No Tanks: Iraq’s “Etcetera” American Armor
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It takes more than tanks to make up an armored division. Iraq’s purchases of M1 Abrams tanks has attracted a lot of attention, and SIGIR reports of a deal for M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicles were noteworthy. But Iraq’s DSCA export requests for its tanks also included a wide variety of other necessary accompaniments: tracked APCs, artillery, heavy transport trucks, and transport. Most were sold as “Excess Defense Articles”, and Iraq received additional equipment beyond those requests.
That equipment is necessary to round out Iraq’s armored formations, and make them a viable force. All of it has be checked out, refurbished as necessary, and then supported in the field. Other items, like M1135 Stryker vehicles for detecting weapons of mass destruction, occupy their own special niches. DID covers the associated requests, contracts, and developments.
2012 – 2013
Breakdown of M113 types; Iraq adds new M88 ARVs; Request for a new multi-platform 5-year support deal.
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July 25/13: Support. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Iraq’s official request to buy support for their American APCs, trucks, and artillery. This 5-year follow-on deal is subject to negotiation, but $750 million is given as a maximum value. Iraq’s actual costs will be higher, because the withdrawal of American troops means that they’ll have to provide security and facilities, etc. for contractors in-country. Platforms covered under the contract include:
- M88A1 and M88A2 Hercules heavy tracked recovery vehicles, which can tow a tank out of trouble, or use an onboard crane to change out its engine.
- M113 family tracked APCs, Ambulance, Command vehicles, Mortar carriers, etc. (q.v. April 20/13 entry for breakdown)
- M109A5 tracked, self-propelled 155mm Howitzers
- M198 towed 155mm Howitzers
- M1070 HETT trucks for hauling tracked vehicles up to 70 tons
- M977 HEMTT heavy trucks
- Humvee utility vehicles and light trucks
- Tactical Floating River Bridge System (TFRBS)
The deal also includes spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, a Quality Assurance Teams, and other forms of government and contractor support.
“The principal contractor involved in this program is unknown at this time,” but any contract will require a number of people in Iraq over 5 years to establish maintenance support, provide on–the-job (OJT) maintenance training, and serve as expert advisors to the Iraqis. A recent SIGIR report confirmed that maintenance was a problem for Iraq, and the story of the vehicle spares depot in Taji was seen as the defining example of Iraq’s issues.
DSCA Request: Vehicle support
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July 25/13: Stryker NBCV for WMD. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Iraq’s request to buy 50 M1135 Stryker Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles. The estimated cost for the 50 vehicles, training, and services is up to $900 million, but exact prices will be determined when and if a contract is negotiated. Even $18 million per vehicle isn’t unreasonable when one considers the extensive training, support, and specialized equipment involved.
The M1135 is the US Army’s newest chemical reconnaissance platform, supplanting the M93 Fuchs. Iraqi vehicles will include DECON 3000 Decontamination Systems, the M26 Commercial Joint Service Transportable Decontamination Systems (JSTDS), M40A1 Protective Masks, LCD-3 Lightweight Personal Chemical Detectors, GID-3 Portable Chemical Warfare Agent Detectors, Multi RAE PLUS Gas Detectors, AN/VDR-2 Radiac Sets, M256 Chemical Agent Detector Kits, Decontamination Kits, Chemical Biological Mask Canisters, M8 Chemical Paper Agent Detector Kits, AN/VRC-89 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) with Global Positioning System (GPS), AN/VRC-90 SINCGARS with GPS, other communication equipment, water canteens, and individual clothing and equipment for the specialists. That last item is a bit more involved than just uniforms.
The vendors will also provide spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, A Quality Assurance Team, and other US Government and contractor support.
“This equipment provides the Iraqi Army CBRN reconnaissance units with reliable capabilities for early warning of contamination by radiological, biological, and chemical material.” Unfortunately, Iraq’s neighborhood makes this sort of equipment a necessity, thanks in part to active chemical weapons use by Saddam’s Iraq, which spurred Iran to begin its own program. War-torn Syria also has significant stockpiles, which predate Saddam’s own programs.
The principal contractors will be General Dynamics Land System of Sterling Heights, MI (base Stryker vehicle); Karcher Futuretech of Schwailheim, Germany; DRS Technologies of Florence, KY; Smiths Detection of Danbury, CT; and Federal Resources of Stevensville, MD. Implementation of this proposed sale will require approximately 35 U.S. Government or contractor representatives to travel to Iraq for a period of up 2 years, in order to provide management and training.
