Interested in a Doculock Franchise? Click below: doculockllc.com/mcbeth Like my T-shirts? www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/ryan-mcbeth If the Bradley Fighting Vehicle is a very potent and capable platform that will give the Ukrainian Army a way to spot Artillery rounds, as well as carry infantry troops into battle and retain some anti-tank capability. Connect with me on Twitter: @ryanmcbeth Watch my long form videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLt670_P7pOGmLWZG78JlM-rG2ZrpPziOy.html Join the conversation: discord.gg/pKuGDHZHrz Want to send me something? Ryan McBeth Productions LLC 8705 Colesville Rd. Suite 249 Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA Rights and References: The Pentagon Wars HBO 1998 Army FM 7-7J (Bradley) Bradley Swim Pictures forums.kitmaker.net/t/m2a0-bradley-swim-barrier-reference/16330 Reddit thread: www.reddit.com/r/WarCollege/comments/erpmjm/having_just_watched_the_pentagon_wars_how_has_the/ www.battleorder.org/us-bradley-platoon Modern Dragoons - Bradley Mechanized Infantry, CPT Christopher E. Lockhart, Infantry Magazine, Nov-Dec 1992/ AVAC www.keymilitary.com/article/track-changed-tactics Development of the American Tank-Infantry Team During World War II in Africa and Europe by Captain J. L. Mudd Armor Magazine, September-October 1999. Swim capability: www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/14/Army-suspends-combat-vehicle-swim-operations/1004545371200/ Desert storm: www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m2.htm M2A2 ODS-SA www.nationalguard.mil/News/Family-Programs/Article/575543/pennsylvania-army-guard-upgrades-to-latest-version-of-the-m2-bradley-fighting-v/ M2A4 www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/04/25/first-unit-gets-modernized-bradley-fighting-vehicle/ Half Life Bradley ua-cam.com/video/wyYMQ6cFjFY/v-deo.html Panzer By Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-783-0110-12 / Dörner / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5413676 Tankers do tanker things: ua-cam.com/video/O9f38CrCR5w/v-deo.html By RIA Novosti archive, image #1274 / RIA Novosti / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15579759 By Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1988-1007-009,_Berlin,_39._Jahrestag_DDR-Gründung,_Parade.jpg: Mittelstädt, Rainerderivative work: Hohum (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 de, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7497732 By Pibwl - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15512587 By Konflikty.pl, Attribution, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49673858 "Soviet soldier's on a combat mission ww2" by Za Rodinu is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. "Vietnam War 1960s - Soldiers on dirt road in M113 APC" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0. "File:RIAN archive 644460 First stage in the Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.jpg" by Yuriy Somov / Юрий Сомов is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 "DONG HA 1972 - South Vietnamese troops move up on M113 APC." by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.. "Vietcong models with RPG" by Der_Henk is licensed under CC BY 2.0. "Vietnam War Photo" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0. "1963 M113 APC. Bavaria, Germany" by mcdolan79 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. "Tên lửa chống tăng Maljutka AT-3 Sagger của Nga" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. "17 Mar 1973, Saigon, South VN --- Vietcong Lt. Gen. Tran Van Tra gestures during Press Conference" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. "Near Quang Tri on the DMZ border -- patrol along the 17th Parallel. Vietnam, 1971" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0. "BMP-1 Jüterbog / Altes Lager" by 270862 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0. egyptindependent.com/first-egyptian-soldier-to-raise-egyptian-flag-in-sinai-during-october-war-dies-at-72/ BMPs 4 wheeling ua-cam.com/video/f44JIUD5IWk/v-deo.html By Steve F-E-Cameron (Merlin-UK) - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2121564
The British designed an IFV in 1918. It was to be used in 1919 if the war had continued. It basically was a stretched version of the Mk.5. The infantry compartment was basically standing room only. There is an example of one at the Bovington Tank Museum. During WWII the British and Canadians devised a IFV by removing the turret of a Sherman which allowed for about a squad of men to ride protected with the tanks. This was found to be better than riding in a truck with its canvas sides.
Was in the back of a Bradley that was hit by massive IED in Iraq on two different occasions. Both times I walked away with nothing more than bruises. This thing saved my life twice and I loved it!
@@johnsmith-ce2tq it's not designed to take a hit from.any modern main battle tank. Nor should it be expected to. No weapon or defense system.can make a soldier immortal.
Did you get a concussion or other kind of brain injury from the blast? I've read about CTE being a big problem with vets especially those who hit an IED.
@@Clumrat Bradley is fully sealed so shockwave and concussive force shouldn't be able to reach the inside as long as armor plating stays intact. The only way I can see concussion being inflicted on troops inside is if the blast is strong enough to lift the vehicle up several feet into the air or roll the vehicle over, causing the soldiers within to tumble - that'd almost certainly risk a concussion or other brain injury. However, Bradley weighs up to 30 tonnes, so it would take an absolutely massive IED to roll / lift a Bradley.
We cut the swim barriers off the A2 variants in Korea in 96 because they just didn’t work. The A1 has a trim vane along with the swim barrier and lighter armor, but no commander was willing to risk it. I used to leave my drain plugs halfway open and the bilge pump on when we forded and it would spray the MP/cav scout road guards as we drove by
And I keep saying this to people who are convinced russian IFVs are able to swim. If its this hard to keep western amphibious stuff floating, imagine the state of those things in the water
While I was in them about 4 years ago they had a big sticker that says "DO NOT SWIM" I always found it amusing while waiting for the mechanics to come tell me that the track was fucked.
Spookston's earlier video on the topic also is good, I am really glad that the Bradley is finally being vindicated in the internet sphere. Both the Fighter Mafia and Reformer mindset needs to be dismantled totally.
At least they called the movie the Pentagon WARS not a "special operation of freedom." "Conflict" and "Operation" Desert Storm. LMFAO!!!!! It was the Iraq OIL WARS, 1 and 2!!! WARS!!! Not "special operations," but WARS!!!! AmerKKKlan is just like Russia!!!!
I swam an M-2 Bradley across a lake in Fort Hood, Texas, as my unit transitioned into 11 Mikes. The squad had to go through the operation to check if the vehicle was float worthy before the next driver crossed the lake. All I remember is checking the gasket seals to the ramp and back door, the condition of the screen and supports, and making sure the sump pump worked. We had no sinking during our adventures.
Besides the great content, it is worth to note the time needed to produce this video. It started with daylight and finishes late at night. You truly deservers a lot of likes!!!!
Former 11M E4Mafia. The Bradley is not to be f’d with as long as you have a good crew. 25mm, TOW launcher, fairly nimble for such a large vehicle. Don’t swim it. Love your videos.
@@anomalyp8584 they prob are but there's only gonna be 50 of em and most russian soldiers aren't carrying missles, those javlin missles are super expensive and the russians are not well equipped like the ukrainians, the ukrainians literaly have had 10s of thousands of javelin type missles to destroy russian tanks and other vehicles, so the bradley is a target but the russians just don't have the huge amount of hand held missles that the ukrainians do.
my only experience of the bradley was "Worlds Greatest Tank Battles" and the Bradley taking on a pair of T--72s and mangling both. (The episode was Battle of 73 Easting)
@@sundhaug92 Litrally was, The TOW launchers where used as a backup, Never its Main armourment, only in emergency vehicle combat, So its use in 73 Easting was 100% what it was for.
I have a cousin who drove one in Gulf 1. He said they took out a lot of Iraqi armor. He also brought home some night vision goggles. (A tank or Bradley, can't remember which now, kept breaking down. They were told to take it out and use it for target practice. Afterwards, they had to fill out a form with all the equipment destroyed in the vehicle. By the time the list was filled out he said there wouldn't have been room for anyone inside. His take, those night vision goggles. As a kid in the early 90's I was impressed. You could see just about everything, nothing like the grainy videos you would see at the time.)
Yep especially when they come at night, both have targeting systems on board that are far superior to 90% of Russian armours sensors suites. I'm waiting for the Chieftain to give his to cents on this issue, he's recently trained with the French and speaks the language. On top he was a Bradley troop commander.
@Philippos field repairs shouldn't be a problem, with the units having maintenance packs. Everything else is handled by contractors in Poland and the Baltics, or it goes on a train to the manufacturer or original depot. A bit of a pain in the butt, could be worse though. Post war this will have to be streamlined of course.
I did my time on a M1A1/A2 as a tanker we hated the Brad. Then I was sent back to school and became a scout and was on the Bradly in Iraq during the surge we lost our brand new M2A2 and we got our hands on ODS Brads I was amazed how much they upgraded the systems from ODS I really enjoyed the system they improved on. I just missed my Abrams more. Best job was serving in the Army I really miss it sometimes.
Never served but I have a theory (like all assholes): It's damn near impossible to find the same clarity of purpose and shared esprit in civilian life. It's definitely worth thinking about how we build the narrative of our society to address that because it's among the most rewarding things humans can do for each other.
Thanks, Bathrobe for another well-done video! A primary reason for TOWs on Brads was to help counter the large tank superiority of the WARPAC in Europe. It was rather irritating to hear the anti-military media of the '80s exaggerate every bug that field use revealed--along with every other US weapons system.
now that you mention bathrobe, that could be Ryan's call sign. Maybe it is? hahaha This is only the second vid where i've seen his personal quotations as some guy in a bathrobe. Seems you've addressed the host as capital B athrobe. I'm gonna pretend that was his call sign, to be a fly on the wall for those comms ha
I really enjoyed being a 19D Cavalry Scout. The Bradley was fun during mounted and dismounted training operations. 25mm sounds still resonate my memories. *Thank you to all the Vets for your Service* I could only imagine how it does in combat.. The stories our SSGs had about the Survivability were/are true test of this weapon system. Great Content, Thanks !
I got tinnitus from being a dismount inside of that hunk of death haha. I was happy to be inside of it but it also has some major problems. Hopefully that reactivate armor will help out because the Russians have better anti tank capabilities than insurgents. Not saying they weren't well equipped, that asymmetric warfare was pretty damn effective.
