This document discusses armor upgrades and capabilities for NLMB tracked armored fighting vehicles (TAFVs) for urban combat missions. It proposes 7 layers of protection for the TAFVs through add-on armor, including spall liners, thick armor plating, ceramic tiles, reactive armor, pre-detonating racks, and gunshields. It argues that TAFVs can accommodate more protective layers than wheeled vehicles. The document also describes vertical assault capabilities for TAFVs using a boom arm to deliver infantry to buildings, and discusses missions focused on rapid deployment for urban operations.

1. ALL NLMB TAFVs are Landmine/Roadside Bomb-Resistant
Mike Sparks & Andy MacDougall 4/2004 itsg@hotmail.com
1. Cut “V” channels along hull under tracks to 5. Armored skirts are
hinged to flap up in
deflect mine blasts
an upward blast
BOOM!
7. Mine-resistant steel tracks or
give-way venting band tracks
2. Since Hybrid-Electric drive
eliminates front engine, TC and Driver
can be placed farther back on more
sloped frontal armor arc away from
any landmine blasts under either
tracks
6. Every M113 Gavin has sacrificial 3. Inner “V” walls around TC/D inside
rollers on front to pre-detonate mines vehicle as 2d layer of protection.
4. Underbelly armor fitted.

2. ALL NLMB TAFVs have gunshields: ACAV Moving Gunshields
Track Commander (TC) cupola gunshield kit
Track Commander's Cupola Shield Kit, Machine
Gun /NSN 2510-00-121-8990 Shield, Protective
/ NSN 2510-01-006-4587
TC's cupola gunshields + side gunshields for the
two troop hatch MGs The NSN number for the
complete Gun Shield Kit including the cargo
hatch side shields is NSN 2590-00-121-8990.
AMDF price is $11,708.00. Check the Army supply
system for availability(?) If the "system" doesn't
have the shields (likely) the DSC bids for someone
to make them like they did in 1999:
25 - SOL:SHIELD KIT, MACHINE GUN (10/29/99)
www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1999/10(
October)/29-Oct-1999/25sol001.htm
1
Troop Hatch
gunshield kits 3
up to 3 possible
(left, right, rear)
each with an arm
to hold a machine
gun on a pintle 2 (not
illustrated)

3. Another option: IDF Kasman-type Gunshields
Fixed Troop Gunshields with vision ports
Fixed TC Gunshields with vision windows

4. LAYER 1: Kevlar spall liners inside ALL NLMB TAFVs
LAYER 2: thick armor hull ALL AROUND.
LAYER 3: Peel 'n stick Aztik ceramic tiles that can
stop .50 caliber bullets at 3000 FPS = 800 pounds
LAYER 4: Spaced or Explosive Reactive Armor to defeat
RPGs/ATGMs
LAYER 5: Troop stow racks that can pre-detonate
RPGs = 200 pounds
LAYER 6: Gunshields for troops and TC
LAYER 7: Many Sandbags 32 pounds per bag

5. Wheeled trucks like LAV-III Stryker cannot afford 5,000 pounds of bird cage and
its ceramic tiles are defective. Thin 1/2 inch steel cannot accept recoil forces of
ERA. 8 rubber tires burn easily. No gunshields. At best 3 layers of protection.
Cost $3.3 million each, NOT economically feasible for NLMB. At 19-21 tons not
even C-130 air transportable let alone C-27J; cannot swim. No good for either 3D
or 2D maneuver. TAFVs can have 7 layers of protection rolling on far sturdier
metal roadwheels/steel tracks. Reason is tracks are 28% more space/weight
efficient than wheels by DESIGN. Its counter-intuitive, but true. Tracks can have
more layers of armor than wheeled vehicles. Already built and ready to protect
ALL NLMB troops; extra armor/storage racks can be fitted within days and weeks
to field NLMB @ $40-78,000 thousand dollars each. Not only less costly but
SUPERIOR in protection and mobility compared to Stryker and up-armored
HMMWV trucks.
LAV3 Strykers M113 Gavins