DSCA Request: M1135 Stryker NBCVs
April 20/13: Iraq Order of Battle analyst DJ Elliott says the US DSCA Excess Defense Articles board has updated for Iraq in 2010, and finally provides a breakdown of the 1,026 M113 variants being provided to the Iraqi Army, and their deliveries. The breakdown is more important for us, so here it is:
- 618 M113A2 APCs
- 68 M113A2 Ambulances
- 2 M577A2 Emergency Medical Treatment Vehicles
- 192 M548A1 Cargo Carriers
- 66 M1064 120mm Mortar Carriers
- 80 M577A2 Command Posts
The most recent standard used by the US Army in Iraq was the M113A3, which included significant upgrades to the M113A2’s engine and transmission. Iraq’s machines came from EDA stocks that hadn’t received upgrades. They also received:
- 120 M198 155mm towed howitzers
- 14 MRAP non-standard
- 20 M88A1 (Iraq’s M88A2s are new-build)
March 9/13: Iraq snapshot. D.J. Elliott looks at “Iraqi Security Force Total Mobilization March 2013.” As one might expect, Iraq’s forces are primarily deployed orienting toward Iran, with a forward defense strategy that combines local para-military forces with Iraq’s regular military as backup. Within that structure, its mechanized divisions and especially its M1 tanks function in the role of national strategic reserves.
Iraq is going to miss its 2015 schedule for operational independence, and also its 2020 schedule for strategic independence. This is explained in more detail in “ISF Structure and Development February 2013.” Ground forces observations include:
“The IA is in the process of converting to external defense…. The IA has only 10 Tank Regiments [Battalions] of the 61 needed to fill out the planned 3 Armor and 8 Mechanized Divisions. Discounting the light APCs, the IA has 35 of 71 planned Mechanized Battalions. At Division-level the IA is still missing 50 percent of its planned artillery and Engineers plus their logistics support units. Division Anti-Tank elements are planned but not formed. The IA Corps-level combat support units and augment units to the FP for external defense have only started forming [Artillery, Mortars, Anti-Aircraft, Anti-Tank, etc].”
Oct 4/12: 8 M88A2s. BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., York, PA receives a $34.6 million firm-fixed-price contract, for M88A2 Hercules vehicles “in support of Foreign Military Sales.” A subsequent BAE Systems release confirms that they will produce 8 new vehicles for Iraq, bringing the total to 16. That covers both of the 2008 DSCA requests, and after the 21 surplus American machines are refurbished and delivered, it will give Iraq a fleet of 37 recovery vehicles that can tow M1s out of trouble.
The York, PA facility will fabricate the new hulls for the M88A2 configuration, and the Aiken, SC facility will manufacture some of the parts for vehicles. Work is expected to begin in late 2013, with an estimated completion date of June 30/12. The U.S. Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI manages the contract, on behalf of their Iraqi Foreign Military Sale client (W56HZV-09-C-0408).
8 new M88A2s
2009 – 2011
Big EDA deal for M113s, howitzers; M113 work begins.
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Jan 12/11: M88s/ M113s. M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle and M113 APC refurbishment begins for Iraq, at Anniston Army Depot (ANAD), AL. ANAD is planning to produce a total of 586 M113A2s from an excess stock of M113s taken from Sierra Army Depot, CA; and 21 M88A1 recovery vehicles that can even tow tanks out of the mud (q.v July 26/10 entry).
The M113A2 work is estimated to be worth $60 million, and will be conducted in partnership with BAE Systems, who acquired the firm that produced the M113s. They’re providing supply chain management under a Federal Acquisition Regulation contract. Workers at ANAD will be repairing the M113s at a rate of 50 vehicles per month throughout FY 2011, with the first delivery of M113s to Iraq set for July 2011. US Army.
July 26/10: Trucks, M113s, Howitzers. Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI receives an unfinalized $41.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for heavy tank transporter trucks, per Iraq’s DSCA request. The order involves 60 sets of a M1070A0 HET tractor and the Fontaine 635NL trailer, plus ancillary items including 6,240 spare tires, spare parts, non-standard trailer manuals, and IHETS operator training. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI, with an estimated completion date of Sept 30/11. There’s only 1 HET truck manufacturer, so 1 bid was solicited with 1 bid received by Us Army TACOM in Warren, MI (W56HZV-07-C-0594). See also Oshkosh release.
While the M1070s could certainly be used for Iraq’s M1 tanks, the Iraqi Army is also getting a big allotment of used US Army equipment through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process for Excess Defense Articles (EDA). This equipment includes:
- 1026 – M113 family of Vehicles tracked APC/command/mortar vehicles
- 21 – M88A1 heavy armored recovery vehicles
- 60 – M1070 heavy equipment transporter trucks
- 24 – M109A5 self propelled 155mm howitzers
- 120 – M198 towed 155mm howitzers
- 30 – Fuel tankers
- Equipment for a strategic bridge company.
In the end, inquiries determined that the 60 M1070 HETs are part of this order, and that they will be new-build, not second-hand/EDA. Later inquiries by DJ Elliott added some details to the M113 buy as well:
“Captain Leslie Waddle, Press Desk Officer, Media Operations Center US Embassy-Baghdad stated: “In reference to your question below, this is the breakdown of what variants they are. We can’t provide the numbers, we recommend you contact Government of Iraq for their breakdown. The following is a list of the different variants of M113s being supplied to the GoI: M113A2–Armored Personnel Carriers, M113A2–Ambulance, M548A1–Cargo Carrier, M1064–Mortar Carrier, M577A2–Command Post Carrier, M577A2–Emergency Medical Treatment Vehicle.” As usual, GoI/IMoD is not answering inquiries but, previously reported FMS notices indicate at least 440 of the 1,026 are M113A2 APCs. The probable range of M1064 120mm Mortar Carriers in this mix is 250-300 with the remaining 4 variants splitting the remaining 250-300.”