Thanks Ryan for explaining the functions of an Infantry Fighting vehicle. This is an awesome teaching video. I was a Red Leg in the First Calvary Division during Vietnam. We had Gama-Goats. They were supposed to float and cross water. We thought it was a sure way to drowned. I also remember the Dragon Anti tank missile .
That excites me It’s the whole reason I used to wake up and go to work in the morning. The sound of Bushmasters and TOWs is akin to Angels welcoming you with song and wine
@@sergeantklein6026 Akin to "I love the smell of napalm in the morning, it smells like victory" (Col. Kilgore ) from the movie "Apocalypse Now", the greatest Army recruiting film ever made.
Ryan, you're quickly becoming my go-to guy for this sort of analysis. I'm a former armoured recce soldier in the Canadian Forces, and my buddies and I always liked the Bradly when we saw it in action in Gagetown during NATO exercises. One of the best cavalry mounts ever IMO. Also loved the history of the Dragoon.
I was 11b on 113s when we went to Bradley's, that chain gun can penetrate a T72 armor at frontal points... This was one of the big confirmations on the MYTH of Soviet armored vehicles we learned after the 1st gulf war...
That said, I've percived it as if a majority of those Iraqi tanks were made of sub-quality steel, essentially just thick and hard, bur not actually armor grade composition.
@@SonsOfLorgar the chain gun is also are firing explosive and armor piercing rounds. A single round isn’t going to Penetrate but 50-100 rounds it’s more likely. It only takes one explosive round inside to fuck up a tankers day
@@SonsOfLorgar Those armor piercing rounds are depleted uranium. They go through non-reactive armor like a knife through butter. After ODS we had an ops sergeant from 2 AD that confirmed that just a couple of short bursts from the 25 would take out T-72s.
RE: IFV armor limitations: Here is a true statement that has never changed since I was in the service: "What can be seen can be hit, and what can be hit can be killed." Use terrain, and overwatch to your advantage.
I was watching the chieftan do a run down on the early BMPs. Truly they were revolutionary at the time. The turret was state of the art . But obviously as newer , better IFVs and anti tank weaponry came out it kinda became obsolete fast.
When I was in the Army (in Greece) we had plenty M-113's (I was in an armored division) There was an M-113 for service with the engine hatch open and on the rear where the infantrymen sat there was some kind of pillow on the two benches. Under those pillows there were many porn mags for the guy who was on guard duty.
British actually used combined arms in WW1 with Artillery, Tanks, Infantry, planes and even some cavalry this is what gave the germans the idea for the Blitzkreig. -The Battle of Cambrai
Ironically, the German "blitzkrieg" wasn't so much because of their strength, but because they needed to be quick because they had very little supplies for a long campaign.
@@jeremyt7722 Yes, and that ultimately defeated them in Russia. The supply lines were too long and the winters too harsh. What worked in Poland and France didn't work in the vastness of Russia.
I served in the South African defence force armoured division in the Angolan War using the Ratel 90 and Eiland, aka Noddy Car. As gunner, the Ratel 90, although perhaps a little crude on controls was a beast with a purpose, extremely mobile and able to run like a demon, many kills. Infanty had the Ratel with a 20mm mounted.....also a beast as super quick in 6x6. Wished we had Bradley's back then. Still will always love the sound of 20mm, 12.7mm Brownings even though they were likely 30+ years old. Fond memories.
ORO: MAD concept had no effect on the strategy of tactical nukes on the battlefied. MAD concept did/does NOT mean that a single nuke will be retaliated with a massive full scale volley. Go do more reading.
Except for the rocket belt, it was pretty darn forward thinking and pretty much every aspect of the concept is now fairly standard for US Army and Marine infantrymen. Fortunately the Chemical and Radiological protection hasn't been needed much over the years.
@@psychoaiko666 Good point, I have lived in Korea too long and got myself confused. Over here it is “scissors, rock, paper” in Korea you would say: “gawi, bawi, bo“. Does anyone remember the one with Spock in it?
They're also getting AMX-10's(wheeled assault gun, but good one), if I heard right, so now Ukraine can possibly decide to split off BTR-4(which is IFV, not APC despite the name) and mix them with AMX-10's fire support to get enhanced mobile divisions, while Bradley's will likely go to enhance heavy(ie most modern) tank battalions to replace or at least support current BMPs that support those tanks.
Ryan, it is just another amazing video. I had no idea about Bradley's laser spotting capabillities, it is now so simple and clear. You got the knowledge bro!
I love watching your videos Ryan. They are very well done and so nostalgic. I was there when we went from M113's to Bradleys. It was love at first sight when I saw them roll in to Benning.
Good for you discussing bradley's "bad rep" through this video. Suggest lazerpigs video for a more detailed understanding why the Pentagon wars and the mafia behind these kind of "refomation" are frowned upon.
Look dog, IFV's were a good idea, but today's infantryman expects to arrive in more comfort than that. A better idea is the *armored RV.* You simply buy a *Winnebago Horizon with every option box ticked,* stock it full of brandy & beer kegs, and weld on 1/2" thick steel plates to cover the exterior surfaces. Each one can deliver 10+ soldiers with a much higher blood alcohol level than that damn Bradley can. Party on!
Operating on the mechanized battlefield with the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Artillery, and Attack Helicopters, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle guarantees the United States Army has a combined arms team that is second to none.
Bullshit. The Bradley is the weakest IFV in use. Yes, the TOWs are very good, but the vehicle is absolutely terrible. APCs have used 20mm guns since the 50s, and that is what the Bradley is, a glorified APC. German panzergrenadiers in WW2 clearly showed that for mechanised infantry to be truly effective, they should fight from the vehicle to allow mobility. The Bradley falls short versus other vehicles with 30mm and even 40mm main guns. It has one true advantage though and that is the TOWs
you forgot the HIMARS and M 270s. Imagine 20 M 172s 20 miles behind the Abrams and Bradleys ready to stop and launch in seconds. Just a continuous wave of destruction.
The Abrams not being able to cross rivers with the Bradley reminds me of our ingenious German solution to that problem xD The leopard 2 is "dive" capable. It can literally drive along the bottom of rivers and lakes for a little while. Alternatively a collar and dive shaft can be attached to the top hatch allowing, essentially permanent, submersion up to 5m depth (idea being the hatch allows for air to be supplied to engine and crew) .
I may be mistaken but this is somewhat common on tanks: Russian ones have a snorkel only whereas nato tanks have a full tube that can serve as an escape hatch in the case of an immovable tank.
@@patty109109 I was wondering about that. I would not be too thrilled about driving across the bottom of a river (surely as water is leaking in) sealed into a giant metal coffin. Seems like a great way for me to eventually stop breathing. An escape hatch is a nice idea.
As a form 11M (Rock of the Marne) who served in ODS, I really appreciate your video. Your assessment, as always is dead on. Great job, Ryan! Ironically, my unit used to be 1-4 Inf before it was reflagged as 4-7 Inf. I know you were a member of 1-4 at the CMTC in Heoenfels.
I arrived in Aschaffenburg Germany in Jan 1988 and was in 1-4 Inf as well right before it was reflagged to 4/7 Inf. I was in Cco and HHC 4/7 as an 11M from 88-92.
Circa 1989 I was in Fort Hood. It was a Bradley driver. We swam it across a river. We did indeed ride on top with hatches open . One Bradley was leaving the river and the water came over the curtain and down she went. Fortunately everyone bailed out and no one was injured😂
Cool story. Elmo muskovite says you're wrong. 🤷🏻♂️ On an OP in 2003 Iraq, our handmike pissed out so we missed our check in. 4 Bradleys roared out set up a perimeter around us and took us back. I've always been n grateful for these guys ready to fuckin smash anything to protect us
I know the M2 Bradley got shit on in Pentagon Wars and that in reality the development phase was a huge clusterfuck and cost overruns, but when it FINALLY came into combat in the Gulf War it became a swan from an ugly duckling. It killed more Iraqi armor than the M1 Abrams did. Still did very well in Iraq even though it can't handle IED's well. As a fighting vehicle, the M2 Bradley is really good. It is heavy and it cannot "swim". As a fighting vehicle, it has done very well. Even though the Stryker vehicle is trying to take over, the US Army is not going to let the m2 Bradley's go away in the future.
Former driver and gunner here. This is probably the best run down of the Bradley I've ever seen. Great job! My only doubt is that these Ukrainian soldiers will need some serious training on these tracks. You just don't jump in them and ride off into battle. Where will they be able to train in them and not make themselves targets once that location is known?
I know about the Bradley from the first Gulf War. They had an utterly incredible success rate in Iraq, consistently besting the Iraqi tanks it was running into, destroying the Iraqi tanks with ease using their TOW Missiles. The optics the Bradley has are so advanced it gives them a massive upper-hand over the tanks they were going up against. And AFAICT, the Soviets, ahem-cough cough, I mean, the Russian tanks it will meet in Ukraine should be at a massive disadvantage still. The Bradley’s should be able to knock them out before the Russian tanks even know there’s a Bradley in the vicinity.
Just learned a whole lot about the history of IFVs and the Bradley. Thanks from a Navy veteran who used a 20 mm mg on the canals, rivers near Cambodia in 1968 - 69 on an Armored Troop Carrier (T112-8). We jigged the 20 mount so I could use a back up Browning .30 cal. mg in case the 20 went down, which they could when old and used: stirrup cables breaking when charging the weapon, rounds not firing and not ejecting (which happened on my last fire fight.....if we'd had another ambush that night I'd have jammed another round on top possibly.
I remember how I 1st saw Bradley IRL. It pulled up right behind us on a highway and this thing is JUUUGE as f*! It doesn't seem that high on pictures but when you sit on the back seat of a car and look out of the back window, it's towering over you like a damn mothership of death. I will never not forget that sight, that was scary. In a good way.
@@herrhaber9076 not really a problem when you can hide 90% of the silloute behind a hill in a defelade position and still shoot where the BMP both BMP 1 and 2's have to expose 95-100% of their silloute to fire out of a defilade position so in other words. if a bradley is shooting at a BMP the BMP won't be able to hit it. but if a BMP is shooting a Bradley you know its at the top of a hill or fully exposed. unless its in a dug in position but that just makes it too easy. it can't exactly maneuver when its in a hole in the ground.
