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Mechanization of
ground forces first came about during the 1st World War with the introduction of
an armoured tracked vehicle fielding a large bore cannon, by England. This
vehicle was dubbed "Tank" by Winston Churchill, and the innovation has altered
the conduct of warfare to this day. During the second conflict, the
mechanization of Infantry was perfected by the Germans and brought about the
name Blitzkrieg. During that conflict over 3 million military vehicles were
produced, and even thought the tank had considerable advantages, the need for a
method of having the Infantry keep pace with them became a necessity.
After the war, many
countries modified existing armoured personnel carriers for modern usage. The
M113, which was first fielded in 1964, was a low budget, trouble free
masterpiece and widely used throughout the globe. The United States needed a
"fight from within" mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle and research started in
1967 for a vehicle to meet this purpose. With the greater speed and mobility of
the M1 Abrams MBT new requirements were levied that the IFV and CFV must be able
to keep up and support the MBT's. The FMC Corporation of San Jose, Califoria won
the bidding competition and the M2/3's came into being. Dubbed the Bradley in
honor of Omar N. Bradley, a five star general of World War 2 fame, the M2/3
series offer the sought after flexibility in a true "fight from within" concept.
The M2 Infantry
Fighting Vehicle differs from the M3 in the addition of six external firing
ports to handle the M231 FPW's which can be operated by the six, fully equipped
infantrymen carried within. Manned by a crew of three, the M2 IFV mounts a
Hughes 25mm M242 chain-gun and a coaxially mounted 7.62 machine gun, housed in
an offset turret which can traverse 360 degrees. With a maximum elevation angle
of 60 degrees, the cannon provides aircraft and helicopter protection. A thermic
ray visioning fire control system allows accurate firing even when traversing
rough field conditions, day or night. A TOW anti-tank missile system also
complements the defensive capabilities of the Bradley. With a speed of 66km/h on
road capability, the M2 IFV is truely a formidable weapons system.
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X-10 - Gun Metal |
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X-18 - Semi Gloss
Black |
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X-2 - White |
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X-3 - Royal Blue |
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X-7 - Red |
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XF-1 - Flat Black |
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XF-10 - Flat Brown |
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XF-16 - Flat Aluminum |
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XF-2 - Flat White |
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XF-49 - Khaki |
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XF-5 - Flat Green |
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XF-56 - Metallic Grey |
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XF-57 - Buff |
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XF-58 - Olive Green |
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XF-61 - Dark Green |
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XF-62 - Olive Drab |
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XF-64 - Red Brown |
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