Pentagon Wars - Bradley Fighting Vehicle Evolution

A detailed look at the complex evolution of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle from troop carrier to armed scout and quasi-tank.

Key Takeaways

Military vehicle design often involves conflicting requirements leading to complex compromises.
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle evolved from a simple troop carrier to a heavily armed and armored vehicle.
Budget and political pressures significantly impact defense project outcomes.
Adding multiple roles to a single vehicle can reduce its effectiveness in each role.
Advanced technology does not always solve fundamental design and operational challenges.

What the video covers

The video explores the original mission to design the Bradley as a troop transport to replace the M-113 armored personnel carrier.
It discusses the addition of a turret and armament, turning the vehicle into a hybrid scout and fighting vehicle.
Budget constraints and conflicting military requirements led to compromises in design and functionality.
The vehicle was intended to be fast and lightly armored but ended up with heavier armament and less troop capacity.
Challenges included fitting ammunition, maintaining speed, visibility for scouts, and balancing armor protection.
The Bradley was equipped with a 20mm cannon, anti-tank missiles, and portholes for infantry firing, complicating its role.
The design process was marked by political and bureaucratic pressures influencing features and funding.
Despite its flaws, the Bradley incorporated advanced surveillance and firepower technology for its time.
The final product was a troop carrier that struggled to carry troops effectively, a reconnaissance vehicle too conspicuous, and a lightly armored quasi-tank.
The video uses humor and dialogue to highlight the contradictions and challenges in military vehicle design.

Chapters

What was the original purpose of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle?

The Bradley was originally designed as an infantry transport vehicle to replace the M-113 armored personnel carrier, intended to carry 11 men plus a driver safely and efficiently to the battlefield.

Why was a turret added to the Bradley vehicle?

A turret with a 20mm cannon and opticals was added to provide firepower and flexibility, addressing concerns about the vehicle's vulnerability and the need for it to serve as a scout, despite increasing its size and visibility.

What were the main design challenges faced during the Bradley's development?

Key challenges included balancing troop capacity with armament and ammunition storage, maintaining speed and stealth for scouting, fitting additional weapons like anti-tank missiles, and dealing with budget and political pressures.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

I don't get it. What is that? It's a Bradley. Well, if that's the Bradley, then what's this? What's the date? 1968. The question is, how did they get to that from this? Gentlemen, our mission was to design and implement an infantry transport vehicle

Speaker A

that would be a worthy replacement for the M-113 armored personnel carrier. We have met that objective and then some. The Bradley armored personnel carrier will bring troops to a combat zone swiftly, efficiently, and safely. It will hold 11 men,

Speaker A

plus a driver, and features... Eleven men, plus a driver, and features a 20-millimeter cannon, which will provide ample firepower and at the same time flexibility. Lightly armored, speedy, and solidly engineered, our troops will be arriving at the battlefield in the very

Speaker A

finest American technology has to offer. And at a million and a half per, a real bargain. Nice work, Colonel. Outstanding. Damn impressive.

Speaker A

In other words, it was designed to be a big taxi cab, drive guys to the battlefield, and go back home. In other words, it was designed to be a big taxi cab.

Speaker A

But how did it end up with a turret on top? Well, this is all well and good, Colonel Smith, but something wrong, General? Well, with this gorilla in production, I don't suppose there's going to be anything left in the

Speaker A

budget for my scout. I don't have anything left in the budget for my scout.

Speaker A

You don't need scouts. You have radar, air recon, satellites. You always need a scout.

Speaker A

And you know what I'm thinking? Why couldn't this thing serve as a scout? But it's a troop carrier, General. But this is a speedy vehicle. Why can't it be both? Well, for one thing, it's too big. And for the other, you can't really

Speaker A

see out all that much from inside. Sounds like a design flaw to me. Design flaw? No. We'll just stick a turret on top with lots of opticals.

Speaker A

But then, sir, it'll be even bigger. Well, what's your problem, Smith? But then, sir, it'll... not elegant enough for you? Well, the thing is, General, it's kind of hard to do a sneak and peek when you're over 10 feet tall. He's got a point, Bob. Well,

Speaker A

all I know is we need a scout. This is fast enough to do the job and it's funded. Well, um, actually, we're a hair over budget. You turn the Bradley into a scout, we're going to be selling them off to some El Presidente

Speaker A

de Chimichanga in no time. Anything for surveillance ends up south of the border before the paint even dries.

Speaker A

When you needed that anti-aircraft gun, who backed you up on that? You did, Bob. And who testified to appropriations on behalf of that gun? You did, Bob. I'm talking to appropriations next week. Now, do I sell you on my scout or do

Speaker A

I not? You did, Bob. And how about some portholes along the side for individual firearms so the fellows can stick out their guns and shoot people? Good. And you know what, Colonel, so the fellas can stick out their guns and shoot people?