Ukraine could really use these Bradley's in the defense of their territory. We the USA should give them everything they need to stop putins regime. We did it against Sadam and this guy is WAY WORSE. He has WMD's
Well I must say this was a very good video. I myself remember swimming the Bradley and even seeing one sink 😂. If I remember correctly, they lost the ability to swim shortly after the first armor upgrade. Overall it is a good vehicle, it’s biggest drawback is its size. The optics, thermal and regular along with the TOW missile system will be a great help in Ukraine 🇺🇦 as long as they keep it in the support role.
My step dad was a Bradley Commander. Stationed in shwankfurt Germany, back when the Berlin wall was still up. And I used to have a copy of the government issue manual. He always complained that he didn't get to have as much fun with the Bradley because he was infantry and not cavalry. So they got all the crap work while the calvary got the easy assignment.
I was in a crew with a FIST Bradley, not only did I never see a swim kit, but this is the first I've heard of one lol. Then again, we emptied and repacked more connex full of shit I'd never seen, I may have handled them countlessly and just not known.
We either equip the Ukrainians properly including things like Bradley’s or we watch this war of attrition play out with Russia simply having far greater numerical superiority in the sheer number of bodies they can stand to lose. Ship ‘em.
While our unit (2-6 INF, 1st AD) was posted at FOB St. Michael’s, one of our Brads was hit with a 500lb VBIED, it shattered all of glass optics and charged the exterior. Sadly only the driver survived (the Brad only had the 3 man crew at the time) but his fingers were badly burnt while he was dropping his seat to close his hatch but the VBIED detonated before he could close it. The good thing about fighting in close quarters with the Brad was the enemy RPG gunners, 90% of them would forget to pull out the RPG round safety tab on the nose cap so the rounds would bounce off and cost the gunner his life as he was cut in half with the 240C coax.
Brad is not a tank by name but it is a light tank by definition. I crewed M2 in Iraq its cannon can penetrate any soviet Armour, had 3 Kills with M242 in Kuwait, 2 kills on the end of wire
@@divoulos5758 he probably was talking about the AUTOCANNON which can have I think by that point either APDS or APFSDS although I don’t know when the Bradley would have gotten the APFSDS for it’s 30
@@divoulos5758 he mentioned "2 at end of wire." That's the atgm. Basically (and he can correct me if this is a misrepresentation) he's saying the cannon killed 3 the tows got 2.
It would be better to build low cost drones kamikaze drones. If you can build them at 15,000. They are cheaper than a smart artillery shell and you can build them by the 1000s.
Former 91M while I do dog on the Bradley it's purely out of love, and yes the Brad has some small quirks but it is a KILLER and extremely versatile do not underestimate it.
I was a dismount inf and I've spent my fair share of time in a Bradley. They're beautiful beasts indeed. I definitely remember the port weapons when I was in Korea back in 02'
I remember reading somewhere the only reason the Bradley was given the amphibious requirement is because they found out the BMP is (supposedly) able to swim across rivers... (turns out it's not much more amphibious in reality than the Brad lol but would have been better if that wasn't made a requirement in the first place)
All Russian IFVs can float. It is a doctrinal requirement for them. You’ll notice if you check them all out closely on the front end, they all have an extra metal plate on the front end. That is their trim vane that folds up when in water that prevents water from rushing over the front of the vehicle and swamping it.
@@mathewcarson364 Your right, but unfortunately there's a lot of prep work that goes into getting an IFV to float. You can't just on a whim take your IFV for a swim. You need to check seals, make sure everything's greased up etc. Also if I'm remembering right BMPs were capable of floating in the same vain of the M113 and M2 Bradley are capable of floating(Providing were talking about the original iteration of the two). Yes, you can do it but its a royal pain in the ass and god help you if its a fast river or shitty weather.
In the name of the Ukrainian people I thank all true Americans, whose hearts are beating in unison with freedom, democracy and liberty - you are our best supporters and friends. Thank you for the guns, and all the military stuff. You are investing into Ukraine victory which will help keep the whole European continent safe. I welcome you to my country, and my home after the victory! God bless America! Glory to Ukraine!
Enjoy the latest Aid(s) package from yours truly! When Putin is shattered into pieces, it will be good to see Ukraine under the fold of our international agenda. Slava Ukrani!
I honestly think it makes sense to have an anti-tank weapons system on and infantry fighting vehicle because they're already a lot cheaper than a tank and they're going to be more mass-produced than a tank so why not have that force multiplier because you may not always have a tank, and also considering there's more Bradleys than there are Abrams and makes sense that even during Desert Storm Bradleys had a higher number of Tanks to destroyed there was just flat out more of them which I think is a testament to the training of the crew on Bradleys and the TOW missile itself
FYI, Ukraine already has the ability to get GPS coordinates for enemy troops via commercial drones that have had their firmware upgraded. Not every unit has them and the ones that do don't always have comms with artillery, but the capability is there.
The pentagon wars is (or at least was in 2018) required watching in the US Army Sergeant Majors Academy in the module about procurement. I was a 19D Bradley commander and cav scout. Got love for thr Brad!!!
My exposure to IFVs were the Battlefield games. Badcompany 1/2 and Battlefield 3/4. They were very effective in those games especially when using combined arms. I know those games are rather arcadey but it makes me appreciate their "authenticity" more seeing how accurate they can be to real life and how effective real world tactics can be in those games.
LOL! 😂 I know Bradleys because I was an M2A2 Bradley IFV 45T10 turret mechanic. You ship these bad boys to Ukraine and the Russians are in for a world of hurt. Now I'm not saying that the M2 Bradley is the be-all, end-all of warfare in a "near-peer" engagement, but when you combine the firepower of the 25mm chain gun and the _"hell-on-a-wire"_ of the TOW2 missile supporting a tank, some right serious shit's gonna go down. Make no mistake, the M2 has it's flaws, but this is _exactly_ the deployment the Bradley IFV was designed for. Just to add a little background, I was the lead M2 turret services mechanic for 2/7 INF BN, 24th ID during my active duty days from 1992-95. My previous MOS was 12B10 Combat Engineer. I was attached to the scout platoon of HHC 2/7 as their "forward mechanic" and performed 12B duties as well. Any 45T mech worth a shit had a notebook of common M2 turret faults and how to fix them without busting out the STE-ICE diagnostic gear (think OBD-II tool the takes up an entire Snap-On van to haul around). If you've got your head screwed on straight, keeping a Bradley in working order isn't a tough job. Once the crew learns the peculiarities of the system, they're good to go. The gun is fully stabilized and the TOW system (on early models) needs the M2 to be nearly stationary, but once you're familiar with the system, it's just fucking _deadly._ Combine the Bradley's ability to suppress enemy armor and it's ability to haul infantry at "combat speed," using them in a combined-arms scenario with armor and artillery support vs the Russians is just gonna be a slaughter. Remember: You can take ground with armor and/or air power. But you can't _keep_ it without infantry. When you combine the speed of maneuver of armored warfare with the screening and holding power of infantry, you have a recipe for victory. Yes, tank-on-tank warfare is usually decided by who gets the first shot. But when you have a tank, an IFV, and _dismounted infantry_ looking for threats, the chance of being the one to see the enemy first goes up drastically. Tanks and IFVs _at best_ have two persons each scanning for threats. When you add a dismounted infantry squad you get six more sets of eyes on the battlefield with the M2. Now if we compare a the "eyes" available between an M2 Bradley paired with a modern tank and a BMP2 similarly paired with a modern tank, the BMP comes out ahead as they generally carry 7 troops vs the Bradley's 6 - so you get 10 sets of eyes with a Bradley and tank vs the 11 sets with a BMP2 and a tank. _However,_ the Russians don't use them in this manner. Doctrine notwithstanding, Russian commanders aren't using IFVs and tanks in "combined-arms" settings. This means that a proper M2/MBT (main battle tank) pairing has 10 sets of eyes scanning for targets vs the Russian's _two sets._ When armor kills are generally decided by who sees whom first, you do the math. And when a Bradley lases your position, you're going to experience a _"significant emotional event"._ Segway: I drove an M113 as a "combat mechanic" on active duty. They get a lot of shit for their shortcomings, but I can say first hand that they can drive places an infantryman can't walk.
The XM765 was eventually build by the Netherlands (DAF) als the YPR-765 and YPR-806 AIFV's. Fun fact is that they recieved reactive armour in the early 2000s when used in Afghanistan, making the vehicle much larger and more of a M2/M3 type AIFV. Older non reactive armour units have been donated to Ukraine and most of the YPR's have now been replaced by more modern vehicles like the CV9035NL and KMW/Rheinmetal Boxer
As a Marine, I know nothing of this "infantry fighting vehicle" stuff. We just had to WALK everywhere we went. Thank you, Army, for bringing the heavy firepower!
11B love their Bradleys. Bradleys will be an awesome addition to Ukraine. I saw a group of them live fire TOWs at the firing table at Ft. Hood back in '88 when I worked for the Killeen newspaper.
For many the gameplay experience of the Bradley may come from Battlefield 1942 mod called "Desert Combat" (release date 2003), where it was a truly effective, reasonably well modeled and fun vehicle with its main gun (firing HE rounds) and its TOW missiles (It could also resupply and heal infantry in its rear compartment).
Great show. The M2 and M3 Bradley was produced in 4050 M2 and 2050 M3. The USA has over 40,000 fighting vehicles. MRAP could be very useful in Ukraine.
