced by the TOW long before I got there. As far as I know the 90mm RR was always carried and mules weren't used for them either. The 90mm RR was replaced by the Dragon in most units by the time I enlisted.
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"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Trooper
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quote:
we had 3 or 4 Mules around I think they where just around to play with
OOPS I thought you were speaking of some other kind of mule, like the 4 legged type. I was about to call you sick and perverted!!!!
"Some people dream of success...while others wake up and work hard at it"
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Stare Master
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[LOL]
BT, that's what I thought when I first read the topic. When I saw the mention of the recoilless rifle I realized what he actually meant. It really confused me before I read that since I remembered some goats at the ammo dump but no mules.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Seasoned Vet
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quote:
Originally posted by JOEL0622
I was there around the same time in A Co and if I remember correctly our Mortar PLT had one per gun.
Yes we did Joel. We had 4 if I recall correctly, one per Gun Sqd and one for the FDC. I do believe we were the last to actualy use them though. Think they were getting HUMVEEs after we left. They were good for hauling our Equipment until they hit a bump and flipped straight up.
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Obama (egotistical): “Now the world will watch and remember what we do here”
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Trooper
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