More shoddy military stuff: Door latches a problem on M-ATVs, soldiers say

[unhappycamper]

Door latches a problem on M-ATVs, soldiers say
By Rob Curtis - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 13, 2010 8:41:56 EST

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Since getting the new vehicles in January, at least one external door latch has failed on all of 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment’s M-ATVs.

“When we get out of the vehicle to shoot a rocket or something, we have to make sure the door stays open,” Staff Sgt. Dave Reich said.

If it closes, Reich said, the only way to get the door open is to have someone crawl through the vehicle and use the inside handle.

On his truck, it’s the driver’s side door, Reich said, but on other trucks, it’s different. Other members of the platoon were quick to confirm busted latches were a critical problem with the new trucks.

The Pentagon has shipped more than 1,000 of the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles to Afghanistan.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/03/airforce_sex_scandal_031210w/