CALL No. 04-13: OIF CAAT II Initial Impressions Report - Maintain the Force

CALL Newsletter 04-13
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
CAAT II Initial Impressions Report (IIR)

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
CAAT II Initial Impressions Report (IIR)

Chapter 4: Combat Service Support
Topic B: Maintain the Force

Subtopic 4: Track and Tire Consumption in OIF

Observation Synopsis

While operating in Iraq, many divisions consumed track and tires at a much higher rate than was originally expected. In six months, one division replaced almost every track shoe on its entire M1 and M2 fleets. Other tracked systems have had increased track consumption as well. A number of factors influenced this increased consumption to include a high operations tempo and extreme summer temperatures. In some cases, track pads wore out fewer than 60 days after they were installed. This high consumption of track and tires has strained the wholesale system and the industrial base beyond its limits. At one point, one division's M3 fleet was at 39 per cent due to the number of systems deadlined for track alone. The problem was escalated by units deploying with worn, substandard track and tires.

Lessons Learned

Units deploying to the Iraqi theater replace worn-out track and tires prior to deploying to the theater of operations.
It is imperative units begin ordering track 05 (anticipated deadline) before the system becomes non-mission capable (NMC). This will ensure requisitions are in the system before systems are deadlined and will help preserve the readiness of the fleets.

DOTMLPF Implications

Materiel: AMC should support increased track and tire demands for deploying units and allow them to bring as much track as they can reasonably transport and adjust authorized stockage list (ASL) requisitioning objectives (ROs) and reorder points (ROPs) to account for increased track consumption.