Ukraine is already using MRAPs but i think its the worst vehicle to send there. MRAPs have a very large profile which makes them a big target on a generally large open terrain. MRAPS are ok on roads but not so much off roads bc of its high center of gravity they are easy to roll and flip and a lot of the fighting in Ukraine is happening away from roads. MRAPS armor is not sufficient to compensate for their "firepower" which are only mounted crew serve weapons such as MARK-19s, .50 CAL and M-240s at best. MRAPS were good at providing protection against mines and IED bc of their "V" shaped haul and frankly built as solution to a very specific problem (COIN ops) and not for a conventional war with a peer or even a near peer foe
@@ukraine-war-update Besides the high profile, MRAPs are pretty great vehicles. More comfortable and reliable than Humvees, with more troop capacity and armor. They aren't made for fighting other vehicles, they aren't IFVs. They're made for shoot and scoot missions in Conventional wars. Drive in, light up some buildings and light vehicles, and drop off a squad, drive out. When combined with IFVs and heavier armor, like they should be in Conventional wars, they're about perfect. Nothing is a stand-alone system.
@@brandondavis7777 Nobody cares about the comfort level in this type of the war (its not COIN) I get your point but i disagree; 12.7mm will chew right through MRAPs or at least make an easy mobility kill (and BTW nazi ruSSkis have bigger killsticks than that deployed forward) ; MRAPS cant keep up with a tank or any track vehicle when offroad and its a bad vehicle for an open terrain with wide fields of view and little terrain to hide behind; off-road MRAPs will roll over even on a tiny slope. it is somewhat better than an armor HMMWV as far as armor but is nowhere near its mobility; i would prefer the HMMWV for scouting with an LRAS on top for indirect CFF missions (we should give those Ukraine BTW if we haven't done it yet). But LAV would be the best IMHO for the type of combat there is currently.
@@ukraine-war-update Which infantry is more effective, the infantry who wasn't tossed around and beat up on the ride over, or the infantry who had no leg room and got their spines compressed? Comfort is more than just "Ah, an AC feels good". The LATV(An MRAP) is the perfect vehicle for Ukraine. Lower profile than other MRAPs, quicker and lighter than a humvee(with more armor), made for off roads. You're also cherry picking something like 40 accidents for your "roll over" rhetoric.
@@brandondavis7777 where did you get the "40" number from? also what is LATV? i was referencing MRAPs which Ukraine did already get. these vehicles are terrible at off-roading i used them personally and i believe for COIN (inferior enemy that is using IEDs) this vehicle is great but i would not want to be to fight conventional forces even if they have BMP-1 or 2 or even BTRs not to mention tanks. MRAPS are better than nothing but can provide much better armor to Ukraine to defeat nazi ruSSia
I wish analyses like this would take a moment to credit the primary contractors who built these successful systems. As much as Hollywood likes to portray the contractor as "the doofus in the room" it's often the contractors who deserve the most credit for a successful design. BAE did a great job with the Bradley. The Bradley replacement acquisition (Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)) should see the start of prototype production this year; should be interesting. (* NASA is the worst about not crediting contractors. When a rover successfully lands on Mars, it's "NASA's rover." When a rover instead crashes into the surface of Mars, it's "Lockheed's rover.")
For every Bradley, there's an Ajax - which General Dynamics built and doesn't work. BAE also did Nimrod which is the worst aircraft build of all time probably, with it getting cancelled after decade of mess ups
@@jgw9990 My point is, we can't have it both ways. If we're going to blame contractors for bad systems, we should congratulate them on good systems. Otherwise we're no better than NASA. :D
13:57 "Bradley's managed to destroy more Iraqi tanks than M1 Abrams." Well I would sure hope so. After all, the M1 Abrams managed to kill more M1 Abrams and Bradley's than the entire Iraqi armed forces.
Great content Mr McBeth! I hope they do send the version with digital support. The Ukrainians can definitely handle it. They have had great success using Starlink! I can’t wait to see what they do with the Bradley’s. You know it will be good because this is a test run for actual tanks!
Ryan, thanks for a very interesting & informative video on the background history of the development of the M2 Bradley IFV. I learned something new today!
While the TOW missile is 1980s tech, it has been upgraded since then, and it does have a long range capability (longer than some more modern anti-tank guided missiles that were sent to Ukraine, less than some others). When attacking the Russians, having that extra distance could make the big difference, allowing a Ukraine TOW to hit a Russian tank before the Russian tank knew about the Ukraine Bradley (if fighting at night). It could be a "game changer" if mated with a IFV with night vision. So, maybe the Ukraine forces would mount some STUGNA Ps on top of a Bradley for battle (rather than a Toyota HiLux), or use TOW. I suspect they will use (effectively) whatever is available at the time. _______ Some googled info: Are TOW missiles still wire-guided? It appeared in 1987. It has a tandem warhead and was specially designed to defeat tanks with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA). It has a range of 3 750 m and penetrates 900 mm of steel armor behind ERA. The latest versions of the TOW 2, starting from the TOW 2A are produced both in wireless and wire-guided forms. ________ STUGNA P (Ukraine ATGM) It weights 37 kg and carries a 9.2 kg warhead. It has a range of 5 km and penetrates 900 mm of steel armor. ________ JAVELIN Original CLU: 2,500 m (1.6 mi) Lightweight CLU: 4,000 m (2.5 mi) From vehicle: 4,750 m (2.95 mi)
You did an amazing job summarizing everything I painstakingly researched myself the last couple of weeks. From what role has a Bradley, a Marder, an IFV, Tank, how big is a battalion, why is everything so weird when it comes to armored stuff, etc etc. Kind of whished I saw this video first 🥇
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If the Bradley Fighting Vehicle is a very potent and capable platform that will give the Ukrainian Army a way to spot Artillery rounds, as well as carry infantry troops into battle and retain some anti-tank capability.
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Rights and References:
The Pentagon Wars
HBO 1998
Army FM 7-7J (Bradley)
Bradley Swim Pictures
forums.kitmaker.net/t/m2a0-bradley-swim-barrier-reference/16330
Reddit thread:
www.reddit.com/r/WarCollege/comments/erpmjm/having_just_watched_the_pentagon_wars_how_has_the/
www.battleorder.org/us-bradley-platoon
Modern Dragoons - Bradley Mechanized Infantry, CPT Christopher E. Lockhart, Infantry Magazine, Nov-Dec 1992/
AVAC
www.keymilitary.com/article/track-changed-tactics
Development of the American Tank-Infantry Team During World War II in Africa and Europe
by Captain J. L. Mudd Armor Magazine, September-October 1999.
Swim capability:
www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/14/Army-suspends-combat-vehicle-swim-operations/1004545371200/
Desert storm:
www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m2.htm
M2A2 ODS-SA
www.nationalguard.mil/News/Family-Programs/Article/575543/pennsylvania-army-guard-upgrades-to-latest-version-of-the-m2-bradley-fighting-v/
M2A4
www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/04/25/first-unit-gets-modernized-bradley-fighting-vehicle/
Half Life Bradley
ua-cam.com/video/wyYMQ6cFjFY/v-deo.html
Panzer
By Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-783-0110-12 / Dörner / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5413676
Tankers do tanker things:
ua-cam.com/video/O9f38CrCR5w/v-deo.html
By RIA Novosti archive, image #1274 / RIA Novosti / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15579759
By Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1988-1007-009,_Berlin,_39._Jahrestag_DDR-Gründung,_Parade.jpg: Mittelstädt, Rainerderivative work: Hohum (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 de, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7497732
By Pibwl - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15512587
By Konflikty.pl, Attribution, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49673858
"Soviet soldier's on a combat mission ww2" by Za Rodinu is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
"Vietnam War 1960s - Soldiers on dirt road in M113 APC" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"File:RIAN archive 644460 First stage in the Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.jpg" by Yuriy Somov / Юрий Сомов is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
"DONG HA 1972 - South Vietnamese troops move up on M113 APC." by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0..
"Vietcong models with RPG" by Der_Henk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Vietnam War Photo" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"1963 M113 APC. Bavaria, Germany" by mcdolan79 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
"Tên lửa chống tăng Maljutka AT-3 Sagger của Nga" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
"17 Mar 1973, Saigon, South VN --- Vietcong Lt. Gen. Tran Van Tra gestures during Press Conference" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
"Near Quang Tri on the DMZ border -- patrol along the 17th Parallel. Vietnam, 1971" by manhhai is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"BMP-1 Jüterbog / Altes Lager" by 270862 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
egyptindependent.com/first-egyptian-soldier-to-raise-egyptian-flag-in-sinai-during-october-war-dies-at-72/
BMPs 4 wheeling
ua-cam.com/video/f44JIUD5IWk/v-deo.html
By Steve F-E-Cameron (Merlin-UK) - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2121564
Sos
M2s are already in Poland and some have been sent into western Ukraine already.
You should pin this up top, it was pretty far down the comments list for me.
The Soviet BMP-1 was introduced 8 years after the very similar Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30 was introduced by the Federal Republic of Germany.
The British designed an IFV in 1918. It was to be used in 1919 if the war had continued. It basically was a stretched version of the Mk.5. The infantry compartment was basically standing room only. There is an example of one at the Bovington Tank Museum. During WWII the British and Canadians devised a IFV by removing the turret of a Sherman which allowed for about a squad of men to ride protected with the tanks. This was found to be better than riding in a truck with its canvas sides.
Was in the back of a Bradley that was hit by massive IED in Iraq on two different occasions. Both times I walked away with nothing more than bruises. This thing saved my life twice and I loved it!
an IED is quite different than a tank round or RPG , would it survive one of these ??.
@@johnsmith-ce2tq it's not designed to take a hit from.any modern main battle tank. Nor should it be expected to. No weapon or defense system.can make a soldier immortal.
@@cr4zyj4ck so in this theater of battle its not going to survive??as i don't think the Russians use IED ?
Did you get a concussion or other kind of brain injury from the blast? I've read about CTE being a big problem with vets especially those who hit an IED.
@@Clumrat Bradley is fully sealed so shockwave and concussive force shouldn't be able to reach the inside as long as armor plating stays intact. The only way I can see concussion being inflicted on troops inside is if the blast is strong enough to lift the vehicle up several feet into the air or roll the vehicle over, causing the soldiers within to tumble - that'd almost certainly risk a concussion or other brain injury. However, Bradley weighs up to 30 tonnes, so it would take an absolutely massive IED to roll / lift a Bradley.
I swam an M2 across a pond in ‘95. Set up and breakdown was horrendous. It really didn’t swim. Just slowly floated while taking on water.