2008
Requests for M1 tanks and their ancillaries.
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Dec 10/08: The US DSCA announces Iraq’s official follow-on request [PDF], at the same time as it announces a number of other weapons requests. This request for 140 more M1A1Ms is now confirmed as additive, and not just a new version of the July 2008 request. It’s very similar to the July 2008 request; the only differences are 35 635NL Semi-Trailers instead of 92, and 20 spare 5-ton truck engines instead of 2:
- 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks, modified and upgraded to the M1A1M configuration
- 20 M1A1 engines
- 20 M1A1 Full Up Power Packs
- 8 of BAE’s tracked M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) Armored Recovery Vehicles, with the pulling power to tow or winch even a 70-ton M1 out of trouble.
- 3 spare M88A2 engines
- 16 M548A1 tracked logistics vehicles, based on the M113 armored personnel carrier
- 12 M577A2 Command Post Carriers, based on the M113
- 4 M577A2 spare engines
- 8 M113A2 tracked armored ambulances
- 64 M1151A1B1 armored HMMWVs
- 92 M1152 HMMWV Shelter carriers
- 8 HMMWV Ambulances w/ Shelter
- 20 spare HMMWV engines
- 35 M1070 FHTV Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) Truck Tractors, which can truck tanks on their flatbeds to minimize tank and road wear when the tanks need to move to new locations.
- 10 spare M1070 engines
- 40 M978A2 FHTV Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Tankers, which provide fuel for the M1’s gas-guzzling turbine engine
- 36 M985A2 FHTV HEMTT Cargo Trucks
- 4 M984A2 FHTV HEMTT Wrecker Trucks
- 20 spare HEMTT engines
- 16 2500 gal Water Tank Trucks
- 8 Contact Maintenance Trucks
- 140 M1085A1 5-ton Cargo Trucks
- 20 spare 5-ton truck engines
- 35 635NL Semi-Trailers
- 80 8-ton Heavy/Medium Trailers
- 32 500 gal Water Tank Trailers
- 92 M1102 Light Tactical trailers
- 16 Motorcycles
- 16 Sedans
- 4 5,500 lb Rough Terrain Forklifts
- 420 AN/VRC-92 Vehicular Receiver Transmitters
Plus ammunition, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, publications and documentation, personnel training and equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The estimated cost for this order is also $2.16 billion, though the final cost remains subject to contract negotiations.
DSCA Request #2: M1s & Mechanized
July 31/08: Iraq issues its formal request via the DSCA for:
- 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks, modified and upgraded to the M1A1M configuration
- 20 M1A1 engines
- 20 M1A1 Full Up Power Packs
- 8 of BAE’s tracked M88A2 HERCULES (Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System) Armored Recovery Vehicles, with the pulling power to tow or winch even a 70-ton M1 out of trouble.
- 3 spare M88A2 engines
- 16 M548A1 tracked logistics vehicles, based on the M113 armored personnel carrier
- 12 M577A2 Command Post Carriers, based on the M113
- 4 M577A2 spare engines
- 8 M113A2 tracked armored ambulances
- 64 M1151A1B1 armored Hummers
- 92 M1152 HMMWV Shelter carriers
- 8 HMMWV Ambulances w/ Shelter
- 20 spare HMMWV engines
- 35 M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) Truck Tractors, which can truck tanks on their flatbeds to minimize tank and road wear when the tanks need to move to new locations.
- 10 spare M1070 engines
- 40 M978A2 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Tankers, which provide fuel for the M1’s gas-guzzling turbine engine
- 36 M985A2 HEMTT Cargo Trucks
- 4 M984A2 HEMTT Wrecker Trucks
- 20 spare HEMTT engines
- 16 2500 gal Water Tank Trucks
- 8 Contact Maintenance Trucks
- 140 M1085A1 5-ton Cargo Trucks
- 2 spare 5-ton truck engines
- 92 635NL Semi-Trailers
- 80 8-ton Heavy/Medium Trailers
- 32 500 gal Water Tank Trailers
- 92 M1102 Light Tactical trailers
- 16 Motorcycles
- 16 Sedans
- 4 5,500 lb Rough Terrain Forklifts
- 420 AN/VRC-92 Vehicular Receiver Transmitters
Plus ammunition, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, publications and documentation, personnel training and equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2.16 billion.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately 8 U.S. Government and 35 contractor representatives to Iraq for up to 4 years. The prime contractors will be:
- General Dynamics Land Systems Division of Sterling Heights, MI (M1 tanks)
- Honeywell International (M1 engines)
- General Motors Allison Transmission Division of Detroit, MI.
DSCA Request: M1s & Mechanized
Additional Readings
- DID – Iraq: Weapons – and Challenges – In the Pipeline. They’re looking to add up to 250 tracked M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicles, but SIGIR confirms that maintenance is a big problem for Iraq.
- DID – M1 Abrams Tanks for Iraq. Many of the above items will serve as companions to the M1.
- DJ Elliott’s Montrose Toast – Iraqi Security Force Update July 2013. Lots of good material.
