[Scan-DC] Re: Maryland Launches Nation's Largest Mobile Command Center

[WB4LNM at aol.com]

Regarding the article on the Maryland state mobile command center -
 
It is amazing to me that the years of experience of the US DoD were not  
followed in the construction of this facility (with my state tax money, by the  
way).  
 
Anyone with any knowledge and experience of building this sort of  
communications resource should know that it is just plain ridiculous to  integrate the 
communications facility with the prime mover.  When one spark  plug wire 
breaks, or the engine computer dies unexpectedly,  the entire  mobility of the 
center is dead in the water.
 
The US Army and Air Force learned this long ago.  That's why they  build 
their communications resources in S-280 and ISO shelters that can be moved  from 
one prime mover to another in case the motor carriage breaks.   Everyone 
(except the architect of this platform, evidently) knows that the  probability of 
the mechanical parts of the carriage breaking is many,  many times greater than 
the probability of the electronic equipment  going down.  
 
Sure, the futuristic fiberglass body of a nice coach is sleek and nice to  
see and great to put on display versus a big rectangular box.  But  disasters 
are a time for function over form, not the opposite.  I truly  wish my tax money 
had been spent more wisely.  By the way, how can you fork  lift this thing?  
Can it drive into one of Maryland Air National Guards  C-130's?  
 
John...
WB4LNM