The took the amphib ability away long ago.
We cut the swim barriers off the A2 variants in Korea in 96 because they just didn’t work.
The A1 has a trim vane along with the swim barrier and lighter armor, but no commander was willing to risk it. I used to leave my drain plugs halfway open and the bilge pump on when we forded and it would spray the MP/cav scout road guards as we drove by
"Just slowly floated while taking on water". In other words, it sank slower than it normally would.
And I keep saying this to people who are convinced russian IFVs are able to swim. If its this hard to keep western amphibious stuff floating, imagine the state of those things in the water
While I was in them about 4 years ago they had a big sticker that says "DO NOT SWIM" I always found it amusing while waiting for the mechanics to come tell me that the track was fucked.
with regards to the pentagon wars, lazerpig has an amazing video explaining in detail the shortcomings of the film.
Spookston's earlier video on the topic also is good, I am really glad that the Bradley is finally being vindicated in the internet sphere.
Both the Fighter Mafia and Reformer mindset needs to be dismantled totally.
Hail the drunk pig
The fact someone mentioned lazerpig brings joy to my heart!
At least they called the movie the Pentagon WARS not a "special operation of freedom."
"Conflict" and "Operation" Desert Storm. LMFAO!!!!! It was the Iraq OIL WARS, 1 and 2!!! WARS!!! Not "special operations," but WARS!!!!
AmerKKKlan is just like Russia!!!!
@@reynaldojaen1068 He's even better when he is completely wasted.
I swam an M-2 Bradley across a lake in Fort Hood, Texas, as my unit transitioned into 11 Mikes. The squad had to go through the operation to check if the vehicle was float worthy before the next driver crossed the lake. All I remember is checking the gasket seals to the ramp and back door, the condition of the screen and supports, and making sure the sump pump worked. We had no sinking during our adventures.
Sank an M2A2 before they told us that it was no longer a feature.
@@xrobertcmx the m2a3 has the pumps as well as the seals, but the pumps don’t get PMCS, nor would I ever put it in water higher than the tracks
Besides the great content, it is worth to note the time needed to produce this video. It started with daylight and finishes late at night.
You truly deservers a lot of likes!!!!
he deservers tip$ no thanks button here... thumbbody forgot he does have it in shorter vids
you btw r o c k -
Perun sent me here, from his IFV-discussing video 🏆
Link to this video in the video description. 👍And yes, Ryan is a good bloke indeed ❤️
Former 11M E4Mafia. The Bradley is not to be f’d with as long as you have a good crew. 25mm, TOW launcher, fairly nimble for such a large vehicle. Don’t swim it. Love your videos.
Can you explain how it wouldn't suffer from infantry fired missiles like like Javelins or TOWS or RPG's?
@@anomalyp8584 they prob are but there's only gonna be 50 of em and most russian soldiers aren't carrying missles, those javlin missles are super expensive and the russians are not well equipped like the ukrainians, the ukrainians literaly have had 10s of thousands of javelin type missles to destroy russian tanks and other vehicles, so the bradley is a target but the russians just don't have the huge amount of hand held missles that the ukrainians do.
im sure its great against goat farmers...
@@anomalyp8584 It definitely would suffer, just like all the tanks do. But that’s why you kick out your infantry squads to clear out enemy infantry.
@@kamikaziking Yes, just like your mom.
my only experience of the bradley was "Worlds Greatest Tank Battles" and the Bradley taking on a pair of T--72s and mangling both. (The episode was Battle of 73 Easting)
"There's a tank in front of us!"
"Yes, I see it"
"No sir, there's a tank in FRONT of us"
"Oh....."
It's not what it's supposed to do, but it can do it
@@sundhaug92 Litrally was, The TOW launchers where used as a backup, Never its Main armourment, only in emergency vehicle combat, So its use in 73 Easting was 100% what it was for.
@@julmdamaslefttoe3559 It can do it definitely, but it's primary use
I have a cousin who drove one in Gulf 1. He said they took out a lot of Iraqi armor. He also brought home some night vision goggles. (A tank or Bradley, can't remember which now, kept breaking down. They were told to take it out and use it for target practice. Afterwards, they had to fill out a form with all the equipment destroyed in the vehicle. By the time the list was filled out he said there wouldn't have been room for anyone inside. His take, those night vision goggles. As a kid in the early 90's I was impressed. You could see just about everything, nothing like the grainy videos you would see at the time.)
I hope he does send them. They'll look nice riding into battle next to the French AMX-10RC's that Emmanuel Macron just agreed to send. 👍 🇺🇦
Yep especially when they come at night, both have targeting systems on board that are far superior to 90% of Russian armours sensors suites.
I'm waiting for the Chieftain to give his to cents on this issue, he's recently trained with the French and speaks the language.
On top he was a Bradley troop commander.
The problem is with the zoo of different vehicles the Ukraine has now, maintenance is going to be a huuge headache.
@@philippos5547 it is already
@Philippos field repairs shouldn't be a problem, with the units having maintenance packs. Everything else is handled by contractors in Poland and the Baltics, or it goes on a train to the manufacturer or original depot.
A bit of a pain in the butt, could be worse though.
Post war this will have to be streamlined of course.
I can already hear the French dong jokes.
I did my time on a M1A1/A2 as a tanker we hated the Brad. Then I was sent back to school and became a scout and was on the Bradly in Iraq during the surge we lost our brand new M2A2 and we got our hands on ODS Brads I was amazed how much they upgraded the systems from ODS I really enjoyed the system they improved on. I just missed my Abrams more. Best job was serving in the Army I really miss it sometimes.
TY for your service.
Thank you for your service and hope you had a good new year
Most of us do miss it brother
Never served but I have a theory (like all assholes): It's damn near impossible to find the same clarity of purpose and shared esprit in civilian life. It's definitely worth thinking about how we build the narrative of our society to address that because it's among the most rewarding things humans can do for each other.
@@ponz- I just want to go hang out when the guys go shoot gunnery.
Video just came out of multiple burning Bradley’s on the zaporatia front along with multiple leopard 2a4 and a6s
Thanks, Bathrobe for another well-done video!
A primary reason for TOWs on Brads was to help counter the large tank superiority of the WARPAC in Europe. It was rather irritating to hear the anti-military media of the '80s exaggerate every bug that field use revealed--along with every other US weapons system.
Isn't that part of an disinformation campaign to make the enemies believe you have big problems?
All Soviet and later Russian IFV had AT missiles on them as well.
now that you mention bathrobe, that could be Ryan's call sign. Maybe it is? hahaha This is only the second vid where i've seen his personal quotations as some guy in a bathrobe. Seems you've addressed the host as capital B athrobe.
I'm gonna pretend that was his call sign, to be a fly on the wall for those comms ha
@@clumsiii Ryan has mentioned recording in his bathrobe before work a number of times, so it's an easy joke.🙂
@@petesheppard1709 well i appreciated that! guess i got too creative with the backstory. Thanks for clearing that up. still would be a cool call sign.
I really enjoyed being a 19D Cavalry Scout. The Bradley was fun during mounted and dismounted training operations. 25mm sounds still resonate my memories.
*Thank you to all the Vets for your Service*
I could only imagine how it does in combat.. The stories our SSGs had about the Survivability were/are true test of this weapon system.
Great Content, Thanks !
I got tinnitus from being a dismount inside of that hunk of death haha. I was happy to be inside of it but it also has some major problems. Hopefully that reactivate armor will help out because the Russians have better anti tank capabilities than insurgents. Not saying they weren't well equipped, that asymmetric warfare was pretty damn effective.
Scouts out brother.19 D 1986-1990
You are a sick MF bro. I had the misfortune to ride in one of those things once. I liked my M113.
@@paulsonneborn8164 19D 1/11th ACR My right ear lost a lot of hearing from the engines on M113/M577/ITV vehicles.
@@BigDaddy-fx4nx Ahhh the days before caring about hearing protection. 1 st AD and 1st CAV.
Thanks Ryan for explaining the functions of an Infantry Fighting vehicle. This is an awesome teaching video.
I was a Red Leg in the First Calvary Division during Vietnam.
We had Gama-Goats. They were supposed to float and cross water. We thought it was a sure way to drowned.
I also remember the Dragon Anti tank missile .
TY for your service
16 Bradleys in 2 days.
Lmao
How many BMP? Oh that's right. russians don't bother to remember their war dead. Hint more than 16
You should do a in-depth video on the tow missile, capabilities and versions. Like the differences on the tow2a and tow2b, and how they differ.
That excites me
It’s the whole reason I used to wake up and go to work in the morning.
The sound of Bushmasters and TOWs is akin to Angels welcoming you with song and wine
He did a very short one on the TOW
Did one on the TOW, he named it hell on a wire
Out of stock on Amazon 😭
@@sergeantklein6026 Akin to "I love the smell of napalm in the morning, it smells like victory" (Col. Kilgore ) from the movie "Apocalypse Now", the greatest Army recruiting film ever made.
Ryan, you're quickly becoming my go-to guy for this sort of analysis. I'm a former armoured recce soldier in the Canadian Forces, and my buddies and I always liked the Bradly when we saw it in action in Gagetown during NATO exercises. One of the best cavalry mounts ever IMO. Also loved the history of the Dragoon.
I was 11b on 113s when we went to Bradley's, that chain gun can penetrate a T72 armor at frontal points... This was one of the big confirmations on the MYTH of Soviet armored vehicles we learned after the 1st gulf war...
That said, I've percived it as if a majority of those Iraqi tanks were made of sub-quality steel, essentially just thick and hard, bur not actually armor grade composition.
@@SonsOfLorgar the chain gun is also are firing explosive and armor piercing rounds. A single round isn’t going to Penetrate but 50-100 rounds it’s more likely. It only takes one explosive round inside to fuck up a tankers day
TY for your service.
@@SonsOfLorgar Those armor piercing rounds are depleted uranium. They go through non-reactive armor like a knife through butter. After ODS we had an ops sergeant from 2 AD that confirmed that just a couple of short bursts from the 25 would take out T-72s.
