The size of the 105mm ordnance compared to the base vehicle provides an impressive sight. The smoke grenade launchers can be seen at the front of the turret, and the square aperture for the coaxial machine gun is visible behind and above the smoke grenade launchers on this side of the turret. Note the rectangular coaxial machine gun access hatch with an opening for expended casing ejection. The gunner sat to the left of the main gun, and his primary sight housing and hatch hinge are positioned at the base of the turret. Stowage racks are mounted on each of the rear sides of the hull. The hatch in the hull side between the second and third wheels is a crew escape hatch, and the hatch to the rear of this is for access to a pneumatic coupling and power slave receptacle. Behind and outboard of the driver's hatch is the ballistic cover for one of the two fans in the vehicle's ventilation system. (Photo by Richard S. Eshleman.)
The driver's position at the left front corner of the hull can be ascertained by the location of his periscopes. In front of the driver, under the hatch with the lifting handle, is access to the periscope washer reservoir, the pneumatic and electrical attachments used in vehicle recovery, and the driver's compartment for maintenance. The driver's wire cutter is folded forward for stowage. The 105mm gun has a muzzle reference system fitted that allows the fire control system to account for barrel droop. The commander's hatch is open on this vehicle, and the single bank of smoke grenade launchers can be contrasted to the two mounted on the opposite side of the gun. (Photo by Richard S. Eshleman.)
The vehicle commander's hatch is still open, as well as hatches in the turret roof and the hull rear. A crosswind sensor mast stands at the extreme rear of the turret, and the engine's exhaust outlet can be seen high on the hull side between the front two wheels. Just beside the crosswind sensor is a small two-piece hatch through which expended 105mm casings are ejected. A pioneer tool rack is mounted above the two front wheels below the engine exhaust outlet. The stabilized commander's panoramic viewer is also visible on top of the turret, facing away from the camera. This viewer can be manually folded to the rear into the turret for stowage or travel. The vehicle's two fuel tanks are mounted at the bottom rear of the hull, behind the rear wheels. A red bottle for the automatic fire extinguisher system can just be glimpsed through the open doors at the rear of the vehicle. The ballistic cover for the other ventilation fan can be seen directly above the lifting eye on the rear hull side. (Photo by Richard S. Eshleman.)
Attachment points for applique armor pockmark the surface of the vehicle. (Photo by Richard S. Eshleman.)
The automatic loader can stow 18 rounds of 105mm ammunition. There is an 8-round ready carousel below the turret, and this larger 10-round replenishment magazine occupies the rear of the hull. On the right of the image, the green embedded training module (ETM) is mounted on the rack on the hull side. The ETM allows for crew training by generating images on the crews' displays as well as making realistic battlefield sounds. To the rear of the ETM, a curved, white pipe of the M13A1 gas particulate filter unit can be seen. This device is part of the vehicle's NBC protection system. (Photo by Richard S. Eshleman.)
Some details of the commander's .50cal MG mount can be seen here. The gun is fitted with a shield with protected windows. The front four wheels steer on the Stryker, and that is shown to good effect in this image. This machine gun resulted in the mounting of only a single smoke grenade launcher on the commander's side of the turret. An infantry phone box is mounted on the hull rear between the right-hand antenna mount and taillight. (Picture taken 8 Dec 2011 by Gertrud Zach; available from Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System.)
