Democrat Urges Homemade Armor in Iraq

Democrat Urges Homemade Armor in Iraq
By DAVID A. LIEB
ASSOCIATED PRESS

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee urged the Army's top civilian official Monday to seriously consider allowing an Army Reserve unit to outfit its vehicles with homemade armor while serving in Iraq.

Army policy generally prohibits troops from using equipment that has not been tested and approved by the military.

But fearing roadside bombs and snipers, the 428th Transportation Company turned to local businessmen to fund and fabricate special steel plates for their five-ton trucks and Humvees, which have thin metal floorboards and, in some cases, a canvas covering for doors.


/snip


But even if approved, it will take "until summer 2005 to outfit all Humvees in Iraq."