What unit were you in when you transitioned to the Brads?
RE: IFV armor limitations: Here is a true statement that has never changed since I was in the service: "What can be seen can be hit, and what can be hit can be killed." Use terrain, and overwatch to your advantage.
I was watching the chieftan do a run down on the early BMPs. Truly they were revolutionary at the time. The turret was state of the art . But obviously as newer , better IFVs and anti tank weaponry came out it kinda became obsolete fast.
When I was in the Army (in Greece) we had plenty M-113's (I was in an armored division) There was an M-113 for service with the engine hatch open and on the rear where the infantrymen sat there was some kind of pillow on the two benches. Under those pillows there were many porn mags for the guy who was on guard duty.
Priorities!
Greeks love to spank their monkeys
Do you guys still use em? Like if Turkey gets ideas and they come in the night, does Greece have the ability to give em a bloody nose ?
@@Davitofrito we also have M2s ( don't remember the variant )
Also I don't think they will
@@Davitofrito Greek resistance is not the primary defense. Membership in the NATO and trade with the EU is primary.
British actually used combined arms in WW1 with Artillery, Tanks, Infantry, planes and even some cavalry this is what gave the germans the idea for the Blitzkreig.
-The Battle of Cambrai
Every evil empire look at the archetypal evil empire for inspiration, the British evil empire.
@@toolbaggers damn right you cursed rebel!
Ironically, the German "blitzkrieg" wasn't so much because of their strength, but because they needed to be quick because they had very little supplies for a long campaign.
@@jeremyt7722 regardless, it worked and overwhelmed half of Europe
@@jeremyt7722 Yes, and that ultimately defeated them in Russia. The supply lines were too long and the winters too harsh. What worked in Poland and France didn't work in the vastness of Russia.
"neither of those two pieces of media show the Bradley in a good light"
**shows half life footage of crowbar destroying an M2**
Well done sir
I served in the South African defence force armoured division in the Angolan War using the Ratel 90 and Eiland, aka Noddy Car. As gunner, the Ratel 90, although perhaps a little crude on controls was a beast with a purpose, extremely mobile and able to run like a demon, many kills. Infanty had the Ratel with a 20mm mounted.....also a beast as super quick in 6x6. Wished we had Bradley's back then. Still will always love the sound of 20mm, 12.7mm Brownings even though they were likely 30+ years old. Fond memories.
Combined Arms: Made in France, Perfected by Germany, over escalated in the US and Fucked up by Russia god only knows how much i love it
I love the aesthetic of the pre-MAD early-arms-race atomic soldier. So horrifying yet nostalgic.
ORO: MAD concept had no effect on the strategy of tactical nukes on the battlefied. MAD concept did/does NOT mean that a single nuke will be retaliated with a massive full scale volley. Go do more reading.
Except for the rocket belt, it was pretty darn forward thinking and pretty much every aspect of the concept is now fairly standard for US Army and Marine infantrymen. Fortunately the Chemical and Radiological protection hasn't been needed much over the years.
Sounds like overmatch is the adult version of rock scissors paper. Awesome video as per usual.
That's always been the way of war, especially when you look at the napoleonic era.
Pokemon Go.. to War
Ryan needs to play 'Rust' to know the most infamous use of Bradley in a video game....
I don't mean to be an asshole, but how the hell do you get rock paper scissors backwards?
@@psychoaiko666 Good point, I have lived in Korea too long and got myself confused. Over here it is “scissors, rock, paper” in Korea you would say: “gawi, bawi, bo“. Does anyone remember the one with Spock in it?
Bradley crew member here. I loved the Bradley.
TY for your service.
They're also getting AMX-10's(wheeled assault gun, but good one), if I heard right, so now Ukraine can possibly decide to split off BTR-4(which is IFV, not APC despite the name) and mix them with AMX-10's fire support to get enhanced mobile divisions, while Bradley's will likely go to enhance heavy(ie most modern) tank battalions to replace or at least support current BMPs that support those tanks.
Ryan, it is just another amazing video. I had no idea about Bradley's laser spotting capabillities, it is now so simple and clear. You got the knowledge bro!
No he has Google.Just like the rest of us.Some are just to lazy to read so they rely on watching a video and let someone else so it for them !
@@Spyderz-xo9rz grrrgrrrrgrrrgrgrrrr :)
I love watching your videos Ryan. They are very well done and so nostalgic. I was there when we went from M113's to Bradleys. It was love at first sight when I saw them roll in to Benning.
Good for you discussing bradley's "bad rep" through this video. Suggest lazerpigs video for a more detailed understanding why the Pentagon wars and the mafia behind these kind of "refomation" are frowned upon.
Please stop recommending that drunk fools videos, he already has a big enough cringe fan base
Lazerpig did a review/debunking. And needless to say that both you and Lazerpig got to the same conclusions.
Thanks 30 seconds for the rest of the message is nothing to me, love your content, Capt. G Savage
Look dog, IFV's were a good idea, but today's infantryman expects to arrive in more comfort than that. A better idea is the *armored RV.* You simply buy a *Winnebago Horizon with every option box ticked,* stock it full of brandy & beer kegs, and weld on 1/2" thick steel plates to cover the exterior surfaces. Each one can deliver 10+ soldiers with a much higher blood alcohol level than that damn Bradley can. Party on!
Definitely a morale booster and get away from the trenches during freezing weather.🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶
Operating on the mechanized battlefield with the Abrams Main Battle Tank, Artillery, and Attack Helicopters, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle guarantees the United States Army has a combined arms team that is second to none.
Hooah... and we've been studying Soviet tactical doctrine for decades... doctrine they apparently haven't changed.
Bullshit. The Bradley is the weakest IFV in use. Yes, the TOWs are very good, but the vehicle is absolutely terrible. APCs have used 20mm guns since the 50s, and that is what the Bradley is, a glorified APC. German panzergrenadiers in WW2 clearly showed that for mechanised infantry to be truly effective, they should fight from the vehicle to allow mobility. The Bradley falls short versus other vehicles with 30mm and even 40mm main guns.
It has one true advantage though and that is the TOWs
you forgot the HIMARS and M 270s. Imagine 20 M 172s 20 miles behind the Abrams and Bradleys ready to stop and launch in seconds. Just a continuous wave of destruction.
@scruffy7760 citation needed
The Abrams not being able to cross rivers with the Bradley reminds me of our ingenious German solution to that problem xD
The leopard 2 is "dive" capable. It can literally drive along the bottom of rivers and lakes for a little while. Alternatively a collar and dive shaft can be attached to the top hatch allowing, essentially permanent, submersion up to 5m depth (idea being the hatch allows for air to be supplied to engine and crew) .
.... a Tank with a Submarine snorkel.... Why is that funny to me?
I may be mistaken but this is somewhat common on tanks: Russian ones have a snorkel only whereas nato tanks have a full tube that can serve as an escape hatch in the case of an immovable tank.
@@patty109109 I was wondering about that. I would not be too thrilled about driving across the bottom of a river (surely as water is leaking in) sealed into a giant metal coffin. Seems like a great way for me to eventually stop breathing. An escape hatch is a nice idea.
The Marine version of the M1A1 has a deep fording capability. At least in theory, no idea how it works in reality.
The abrams can as well. leopard and the abrams are closely related lol
Retired 11H/11M/11B here: this was accurate, informative, and entertaining.
Well done and thank you
Texas Army National Guard 11H in the 80s. Blue is True, Whites Alright, Pink Stinks!
TY for your service, from retired 11H/35W.
@@travisadams4470 TY for your service, I still use blue is true and pink stinks 40 years later. 💙
@@jonthinks6238 Some things really stick with you after all these years
Thank you for your service and i hope you had a good new year
As a form 11M (Rock of the Marne) who served in ODS, I really appreciate your video. Your assessment, as always is dead on. Great job, Ryan! Ironically, my unit used to be 1-4 Inf before it was reflagged as 4-7 Inf. I know you were a member of 1-4 at the CMTC in Heoenfels.
Rock of the Marne!
Cottonbalers By God!
Damn Fine Soldiers!
I arrived in Aschaffenburg Germany in Jan 1988 and was in 1-4 Inf as well right before it was reflagged to 4/7 Inf. I was in Cco and HHC 4/7 as an 11M from 88-92.
The Air Force could just end any conflict by dropping a little piece of the sun on our adversary.
I love it. This guys great.
The UA-camrs laser Pig and Spookstin both have excellent videos debunking the Pentagon Wars movies claims
with the French AMX-10RC Tanks being sent, Bradley's are almost a given already
WHAT DID I FUCKING SAY!? AND MARDERS, TOO!
And the Bradleys are conveniently due for replacement in the US over the next decade, the program actually appears to be going somewhere this time.
Lets hope they go for CV90.
Those things just work and arent too tall
@@dwwolf4636 They did go with the CV-90.
Yessss!!!!
Circa 1989 I was in Fort Hood. It was a Bradley driver. We swam it across a river. We did indeed ride on top with hatches open . One Bradley was leaving the river and the water came over the curtain and down she went. Fortunately everyone bailed out and no one was injured😂
TY for your service.
Like the dual drive Shermans at Normandy.
Sank like a rock eh?
A Brad is the only thing that is intended to swim but swims worse that an M9 ACE
Cool story. Elmo muskovite says you're wrong.
🤷🏻♂️
On an OP in 2003 Iraq, our handmike pissed out so we missed our check in. 4 Bradleys roared out set up a perimeter around us and took us back. I've always been n grateful for these guys ready to fuckin smash anything to protect us
I know the M2 Bradley got shit on in Pentagon Wars and that in reality the development phase was a huge clusterfuck and cost overruns, but when it FINALLY came into combat in the Gulf War it became a swan from an ugly duckling. It killed more Iraqi armor than the M1 Abrams did. Still did very well in Iraq even though it can't handle IED's well. As a fighting vehicle, the M2 Bradley is really good. It is heavy and it cannot "swim". As a fighting vehicle, it has done very well. Even though the Stryker vehicle is trying to take over, the US Army is not going to let the m2 Bradley's go away in the future.