Speaker A

We already have the turret. We ought to get the biggest bang we can up there. I'm sorry, bang, sir? You can't hurt anybody with that pansy-ass gun. Add on some firepower. Where am I supposed to fit the

Speaker A

extra ammo? I don't know. Can you just shift things around, make some room? You already got 400 rounds of machine gun ammo. Now you want to add 25-millimeter shells? General wants his ammo. He can't have his ammo unless he runs alongside

Speaker A

this thing carrying it. Well, can you just squeeze it in? No. Oh, come on, just squeeze it in. We're not trying on Levi's here, Colonel. Are you telling me that in a vehicle this size you can't find room for a few rounds of

Speaker A

ammunition? Not in its current configuration. No, sir. So the configuration's wrong. There must be something you can dump. Dump, sir. Something you

Speaker A

something you don't need.

Speaker A

General, the interior is very spare. Besides the ammunition and the men... Maybe you can leave one of the fellows behind. Put the ammo where the men go.

Speaker A

It is a troop carrier. So? Make a couple extra trips. What's the difference? Carry men, and a scout that's got a cannon as big as a tank's on it. And portholes. Oh, great! Portholes! So the guys can shoot at whatever they can't

Speaker A

hit with their cannon. You don't have to buy the damn thing. Jones, just draw it.

Speaker A

That's one hell of a cannon. That's a problem. Why? You go out in the battlefield with this pecker sticking out of your turret and the enemy's gonna unload on you with all they got. Might as well paint a big red bullseye on the side. But it's a troop carrier, not a tank.

Speaker A

Do you want me to put a sign on it in 50 languages? I'm a troop carrier, not a tank. Please don't shoot at me.

Speaker A

This was going to be so beautiful. That's good work, Smith. Looks perfect to me. Thank you, sir. Thing is... Yes, General?

Speaker A

Looks a little like a tank with that cannon on top. Probably going to draw more fire. Actually, sir, that has come to our attention. We know it's not a tank, but will the other side? I guess we could always... We know it's not

Speaker A

a tank. But will the other side? Stick in the armor, toughen up the height a bit. Colonel Smith, could you explain why you put those portals there? Uh, yes, sir. As per your request so the men could shoot out, um, at

Speaker A

the enemy. You're joking, aren't you? Besides portholes, what are we in now? The Navy? Say, you think you could make this thing amphibious? Say, you think you could make this thing... You know, get the troops across a river? No. Uh, no, sir.

Speaker A

No. No, no, no, no, no. Amphibious? The Bradley's supposed to swim? In theory, at least. Amphibious troop carrier slash scout slash tank. Couple more months, I bet they can get this thing to fly. What's this in the margin? This is in the margin. Please help me. I am losing

Speaker A

my mind. R.L.S. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Laurel Smith, Head of Oversight and Development.

Speaker A

Aluminum. This thing's got an aluminum skin. Huh? Anything an enemy tank fires at is going to go through it like a hot knife through butter. Anything an enemy tank fires at is going to go through it like a hot knife. We're doing the specs on using steel rather than aluminum. Of

Speaker A

course, steel is much heavier than aluminum, so it won't go as fast. No, we can't lose speed. If we lose speed, it won't work as a scout vehicle. It won't keep pace with our M1 tanks, either. Thicker armor's a reactive measure. Let's think proactive

Speaker A

here. I say equip the thing with anti-tank missiles. Then it can blast those enemy tanks before they get a chance to fire. What do you think, Colonel? Fine!

Speaker A

Anti-tank missiles? I don't know. Where do I put them? The men will have to wear the missiles as hats. I don't know, Jones. That's why you get paid the big bucks. Colonel, there's no room. We're not talking about... a pair of Levi's,

Speaker A

I know, I know! God damn it! What we are talking about is 11 years with nothing to show for. Except that also the size of the District of Columbia and a career that's on permanent hold. Except that also the size of the District

Speaker A

of Columbia and a career that... you see this? I've been a bird, Colonel, so long I swear I'm going feathers now. If you have to design hats to hold those goddamn missiles, then just do it. Ladies and gentlemen, if I can have your attention, please, if you'd all just take

Speaker A

your seats. We are pleased to present a scale model of the new Bradley fighting vehicle.

Speaker A

It carried six men. How many was it supposed to carry? 11. Bradley is outfitted with the most sophisticated surveillance equipment ever developed. It is also equipped with a rapid-fire cannon and an anti-tank rocket launcher, which means

Speaker A

it's loaded with 1,500 shells and 10 TOW anti-tank missiles. So in summation, gentlemen, what you have before you is a troop transport that can't carry troops, a reconnaissance vehicle, a troop transport that's too conspicuous to do reconnaissance, and a quasi-tank that has less armor than a snowblower

Topics:Bradley Fighting Vehiclemilitary vehicle designinfantry carrierarmored personnel carriermilitary budgetvehicle armamentscout vehicleanti-tank missilesmilitary technologyPentagon Wars

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