6. NLMB TAFVs applique armor
proof against small-arms fire,
RPGs, autocannon and shrapnel:
keeps on going, gets men to
their objectives
M113A3 LAV-III
M113A3 ESV: Harder to hit

7. NLMB TAFV UPGRADES
C4I
Band-Tracks
More Fuel-efficient
hybrid-electric drives FLIR camouflage
Rollers/plows to clear obstacles

8. Selected NLMB TAFVs have
AV30mm 1-man autocannon
turrets shooting the same
powerful 30mm shells as AH-64
Apaches but without severe
concussion and turret
smothering so infantry can fight
heads-out from top hatches
behind gunshields

9. AV-30 30mm Autocannon
Lethal to enemy
troops, vehicles,
aircraft, buildings
Shoots same ammo as
AH-64 Apache, AV-8B
Harrier II
Mounts on existing AFVs

10. Missions of the NLMB in MOUT
• Rapidly Air/Sea Deploy Under USSOCOM HQ as Part of a Joint Force as the
spearhead for MOUT operations
• Prevent, Contain or Stabilize Crises Through Presence and precise Military
Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)
• Determine Favorable Outcome of urban Small Scale Contingencies (SSCs)
• Act as the urban Combat Force Guarantor in Security and Support
Operations (SASO) as Part of a U.S. or Multinational Force
• Participate, with Augmentation, in Major Theater Wars (MTWs) insuring
urban areas do not hinder decisive maneuver

11. Can we continue to assault urban
structures using foot-infantry using
predictable top-down or bottom-up,
SWAT stack tactics? USMC failure at
Fallujah warns us not to...
Helicopter
rooftop assaults
exposes troops
to enemy fires
Slow Ladder
assaults date
back to ancient Foot Infantry exposed
times! “Stacking” teams at to enemy fires!!!!!
ground-level

12. Solution to 21st Century
Urban combat: Modern Siege Engines;
tracked tanks with combat engineering
means--original purpose of tanks in
the first place in WWI!
General Percy
Hobart’s “Funnies”
with PHYSICAL
MECHANICAL
ADVANTAGE to
directly cope not
impotent, rubber-
tired armored cars
mouse-clicking pleas
for firepower help!

13. MOUT VERTICAL ASSAULT
VEHICLE
Lethality is Not Always Weaponry
it can be MANEUVER
Stealthy Hybrid-Electric
M113A4 used to
transport rifle squad Boom arm delivers
over rubble, debris infantry to
unexpected spot on
buildings
Combat-proven mobility
with RPG resistant
applique’ armor

14. CAPABILITIES
* NLMB does missions that cannot be accomplished by conventional units like
the Army's existing BDEs or recently constructed UoA's or USMC MEUs
* Self-sufficient
* Everyone works, everyone fights
* All teeth, no tail
* No underclass, everyone is a warrior/intel collector
*Everything can move on ground via armored tracks including light aircraft
* No vulnerable rubber-tired wheeled trucks PERIOD
* Can provide continuous air surveillance/attack 24/7/365
* Logistically light; doesn't require huge fuel costs
* Small presence on land does not inflame locals or compromise OPSEC
* No presence on land if operating from RO-RO Commando Carrier
* Low-Cost do-able NOW
* Simple-t-maintain platforms
* Every platform with affordable C4ISR package
* Optimized for non-linear battlefield of weak or subdued nation-state army where
integrated air defenses are not present or suppressed by USAF
* Assumes enemy is all around and no secure Main Supply Routes (MSRs) exist
* Can fight way into a territory and hold a forward operating base for SOF or a
larger force
* Can execute 2D and 3D operational maneuver of brigade-size as spearhead for
larger conventional force or as adjunct to small unit SOFs

15. ANY QUESTIONS???
1st Tactical Studies Group (Airborne)
POB 5473
Columbus, Ga 31906
dynmicpara@aol.com