Former driver and gunner here. This is probably the best run down of the Bradley I've ever seen. Great job!
My only doubt is that these Ukrainian soldiers will need some serious training on these tracks. You just don't jump in them and ride off into battle. Where will they be able to train in them and not make themselves targets once that location is known?
Probably UK or Poland, both of which have been providing training and support for Ukraine.
Yep we have a shit ton of these.. send them over.. rather have them fighting than sitting in storage
Officially a forever fan due to the half life reference. You are a legend.
I know about the Bradley from the first Gulf War. They had an utterly incredible success rate in Iraq, consistently besting the Iraqi tanks it was running into, destroying the Iraqi tanks with ease using their TOW Missiles. The optics the Bradley has are so advanced it gives them a massive upper-hand over the tanks they were going up against. And AFAICT, the Soviets, ahem-cough cough, I mean, the Russian tanks it will meet in Ukraine should be at a massive disadvantage still. The Bradley’s should be able to knock them out before the Russian tanks even know there’s a Bradley in the vicinity.
The only thing I might add is that one reason the German panzers were so effective is that they all had radios and trained working together with them
Just learned a whole lot about the history of IFVs and the Bradley. Thanks from a Navy veteran who used a 20 mm mg on the canals, rivers near Cambodia in 1968 - 69 on an Armored Troop Carrier (T112-8). We jigged the 20 mount so I could use a back up Browning .30 cal. mg in case the 20 went down, which they could when old and used: stirrup cables breaking when charging the weapon, rounds not firing and not ejecting (which happened on my last fire fight.....if we'd had another ambush that night I'd have jammed another round on top possibly.
I remember how I 1st saw Bradley IRL. It pulled up right behind us on a highway and this thing is JUUUGE as f*! It doesn't seem that high on pictures but when you sit on the back seat of a car and look out of the back window, it's towering over you like a damn mothership of death. I will never not forget that sight, that was scary. In a good way.
That is actually it's major problem. It's huge = it gets shot at more often.
If you look at Soviet equivalents (BMP series) they are much lower.
It’s over Vladimir, I have the high ground.
@@herrhaber9076 not really a problem when you can hide 90% of the silloute behind a hill in a defelade position and still shoot where the BMP both BMP 1 and 2's have to expose 95-100% of their silloute to fire out of a defilade position so in other words. if a bradley is shooting at a BMP the BMP won't be able to hit it. but if a BMP is shooting a Bradley you know its at the top of a hill or fully exposed. unless its in a dug in position but that just makes it too easy. it can't exactly maneuver when its in a hole in the ground.
theres your problem! get a big truck.
@@herrhaber9076 You have NO data to prove it gets shot at more often. That’s not how combat works. You don’t shoot at things based on size.
Ukraine could really use these Bradley's in the defense of their territory.
We the USA should give them everything they need to stop putins regime.
We did it against Sadam and this guy is WAY WORSE.
He has WMD's
Well I must say this was a very good video. I myself remember swimming the Bradley and even seeing one sink 😂. If I remember correctly, they lost the ability to swim shortly after the first armor upgrade. Overall it is a good vehicle, it’s biggest drawback is its size. The optics, thermal and regular along with the TOW missile system will be a great help in Ukraine 🇺🇦 as long as they keep it in the support role.
My step dad was a Bradley Commander. Stationed in shwankfurt Germany, back when the Berlin wall was still up. And I used to have a copy of the government issue manual. He always complained that he didn't get to have as much fun with the Bradley because he was infantry and not cavalry. So they got all the crap work while the calvary got the easy assignment.
Schweinfurt, not "shwankfurt".
It seems like this would be ideal for those small village fights you see. The rounds can peirce brick walls. They have thermal imaging too?
I was in a crew with a FIST Bradley, not only did I never see a swim kit, but this is the first I've heard of one lol. Then again, we emptied and repacked more connex full of shit I'd never seen, I may have handled them countlessly and just not known.
We either equip the Ukrainians properly including things like Bradley’s or we watch this war of attrition play out with Russia simply having far greater numerical superiority in the sheer number of bodies they can stand to lose. Ship ‘em.
Man, I’m not super into “military stuff” but I really like these video. I can see the amount of effort put into them. Great work man and thank you!
While our unit (2-6 INF, 1st AD) was posted at FOB St. Michael’s, one of our Brads was hit with a 500lb VBIED, it shattered all of glass optics and charged the exterior. Sadly only the driver survived (the Brad only had the 3 man crew at the time) but his fingers were badly burnt while he was dropping his seat to close his hatch but the VBIED detonated before he could close it. The good thing about fighting in close quarters with the Brad was the enemy RPG gunners, 90% of them would forget to pull out the RPG round safety tab on the nose cap so the rounds would bounce off and cost the gunner his life as he was cut in half with the 240C coax.
TY for your service.
2-6 IN 89 to 92, Erlangen Germany. Hearing about casualties from any one of my old units makes me sad. Glad you got back safe.
Did the job in Iraq, can destroy Russian tanks America has 6000_7000 surely 400 can go missing come on let ukrane Finnish it
Hmmm...looks also like a good stepping stone for the Ukrainians to go from the few NATO style systems that they have, to full NATO tanks...
25 mike mike go plink plink plink
Hehehehe wise edit sir
And a 40mike mike /L70 goes Thoom-Thoom-Thoom-Thoom!... tinkle-tinkle-tinkle-tinkle... 🤣
Brad is not a tank by name but it is a light tank by definition. I crewed M2 in Iraq its cannon can penetrate any soviet Armour, had 3 Kills with M242 in Kuwait, 2 kills on the end of wire
Nice!
Its cannon?
You mean missiles
@@divoulos5758 he probably was talking about the AUTOCANNON which can have I think by that point either APDS or APFSDS although I don’t know when the Bradley would have gotten the APFSDS for it’s 30
@@areyouserious866 is the barrel rifled? If it is its not apdsfs
@@divoulos5758 he mentioned "2 at end of wire." That's the atgm. Basically (and he can correct me if this is a misrepresentation) he's saying the cannon killed 3 the tows got 2.
Might as well send Reaper Drones to help with the air power since Ukraine don't have f18s or f16s mig29s are whatever
It would be better to build low cost drones kamikaze drones. If you can build them at 15,000. They are cheaper than a smart artillery shell and you can build them by the 1000s.
Former 91M while I do dog on the Bradley it's purely out of love, and yes the Brad has some small quirks but it is a KILLER and extremely versatile do not underestimate it.
there already in europe since last week for nat execises... lots of abrams also. I bet not one vehicles will cross back the atlantic
I was a dismount inf and I've spent my fair share of time in a Bradley. They're beautiful beasts indeed. I definitely remember the port weapons when I was in Korea back in 02'
TY for your service.
I remember reading somewhere the only reason the Bradley was given the amphibious requirement is because they found out the BMP is (supposedly) able to swim across rivers... (turns out it's not much more amphibious in reality than the Brad lol but would have been better if that wasn't made a requirement in the first place)
All Russian IFVs can float. It is a doctrinal requirement for them. You’ll notice if you check them all out closely on the front end, they all have an extra metal plate on the front end. That is their trim vane that folds up when in water that prevents water from rushing over the front of the vehicle and swamping it.
@@mathewcarson364 Your right, but unfortunately there's a lot of prep work that goes into getting an IFV to float. You can't just on a whim take your IFV for a swim. You need to check seals, make sure everything's greased up etc. Also if I'm remembering right BMPs were capable of floating in the same vain of the M113 and M2 Bradley are capable of floating(Providing were talking about the original iteration of the two). Yes, you can do it but its a royal pain in the ass and god help you if its a fast river or shitty weather.
"I've never known anyone who owns their own business and hates their boss"
Haven't met me then!
I was an Abrams mechanic. I and can tell you that the Pentagon wars movie is shit. 😆
lmao my man is like yo Ukraine can now train Cav scouts with brads and do some serious resonance and fire missions.
In the name of the Ukrainian people I thank all true Americans, whose hearts are beating in unison with freedom, democracy and liberty - you are our best supporters and friends. Thank you for the guns, and all the military stuff. You are investing into Ukraine victory which will help keep the whole European continent safe. I welcome you to my country, and my home after the victory! God bless America! Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to the Heroes!
Enjoy the latest Aid(s) package from yours truly! When Putin is shattered into pieces, it will be good to see Ukraine under the fold of our international agenda. Slava Ukrani!
I honestly think it makes sense to have an anti-tank weapons system on and infantry fighting vehicle because they're already a lot cheaper than a tank and they're going to be more mass-produced than a tank so why not have that force multiplier because you may not always have a tank, and also considering there's more Bradleys than there are Abrams and makes sense that even during Desert Storm Bradleys had a higher number of Tanks to destroyed there was just flat out more of them which I think is a testament to the training of the crew on Bradleys and the TOW missile itself
FYI, Ukraine already has the ability to get GPS coordinates for enemy troops via commercial drones that have had their firmware upgraded. Not every unit has them and the ones that do don't always have comms with artillery, but the capability is there.
Biden announced the US will be sending them today after this was posted.
time for leopards 2 to spearhead to Moscow and then to St. Petersburg
The pentagon wars is (or at least was in 2018) required watching in the US Army Sergeant Majors Academy in the module about procurement. I was a 19D Bradley commander and cav scout. Got love for thr Brad!!!
My exposure to IFVs were the Battlefield games. Badcompany 1/2 and Battlefield 3/4. They were very effective in those games especially when using combined arms. I know those games are rather arcadey but it makes me appreciate their "authenticity" more seeing how accurate they can be to real life and how effective real world tactics can be in those games.
LOL! 😂
I know Bradleys because I was an M2A2 Bradley IFV 45T10 turret mechanic. You ship these bad boys to Ukraine and the Russians are in for a world of hurt.
Now I'm not saying that the M2 Bradley is the be-all, end-all of warfare in a "near-peer" engagement, but when you combine the firepower of the 25mm chain gun and the _"hell-on-a-wire"_ of the TOW2 missile supporting a tank, some right serious shit's gonna go down.
