In Vodnik's article for detailing the Bradley, he says that the drivetrain housing on the front of the lower armor was larger in the M2A2 than the M2. Enlarging that part should be no problem but I was wondering then how was the sprocket mount made bigger with it? Was the entire mount made larger or was something different done? Another question, more general, is what was the amount of stowage carried by IFOR Bradleys? I remember hearing that it wasn't up to the OIF standard but am unsure as to what extent. Thanks in advance for your help.
Kyle
PS-this is the sproket mount I am talking about:

Hello,
I think the area you need to increase the size of is the front of the drive housing. The part that is seen from the nose of the vehicle. This housing cover was uparmored as was the rest of the vehicle. I used three laminated strips of .015 stryene strip, these match up well with line drawings of the vehicle. I hope this all made sense to you.
377

377, I understood the fact that I needed to up armor the front but was unsure if the part I showed in my first part was also changed as well. Thanks for the help on how you armored the drive train housing though. I was ready to just scratch build a new one. Anybody else want to comment, I'm still waiting on the IFOR stowage solution.
Kyle

Hello,
I am sorry, I misunderstood your question. You are talking about the actual face plate cover! Gee, the picture makes perfect sense now! The face plate remains the same size. As does the half cirle plate on the opposite side of the armored drive housing located on the nose. I hope that is really the answer you were looking for, sorry again for the misunderstanding on my part.
377

No apologies necessary, 377. Thanks for the help.
Kyle

Hello again,
I got to thinking about your stowage question. I never served in a mechanized unit but I have to think they would generally carry the same type equipment a light unit might carry during an operation such as IFOR. In the way of external stores, ruck sacks and maybe a camo net bag or two. Along with concerntina wire, barb wire( for securement of concerntina obstacles and tangle foot), plywood sheets and 6X6 pieces of lumber. The wood is carried for fighting position overhead cover if the squad was dismounted in a static defense. Interior stowage would be composed of ammo,water and MRE cartons. You can also throw in a small bag or two for snivel gear and poogie bait that many guys like to carry with them. The main thing to keep in mind is operations such as IFOR is the units operate out of base camps and aren't really advancing across a country with all their gear on board, ie duffle bags, camo pole bags and the ever present black plastic "foot locker" boxes. The type gear I mentioned above was what we carried on HMMWVs but, I have to think what was carried on a Bradley wouldn't differ much. Because either way you go both types of units are doing a almost identical mission when it comes to "peace keeping" missions.
377
P.S.
A couple of other must have interior items is night vision goggle bags or boxes , along with mine detector boxes. Two other possible items are concerntina pickets and a picket pounder. I would say the best place on a Bradley to carry these would be under the work platform on the gunner's side of the turret. On the HMMWVs we tried to bury them on the bottom of the load in the back. That way you didn't have a run away picket pounder and pickets flying everywhere when you hit rough roads or terrain.

Once again, 377, you came through in the crunch. Thank you very much for the help. As soon as I get something substantial built, I will post pictures for all to see. Once again, thank you very much.
Kyle