Make no mistake, the M2 has it's flaws, but this is _exactly_ the deployment the Bradley IFV was designed for.
Just to add a little background, I was the lead M2 turret services mechanic for 2/7 INF BN, 24th ID during my active duty days from 1992-95. My previous MOS was 12B10 Combat Engineer. I was attached to the scout platoon of HHC 2/7 as their "forward mechanic" and performed 12B duties as well. Any 45T mech worth a shit had a notebook of common M2 turret faults and how to fix them without busting out the STE-ICE diagnostic gear (think OBD-II tool the takes up an entire Snap-On van to haul around).
If you've got your head screwed on straight, keeping a Bradley in working order isn't a tough job. Once the crew learns the peculiarities of the system, they're good to go. The gun is fully stabilized and the TOW system (on early models) needs the M2 to be nearly stationary, but once you're familiar with the system, it's just fucking _deadly._
Combine the Bradley's ability to suppress enemy armor and it's ability to haul infantry at "combat speed," using them in a combined-arms scenario with armor and artillery support vs the Russians is just gonna be a slaughter.
Remember: You can take ground with armor and/or air power. But you can't _keep_ it without infantry. When you combine the speed of maneuver of armored warfare with the screening and holding power of infantry, you have a recipe for victory.
Yes, tank-on-tank warfare is usually decided by who gets the first shot. But when you have a tank, an IFV, and _dismounted infantry_ looking for threats, the chance of being the one to see the enemy first goes up drastically. Tanks and IFVs _at best_ have two persons each scanning for threats. When you add a dismounted infantry squad you get six more sets of eyes on the battlefield with the M2.
Now if we compare a the "eyes" available between an M2 Bradley paired with a modern tank and a BMP2 similarly paired with a modern tank, the BMP comes out ahead as they generally carry 7 troops vs the Bradley's 6 - so you get 10 sets of eyes with a Bradley and tank vs the 11 sets with a BMP2 and a tank.
_However,_ the Russians don't use them in this manner. Doctrine notwithstanding, Russian commanders aren't using IFVs and tanks in "combined-arms" settings. This means that a proper M2/MBT (main battle tank) pairing has 10 sets of eyes scanning for targets vs the Russian's _two sets._
When armor kills are generally decided by who sees whom first, you do the math.
And when a Bradley lases your position, you're going to experience a _"significant emotional event"._
Segway:
I drove an M113 as a "combat mechanic" on active duty. They get a lot of shit for their shortcomings, but I can say first hand that they can drive places an infantryman can't walk.
STE-ICE. Wow. I haven’t heard that word in years.
Who else is waiting for a video of a T-72 getting clapped by a tow
The XM765 was eventually build by the Netherlands (DAF) als the YPR-765 and YPR-806 AIFV's. Fun fact is that they recieved reactive armour in the early 2000s when used in Afghanistan, making the vehicle much larger and more of a M2/M3 type AIFV. Older non reactive armour units have been donated to Ukraine and most of the YPR's have now been replaced by more modern vehicles like the CV9035NL and KMW/Rheinmetal Boxer
As a Marine, I know nothing of this "infantry fighting vehicle" stuff. We just had to WALK everywhere we went. Thank you, Army, for bringing the heavy firepower!
Love what you're doing. It is always so refreshing to hear an opinion from someone with an actual military background.
Your a triathlete 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 omg so funny. Maybe at eating you are
Its already confirmed. 40 marders 50 bradleys are coming.
11B love their Bradleys. Bradleys will be an awesome addition to Ukraine. I saw a group of them live fire TOWs at the firing table at Ft. Hood back in '88 when I worked for the Killeen newspaper.
For many the gameplay experience of the Bradley may come from Battlefield 1942 mod called "Desert Combat" (release date 2003), where it was a truly effective, reasonably well modeled and fun vehicle with its main gun (firing HE rounds) and its TOW missiles (It could also resupply and heal infantry in its rear compartment).
ok
It was just announced the US is going to send 50 Bradleys.
I can attest that a bradley can take out a bradley very easily. Friendly fire sucks
My great grandfather was a dragoon in the imperial german army.
"Wenn Dragoner attackieren, muss der stärkste Feind krepieren!"
Great show. The M2 and M3 Bradley was produced in 4050 M2 and 2050 M3. The USA has over 40,000 fighting vehicles. MRAP could be very useful in Ukraine.
Ukraine is already using MRAPs but i think its the worst vehicle to send there. MRAPs have a very large profile which makes them a big target on a generally large open terrain. MRAPS are ok on roads but not so much off roads bc of its high center of gravity they are easy to roll and flip and a lot of the fighting in Ukraine is happening away from roads. MRAPS armor is not sufficient to compensate for their "firepower" which are only mounted crew serve weapons such as MARK-19s, .50 CAL and M-240s at best. MRAPS were good at providing protection against mines and IED bc of their "V" shaped haul and frankly built as solution to a very specific problem (COIN ops) and not for a conventional war with a peer or even a near peer foe
@@ukraine-war-update Besides the high profile, MRAPs are pretty great vehicles. More comfortable and reliable than Humvees, with more troop capacity and armor. They aren't made for fighting other vehicles, they aren't IFVs. They're made for shoot and scoot missions in Conventional wars. Drive in, light up some buildings and light vehicles, and drop off a squad, drive out. When combined with IFVs and heavier armor, like they should be in Conventional wars, they're about perfect. Nothing is a stand-alone system.
@@brandondavis7777 Nobody cares about the comfort level in this type of the war (its not COIN) I get your point but i disagree; 12.7mm will chew right through MRAPs or at least make an easy mobility kill (and BTW nazi ruSSkis have bigger killsticks than that deployed forward) ; MRAPS cant keep up with a tank or any track vehicle when offroad and its a bad vehicle for an open terrain with wide fields of view and little terrain to hide behind; off-road MRAPs will roll over even on a tiny slope. it is somewhat better than an armor HMMWV as far as armor but is nowhere near its mobility; i would prefer the HMMWV for scouting with an LRAS on top for indirect CFF missions (we should give those Ukraine BTW if we haven't done it yet). But LAV would be the best IMHO for the type of combat there is currently.
@@ukraine-war-update Which infantry is more effective, the infantry who wasn't tossed around and beat up on the ride over, or the infantry who had no leg room and got their spines compressed? Comfort is more than just "Ah, an AC feels good". The LATV(An MRAP) is the perfect vehicle for Ukraine. Lower profile than other MRAPs, quicker and lighter than a humvee(with more armor), made for off roads. You're also cherry picking something like 40 accidents for your "roll over" rhetoric.
@@brandondavis7777 where did you get the "40" number from? also what is LATV? i was referencing MRAPs which Ukraine did already get. these vehicles are terrible at off-roading i used them personally and i believe for COIN (inferior enemy that is using IEDs) this vehicle is great but i would not want to be to fight conventional forces even if they have BMP-1 or 2 or even BTRs not to mention tanks. MRAPS are better than nothing but can provide much better armor to Ukraine to defeat nazi ruSSia
I wish analyses like this would take a moment to credit the primary contractors who built these successful systems. As much as Hollywood likes to portray the contractor as "the doofus in the room" it's often the contractors who deserve the most credit for a successful design. BAE did a great job with the Bradley. The Bradley replacement acquisition (Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV)) should see the start of prototype production this year; should be interesting. (* NASA is the worst about not crediting contractors. When a rover successfully lands on Mars, it's "NASA's rover." When a rover instead crashes into the surface of Mars, it's "Lockheed's rover.")
For every Bradley, there's an Ajax - which General Dynamics built and doesn't work. BAE also did Nimrod which is the worst aircraft build of all time probably, with it getting cancelled after decade of mess ups
@@jgw9990 My point is, we can't have it both ways. If we're going to blame contractors for bad systems, we should congratulate them on good systems. Otherwise we're no better than NASA. :D
13:57 "Bradley's managed to destroy more Iraqi tanks than M1 Abrams."
Well I would sure hope so. After all, the M1 Abrams managed to kill more M1 Abrams and Bradley's than the entire Iraqi armed forces.
Great content Mr McBeth! I hope they do send the version with digital support. The Ukrainians can definitely handle it. They have had great success using Starlink! I can’t wait to see what they do with the Bradley’s. You know it will be good because this is a test run for actual tanks!
Ryan, thanks for a very interesting & informative video on the background history of the development of the M2 Bradley IFV. I learned something new today!
I was a Bradley Systems Mechanic during my time in Army service. They were great vehicles, loved operating and working on them.
U should look at a game called squad, they do the bradley justice
While the TOW missile is 1980s tech, it has been upgraded since then, and it does have a long range capability (longer than some more modern anti-tank guided missiles that were sent to Ukraine, less than some others). When attacking the Russians, having that extra distance could make the big difference, allowing a Ukraine TOW to hit a Russian tank before the Russian tank knew about the Ukraine Bradley (if fighting at night). It could be a "game changer" if mated with a IFV with night vision.
So, maybe the Ukraine forces would mount some STUGNA Ps on top of a Bradley for battle (rather than a Toyota HiLux), or use TOW. I suspect they will use (effectively) whatever is available at the time.
_______
Some googled info:
Are TOW missiles still wire-guided?
It appeared in 1987. It has a tandem warhead and was specially designed to defeat tanks with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA). It has a range of 3 750 m and penetrates 900 mm of steel armor behind ERA. The latest versions of the TOW 2, starting from the TOW 2A are produced both in wireless and wire-guided forms.
________
STUGNA P (Ukraine ATGM)
It weights 37 kg and carries a 9.2 kg warhead. It has a range of 5 km and penetrates 900 mm of steel armor.
________
JAVELIN
Original CLU: 2,500 m (1.6 mi) Lightweight CLU: 4,000 m (2.5 mi) From vehicle: 4,750 m (2.95 mi)
You did an amazing job summarizing everything I painstakingly researched myself the last couple of weeks. From what role has a Bradley, a Marder, an IFV, Tank, how big is a battalion, why is everything so weird when it comes to armored stuff, etc etc.
Kind of whished I saw this video first 🥇